History of Heber C. Kimball (1801-1868) (1)

Mormon History 1830-1844

History of Heber C. Kimball (1801–1868) (1)

Pre-Mormon years. Father a blacksmith, prospers during War of 1812, loses property after war, moves west for work. On his own at 19, shy Heber learns potter's trade from his brother, moves to Mendon, New York. Marries Vilate. Manifestation in the skies on night of September 22, 1827 (as Joseph is receiving Book of Mormon plates). Joins the Baptists.

This sketch is part of the series, "History of Brigham Young," published in the Millennial Star, 1863–1865. It was originally published in the Deseret News in 1858. The title in the Millennial Star is "Synopsis of the History of Heber Chase Kimball."

	SYNOPSIS OF THE HISTORY OF HEBER CHASE KIMBALL.	MS 26, no. 29 (July 16, 1864), 455–456.
Genealogy Grandfather	Concerning my ancestors I can say but little. My grandfather and his brother came from England; and both assisted in gaining the independence of the United States.	MS 26, no. 29 (July 16, 1864), 455–456.
Kimballs and Smiths	Father Joseph Smith and his brother, John Smith, were acquainted with the Kimballs: the families were connected by marriage.
Father	My father, Solomon Farnham Kimball, was born in the state of Massachusetts, in the year 1770; he was raised from his boyhood with Judge Chase of Massachusetts, who was a blacksmith.
Blacksmith	My father remained with him until he was married, when the Judge assisted him in establishing himself in the business of blacksmithing, in the town of Sheldon, Franklin county, Vermont.	Sheldon is in the northwest corner of Vermont.
Married Anna Spaulding	My father married Anna Spaulding, who was born in New Hampshire, in the town of Plainfield on the banks of the Connecticut river. She was the daughter of Daniel and Speedy Spaulding.	Plainfield is about 20 miles south of Lebanon, New Hampshire. Heber, the fourth of their seven children, was born June 14, 1801.
Father's labors	My father rehearsed to me some of the scenes of the Revolutionary war. He engaged in clearing land, burning the wood into coal and ashes; he had also a forge in the manufacture of wrought iron.
Father's appearance	He was bald headed, had dark brown hair, blue eyes, sandy whiskers and sandy complexion, five feet eleven inches high, weighed 200 pounds and upwards—was captain of a company of militia in Sheldon, and wore a cocked up hat, of the old English style, and a strait bodied coat and short breeches with a knee buckle, long stockings and Hessian boots with a pair of tassels.
Loses property in War of 1812	About the time of the embargo, before the last war with England, my father lost his property, as it was invested in salts, potash and pearlash; the embargo having shut down the gate of commerce between the United States and England, left his property in his hands without much value.
Goes west for work	He saddled his horse, put on his big portmanteau, which contained a change of raiment, and started for the West;	portmanteau: a traveling case or bag; esp., a stiff leather suitcase that opens like a book into two compartments.
	arriving at the town of Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, he fell in company with Judge Towsley who employed him as a foreman in a blacksmith's shop, where he labored six months;
	after which Judge Towsley and my father travelled still further westward, to within fourteen miles of the Genesee river, to West Bloomfield, Ontario county, where Judge Towsley assisted him in establishing the blacksmith's business.	For crows, West Bloomfield is approximately 20 miles southwest of Palmyra, New York.
Returns to family	My father took up several hundred acres of timbered land, in, this new country, and after remaining six months, he returned to Sheldon to his family, having been absent a year.
New York travels, labors Whitehall to West Bloomfield	In February 1811, he took my mother and six children in a sleigh with one span of horses, and what clothing we had upon us and a change; and a few blankets. We travelled on the ice, on Lake Champlain up to Whitehall, a distance of 110 miles, [456] where spring being open, he traded his sleigh for a wagons and proceeded to West Bloomfield, where he continued his business of blacksmithing and farming, and commenced building.	Whitehall, New York (near the Vermont border).
Blacksmith business	He built an academy in West Bloomfield, also two tavern stands and several private dwellings. He made edge tools, such as scythes, augers, axes, knives, &c., also ploughshares and agricultural implements for the country around to a distance of fifty miles; and sometimes he had eight forges going at once, with a foreman and apprentice at each fire. He generally worked with his men and occupied one fire, and took the oversight of his work.
Post-war economy slump	West Bloomfield was in the thoroughfare between Albany and Buffalo, on which the soldiery passed during the war of 1812–15. It was flourishing times there being plenty of business and money, and most men in business became involved, so that when the war closed bankruptcy became common, as every merchant, tavern keeper, and grog shop had banking establishment, and issued shin-plasters from a cent up to $5.
Loses property, moves	My father lost the greater portion of his property, which broke him up in that place, when he moved two and a half miles east, half way between East and West Bloomfield, where he bought a farm of Mr. Stewart, near a small lake, on this farm there was a little improvement.	MS 26, no. 30 (July 23, 1864): 470–472. East Bloomfield is about 5 miles east of West Bloomfield.
	Here he established blacksmithing, built a tavern stand, barns and other outhouses, and set out an orchard of various kinds of fruit;
1816 cold season scarcity	this was in the year 1816, what was called the cold season, and the following spring we had but little to live on. For some three weeks we gathered milk weeds, boiled and ate them, not having salt to put on them. It was with difficulty that bread could be procured. My father paid 3 per bushel for potatoes.
Siblings	My parents had seven children, of whom I was the fourth, viz.; Charles Spaulding, Eliza, Abigail, Heber Chase, Melvina, Solomon and Daniel Spaulding, who were all born in the town of Sheldon, Franklin county, Vermont.
	Daniel Spaulding died when about seven months old.
Family records	The record of my father's family fell into the hands of my oldest sister, Eliza, to whom I have written for an account of the ages of my parents, brothers and sisters, but little not been able to obtain it: hence I have to omit the dates of their births.
Father moral, unchurched	My father was a man of good moral [471] character, and though he did not profess any religion, he taught his children good morals, and never would suffer them to swear, or play upon the Sabbath day without correcting them, but would have them remain at home and read good books or attend the church.
Mother Presbyterian	My mother was a Presbyterian, and agreeably to the strictest sense of their religion, she lived a virtuous life, and according to the best of her knowledge taught her children the ways of righteousness.
Mother dies 1824	February 1824. My mother died of consumption in the town of West Bloomfield.	Heber was 22.
Father dies	In the spring of 1826 my father came to Mendon and lived with me. He soon took sick and died of consumption, about a year after my mother's death.
Brother dies	My oldest brother, Charles S., and his wife, whose maiden name was Judith Marvin, died in the year 1826 or 7, and were buried in Mendon by the side of my father.
Heber's birth	I was born June 14th, 1801, in the town of Sheldon, Franklin county, Vermont.
Heber's name	Judge Chase, with whom my father was brought up, called to see my parents soon after I was born, and he proposed to call me Heber Chase.
School Great eclipse	About the time of the great eclipse in 1806, I commenced going to school, and continued some of the time until about the age of fourteen. I recollect the eclipse well, as my father was about to start on a journey, but was obliged to wait on account of the darkness.
Learns blacksmithing	When fourteen years of age my father took me into his shop and taught me blacksmithing.
Heber on his own at 19	When nineteen, my father having lost his property, and not taking the care for my welfare which he formerly did, I was left to seek a place of refuge or home of my own.
Shyness Suffers	At this time I saw some days of sorrow; my heart was troubled, and I suffered much in consequence of fear, bashfulness and timidity. I found myself cast abroad upon the world, without a friend to console my grief. In these heartaching hours I suffered much for the want of food and the comforts of life and many times went two or three days without food to eat, being bashful, and not daring to ask for it.
Brother teaches potter's trade	After I had spent several weeks in the manner before stated, my oldest brother, Charles, hearing of my condition, offered to teach me the potter's trade. I immediately accepted the offer, and continued with him until I was twenty-one.
Militia 14 years	I was enrolled with my brother Charles in an independent horse company of the New York militia, under Captain Sawyer of East Bloomfield, with him and his successor I trained for fourteen years, and I never was found delinquent in my duty.
Moves to Mendon	While living with my brother he moved into the town of Mendon, Monroe [Monroe] county, where he again established a pottery. After I had finished learning my trade I worked for my brother six months for wages.
Marries Vilate Murray	In Nov. 7, 1822, I married Vilate Murray, daughter of Roswell and Susanna Murray, born in Florida, Montgomery county, New York, June 1, 1806. She lived with her parents in Victor, Ontario county.
Buy's brother's business	Immediately after I was married I purchased the situation of my brother Charles and went into business for myself at the Potter's trade, which I carried on in the summer season, and worked at blacksmithing in the winter; I also chopped cord wood and cleared land occasionally.
10 years as a potter	I continued in the pottery business upwards of ten years, and in the meantime I made a purchase of five and a half acres of land, built a fine house, a wood house, barn, and other outhouses, and planted fruit trees, and had situated myself so as to live comfortably.
Mason	In 1823, I received the three first degrees of masonry in the lodge at Victor Flats, Ontario county.
Chapter buildings burned	In 1824, myself and five others sent a petition to the Chapter at Canandaigua, the county seat of Ontario, to receive the degrees up to the Royal Arch Masons: our petition was accepted but just previous to the time we were to receive those degrees, the Anti-Masons burnt the Chapter buildings in Canandaigua.
Wishes all would be Masons	No man was admitted into a lodge in those days except he bore a good moral character, and was a man of steady habits and a member would be suspended for immoral conduct. I wish that all men were masons and [472] would live up to their profession, then the world would be in a much better state than it is now.
Daughter dies 1824	My first daughter, Judith Marvin, was born in Mendon, Munroe [Monroe] county, N. Y., July 29th, 1823, and died May 20, 1824.	Original: Munroe
First son 1825	My son, William Henry, was born in Mendon, April 10, 1825.
Signs in the heavens	Sept. 22, 1827, while living in the town of Mendon, I having retired to bed, John P. Greene, a travelling reformed Methodist preacher, waked me up calling upon me to behold the scenery in the heavens.	Samuel H. Smith loaned or sold copies of the Book of Mormon to the Greenes and Phineas Young of Mendon in the spring of 1830. Samuel's Books
	I called my wife and sister Fanny Young (sister of Brigham Young) who was living with me; it was so clear that you could see to pick up a pin, we looked to the eastern horizon and beheld a white smoke arise towards the heavens, and as it ascended it formed itself into a belt and made a noise like the rustling of a mighty wind, and continued southwest, forming a regular bow dipping in the western horizon.	Signs and Wonders
Army in the sky	After the bow had formed it began to widen out and grow clear and transparent of a bluish cast, it grew wide enough to contain twelve men abreast.
	In this bow an army moved, commencing from the east and marching to the west. They moved in platoons, and walked so close, the rear ranks trod in the steps of their file leaders, until the whole bow was literally crowded with soldiers.
	We could see distinctly the muskets, bayonets, and knapsacks of the men, who wore caps and feathers like those used by the American soldiers in the last war with Britain; also their officers with their swords and equipage, and heard the clashing and jingling of their instruments of war and could discover the form and features of the men. The most profound order existed throughout the entire army, when the foremost man stepped, every man stepped at the same time: I could hear the step.
Battle	When the front rank reached the Western horizon a battle ensued, as we could distinctly hear the report of the arms and the rush.
	No man could judge of my feelings when I beheld that army of men, as plainly as I ever saw armies of men in the flesh it seemed as though every hair of my head was alive. This scenery was gazed upon for hours, until it began to disappear.	MS 26, no. 31 (July 30, 1864): 487–488.
Same night Joseph retrieves the plates	Subsequently I learned this took place the same evening that Joseph Smith received the records of the Book of Mormon from the Angel Moroni.
Other witnesses	John Young, Sen., and John P. Greene's wife, Rhoda, were also witnesses of this scenery.	Original: Green's Samuel H. Smith loaned the Greene's a Book of Mormon in June 1830. Samuel's Books
	My wife, Vilate, being frightened at what she saw, said, "Father Young, what does all this mean?"
Sign of the second comng	He replied in a lively, pleased manner, "Why, its one of the signs of the coming of the Son of Man."
Neighbors witness battling armies next night	The next night similar scenery was beheld in the west, by the neighbors, representing armies of men who were engaged in battle.
Hellen Mar Kimball	My daughter, Hellen Mar, was born Mendon, August 22, 1828.
Roswell Kimball	My son Roswell Heber, was born in Mendon, January 10, 1831; and died June 15.
Attends Baptist church Anxious bench	I mostly attended the meetings of the Baptist church, and was often invited to unite myself with them. I received many pressing invitations to unite with different sects, but did not see fit to comply with their desires until a revival took place in our neighborhood. I had passed through several of their protracted meetings, and had been many times upon the anxious bench to seek relief from the bonds of "Sin and Death," but no relief could I find until the meetings were passed by.
Baptized, peace	At this time I concluded to put myself under the watch care of the Baptist church and unite myself to them; as soon as I had concluded to do this, the Lord administered peace to my mind, and accordingly the next day I went with my wife and we were baptized by Elder Elijah Weaver, and we partook of the sacrament on that day for the first and also last time with them.
Does not believe all Baptist doctrines	Although they believed in principles which I did not, I placed myself under their watch-care, to be a guard upon [48] me, and to keep me from running into evils.
	Heber C. Kimball (h2) Heber C. Kimball (h3) Heber C. Kimball (h4) Heber C. Kimball (h5) Heber C. Kimball Biographies Home