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LIFE OF
HEBER C. KIMBALL,
AN APOSTLE;
THE FATHER AND FOUNDER OF THE BRITISH MISSION.
----
BY ORSON F. WHITNEY.
----
It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy
in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who, in the
midst of the crowd, keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of
his character.--_Emerson_.
----
PUBLISHED BY THE KIMBALL FAMILY,
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.
PRINTED AT THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR OFFICE.
1888.
TO THE MEMORY OF
My GRANDFATHER;
AND TO THE GREAT
Cause of Truth,
_For which he lived and died; and to all who love that
Memory and that Cause,
This Volume is reverently Dedicated by_
THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
In presenting this work to the public, I not only fulfill the desires
of my own heart and those of my kindred who have undertaken to publish
what is here written and compiled, but likewise, I am persuaded, the
wish of our departed ancestor. Laying the foundation for such a work
while living (as the copious selections from his own writings will
testify), he left its bringing forth as a sacred legacy to his
posterity.
For many years this duty, unenjoined in words, but accepted by all in
the light of a behest, was permitted to lie dormant. The death of
President Kimball, on the 22nd of June, 1868, was a calamity so sudden
and heavy in its effect upon his family, as to almost paralyze thought
and effort. Though trained to independence and self-reliance, under
his wise government, and never pampered in ease and luxury, they had
ever looked to him for guidance and support, and had never known the
weight of responsibility resting upon him as their parent and
provider, only as from time to time he had taken certain ones into his
confidence and permitted them to share his burdens.
In his absence they were as sheep that had lost their shepherd. "Who
will provide for us now, and what shall we do to earn a livelihood?"
Such were the thoughts presented to their minds, and the questions
asked of their secret souls, as they looked around upon their temporal
situation. The division of the parental estate had left them
comfortable, though far from rich, None of his sons had trades, but
all had been brought up to work. Realizing that a city life was no
longer their lot, they resolved to separate, and, following the
example of their ancestors for generations, go forth and colonize new
regions. Some moved north, and others south, but few remaining in the
city of their birth, and at the expiration of fifteen years, many had
become almost as strangers to each other.
About the year 1883 a spirit of inquiry commenced to manifest itself
among the members of the Kimball family, causing them to "feel after"
and evince more interest in each other's welfare. This sentiment
increasing, some of the elder members at length opened a
correspondence on the subject of a family reunion. By many this was
deemed impracticable, owing to their scattered condition; some living
in Idaho, some in southern Arizona, and others in California; and
nearly all in circumstances which, it was thought, would hardly
justify the necessary outlay. But the desire to meet and mingle with
each other finally grew so urgent and so general among them--as though
some unseen power were at work in their midst, with this object in
view--that it was determined to hold the reunion, no matter what
sacrifice it entailed.
During the summer of 1886, a number of the family met and appointed a
Committee on Reunion, selecting for the day, June 14th, 1887, (the
eighty-sixth anniversary of their father's birth) and as the place of
meeting, Fuller's Hill Gardens, Salt Lake City. There came together on
that memorable occasion, fully three hundred members and relatives of
the Kimball family, with others who had been invited to take part in
the celebration. A programme, previously arranged, consisting of
speeches, recitations, readings, vocal and instrumental music, etc.,
was carried out to the satisfaction and enjoyment of all, and the
remainder of the time spent in amusement, festivity and recreation. A
spirit of peace and union, powerful and indescribable, pervaded the
assembly and permeated the whole occasion, causing every heart to
swell with love, and many an eye to glisten with tears of gratitude
and joy. As though, indeed, the spirits of the departed were there,
bringing with them the sweet influences of the celestial world, to
weld anew, as links of a broken chain, the souls of those so long
separated. It was, in truth, a day never to be forgotten.
There were present, of the family of President Kimball, nineteen sons,
six daughters, and several of his widows, besides grand-children, and
many other relatives, near and remote.
One of the features of the programme was a sketch of the life of Heber
C. Kimball, written for the occasion and read by his grandson, the
author of this work. This incident determined and united the family on
a project mooted by its members and partly executed several years
before. It was the publication of the life of Heber C. Kimball. On the
evening of the day of reunion the male members of the family met and
appointed a committee of five on publication. Several thousand dollars
of undivided property, still in the estate, was devoted to the
purpose, and the author hereof solicited, and by unanimous voice
chosen and engaged to write the history.
Such, in brief, were the immediate causes of the coming forth of this
volume.
In the execution of my task, I have felt strongly moved upon by the
spirit of my grandsire, and verily believe that his presence, though
unseen, has hovered near me.
This book is written from the standpoint of a Latter-day Saint. It
makes no apology for the honest expression of views, which, however
false or fanatical they may seem to others, are in the opinion of the
author only such as ought to be entertained by every sincere believer
and defender of the faith. It is issued with the humble and earnest
hope that it may go forth as a messenger of Truth to help prepare the
way for greater things that shall glorify God and redeem Zion. The
life of a man like Heber C. Kimball, with its lessons of faith and
humility, of virtue, courage and devotion, cannot fail, if prayerfully
read, to do something in this direction.
Wherever possible, I have allowed the subject to speak for himself. In
lieu of converting facts found of record in his Journal into "original
matter," I have presented them mostly in all their freshness and
simplicity; as flowers of the field, with the dew and fragrance of
their native meadow yet clinging to them. This has been done, not only
out of deference to the wishes of his relatives, who desired that much
of what their father had written should be incorporated in the book of
his life, but because I have deemed it best to thus project upon the
reader's mental vision, by means of the most superior process, the
portrait of the man and his mission as painted by himself.
I cannot close this introductory without expressing my deep sense of
indebtedness to the kind friends who have aided and encouraged me in
the bringing forth of this, my first book. Their name is legion, but
limited space will only permit the mention of a few. To President
Wilford Woodruff and others of the Apostles I am indebted for kind
words and encouragement, and for the appointment of a committee, at my
request, to read the manuscript and pass upon it critically, as to
doctrinal and historical points, before placing it in the hands of the
printer; to Elder George Reynolds, for his intelligent advice and
labors as one of said committee; and to Edward W. Tullidge Esq., the
veteran author, for a collection of facts relating to my subject,
gathered during his extensive experience as historian and biographer.
Last, but not least, in this limited reference, I am under obligations
of gratitude to my uncle, Solomon F. Kimball, the chief promoter of
this work, who first approached me on the subject of writing his
father's life, and who, in all the toils incident to such an
undertaking, has proved my staunch and faithful friend.
My labor, I need hardly say, in conclusion, has been one of love and
duty. I have fulfilled, imperfectly I know, conscientiously I am as
certain, what I considered a sacred trust; the result of which I now
lay at the feet of an indulgent public.
ORSON F. WHITNEY.
NOVEMBER, 1888.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
A Pre-existent Glimpse--God's Noble and Great Ones--Heber C. Kimball
a Predestined Prophet--Opening of the Last Dispensation--Heber's
Birth and Parentage--Early Incidents of His Life--Clouds and
Sunshine
CHAPTER II.
A Romantic Episode--Heber's Marriage with Vilate Murray--A Soldier
and a Free Mason--His Stern Arraignment of the Ancient Order--Death
of Heber's Father and Mother
CHAPTER III.
Heber's Poetic Nature--A Rough Diamond--Early Religious
Experience--Joins the Baptist Church--"Signs in the Heavens
Above"--Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young--The Everlasting Gospel
CHAPTER IV.
Heber Embraces Mormonism--A Baptism of Fire--Death of Miriam
Young--Vilate Kimball a Mother to the Orphans--Heber Ordained an
Elder--Resolves to Visit Kirtland
CHAPTER V.
The Land of Shinehah--Arrival of Heber and Brigham in
Kirtland--Their First Meeting with the Prophet--The Kimballs and
Youngs Remove to Ohio--Vexatious Suits and Mob Violence--Fallen on
Perilous Times
CHAPTER VI.
The Gathering of the Titans--Heber's Testimony of Joseph and the
Twelve--Their Mighty Mission--The Test of Faith--Zion's Camp
CHAPTER VII.
The Redemption of Zion--Enoch's City to Return--Object of The United
Order--Cause of the Jackson County Expulsion--The Wheat from the
Chaff
CHAPTER VIII.
The Zion's Camp Expedition--Joseph as a Prophet General--Finding of
the Bones of Zelph, the Ancient--Rebellion in the Camp--Joseph
Predicts a Scourge--Heber's Failure as a Launderer--Zion's Camp
Saved by a Storm
CHAPTER IX.
The Fishing River Revelation--Why Zion was not Redeemed--The Cholera
in Camp--The Test of Faith Complete--The Shadow of a Coming Event
CHAPTER X.
Building the Temple--Joseph and Heber Working in the Quarry--The
Theological School--A Lesson on Faith--Call of the Twelve--Heber C.
Kimball Ordained an Apostle
CHAPTER XI.
First Mission of the Twelve--Heber Revisits the Scenes of his
Childhood--Mobbing an Abolitionist--"The Accuser of the
Brethren"--Days of Repentance and Reformation
CHAPTER XII.
Heber's Description of the Temple--Its Dedication--Angels
Administer--The "Beloved Disciple" John Seen--The Solemn
Assembly--The Elders Endowed with Power from on High--Heber's Lone
Mission
CHAPTER XIII.
The Worship of Mammon--The Temporal Above the Spiritual--The
Kirtland Bank--Financial Disasters--Apostasy--Heber Sorrows Over the
Degeneracy of the Times
CHAPTER XIV.
Zion's Ship Among the Breakers--"Something New Must be Done to Save
the Church."--Heber C. Kimball Appointed to Open the British
Mission--Spiritual Things to the Front--Righting the Ship--Heber's
Prophecy to Willard Richards--"Yea, in the Name of the Lord, Thou
Shalt Go With Me"--The Departure for England
CHAPTER XV.
Farewell to Native Land--"Upon the Wide, Wide Sea"--Heber's Dream of
Joseph--A Ship Out of Her Reckoning--A Dying Child Healed--Apostle
Hyde Preaches on Board--Arrival at Liverpool--The Elders Leap Ashore
CHAPTER XVI.
Strangers in a Strange Land--The Elders Led by the Spirit to
Preston--"Truth Will Prevail"--The Reverend James
Fielding--Wonderful Fulfillment of Heber's Prophecies--A People
Prepared for the Gospel--The Elders Preach in Preston
CHAPTER XVII.
Satan Alarmed--The Powers of Evil Conspire Against the
Elders--Chapels and Churches Closed Against Them--The Reverend Mr.
Fielding in his Real Colors--The Work Continues to Spread--An Army
of Demons Attack the Elders--The Dawn and Victory
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Reverend Mr. Fielding Forbids the Elders to Baptize their
Converts--Apostle Kimball's Answer: "They are of Age and Can Act for
Themselves"--Premier Gladstone and Secretary Evarts--Free Agency and
Unrighteous Dominion--Heber C. Kimball Baptizes in the River
Ribble--A Miracle
CHAPTER XIX.
The Elders Separate for the Better Prosecution of Their
Work--Jennetta Richards--The Preston Branch Organized--Heber Goes to
Walkerfold--Another Minister's "Craft in Danger"--More of Heber's
Prophecies--"Willard, I Baptized Your Wife To-day."
CHAPTER XX.
The Mission of Elias--The Symbolism of the Universe--The Past
Preparatory to the Present and Future--The Way Prepared for the
Fullness of the Gospel--The "Lesser Lights" of England--Fielding,
Matthews and Aitken--The Stars Paling Before the Sun
CHAPTER XXI.
The Temperance Reform in Preston--A Work Preparatory to the
Gospel--Preaching in the "Cock Pit"--Heber Writes Home an Account of
His Mission--The Work in Cumberland--Episode of Mary Smithies--"She
Shall Live to Become a Mother in Israel."
CHAPTER XXII.
Heber Writes to Willard in Bedford--The Elders Become Licensed
Preachers--The "Milk" and "Meat of the Word"--Rapid Spread of the
Work--Miracles--Heber's Dream of the Bull and Field of Grain--A
Disappointed Mob
CHAPTER XXIII.
The Voice of the Good Shepherd--Heber Converts Whole Villages--The
Spirit of the Master Upon His Servant--The Christmas Conference in
Preston
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Work of God not Dependent upon Man--Humility a Source of
Power--Every Man Chosen and Fitted for his Sphere--Example of Paul
the Apostle--Heber "Hits the Rock" in Longton--The Apostles Visit
the Branches Prior to Returning to America
CHAPTER XXV.
Condition of the Church at Home--Pruning off the Dead Branches--A
Day of Choosing--Apostates Conspire to Overthrow the Church--Flight
of the Prophet from Kirtland--Fall of Oliver Cowdery and other
Apostles--"Show Unto us Thy Will, O Lord, concerning the Twelve!"
CHAPTER XXVI.
Heber's Farewell to Chatburn--An Affecting Scene--His Sympathy for
the Poor of England--The April Conference in Preston--Two Thousand
Saints Assemble--Joseph Fielding Appointed to Preside over the
British Mission
CHAPTER XXVII.
Departure for Liverpool--Heber's Letter to the Saints in Chatburn
and Downham--His Prediction concerning Thomas Webster--Its Strict
Fulfillment
CHAPTER XXVIII.
The Elders Sail for Home--A Storm at Sea--How Heber Found Favor with
the Steward--Arrival at New York--The "Garrick" again
Victorious--Journey to Kirtland--On to Far West--Happy Meeting with
Joseph and the Brethren
CHAPTER XXIX.
The Land where Adam Dwelt--The Saints Impelled Toward their
Destiny--Persecution Revives--Adam-ondi-Ahman--The Altar of the
Ancient of Days
CHAPTER XXX.
Times that Tried Men's Souls--The Mob Gathering Against Far
West--Battle of Crooked River--Death of David W. Patten Days of
Darkness and Disaster
CHAPTER XXXI.
The Fall of Far West--Joseph and his Brethren Betrayed to the
Enemy--Heber Facing the Traitors--His Fearless Denunciation and Firm
Testimony--Atrocities of the Mob--Heber's Prophecy of
Retribution--He Visits the Prophet in Richmond Jail
CHAPTER XXXII.
Memorial to the Missouri Legislature--A Chapter of Infamy--How
Missouri Redressed the Wrongs of the Suffering Saints--Brigham and
Heber Setting in Order the Church--Arranging for the Exodus
CHAPTER XXXIII.
The First Presidency Instruct the Apostles--Brigham Young Chosen
President of the Twelve--The Exodus Begun--Heber Tarries in Missouri
to Minister to his Imprisoned Brethren--His Faithful but Fruitless
Efforts for their Release--The Lord Speaks to Heber
CHAPTER XXXIV.
A Word for the Fallen--Only God Knoweth the Wherefore and Why--Orson
Hyde's Repentance and Return to the Church--Heber C. Kimball and
Hyrum Smith his Champions--Isaac Russell's Apostasy--Heber Writes to
the Church in England
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Brethren in Liberty Jail--Judge King's Coup D'Etat--The Mob
Again Threaten Far West--Fiends in Human Form--The Prophet Regains
His Freedom--The Apostles Fulfill Revelation--First Conference of
the Church in Illinois
CHAPTER XXXVI.
Nauvoo the Beautiful--Heber's Prediction Over the Fated City--Elder
Rigdon's Alarm--Heber's Second Encounter with Evil Spirits--Parley
P. Pratt Escapes from Prison, Fulfilling Heber's Prophecy
CHAPTER XXXVII.
An Epidemic of Disease--Joseph Heals the Multitude--Brigham and
Heber Start on their Mission to England--Sickness by the Way--Heber
Poisoned--His Life Saved by Brigham
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
On to Kirtland--Miraculously Supplied with Money--Condition of
Affairs at the Old Church Headquarters
CHAPTER XXXIX.
The Apostles Sail for England--Growth of the British Mission During
Heber's Absence--Labors of Elders Woodruff and Taylor--First Council
of the Twelve Among the Nations--Willard Richards Ordained an
Apostle
CHAPTER XL.
Heber Visits the Branches Raised up During His Former Mission--His
Report of their Condition and Standing--First General Conference at
Manchester
CHAPTER XLI.
Founding the London Conference--Apostles Kimball, Woodruff and Smith
Chosen for the Work--Seeking for a Man with the Spirit of God--The
First Convert--The Elders Hold Open-air Meetings in Tabernacle
Square
CHAPTER XLII.
Father Corner Baptized--The Apostles Visit the Reverend Robert
Aitken--Heber Attacked with Cholera--The Work in other Parts--Second
Conference at Manchester--Brigham Accompanies Heber to
London--Conversion of the Rev. James Albion
CHAPTER XLIII.
Opening of the Year 1841 in London--Encouraging Success of the
Elders--Heber C. Kimball Blesses the Queen of England--The Woolwich
Branch Organized--Organization of the London Conference--The
Prospect of War Between Great Britain and the United States Hastens
the Return of the Apostles to America
CHAPTER XLIV.
Heber Organizes the Birmingham Conference--Meeting of the Apostles
in Manchester Prior to Returning to America--Orson Hyde Present on
his way to Palestine--The Extensive Work of One Year
CHAPTER XLV.
The Apostles Sail for Home--Arrival at New York--Heber's Letter to
the "Millennial Star"--Happy Meeting With the Prophet and the Saints
at Nauvoo--Labors Spiritual aid Temporal--Heber's Phrenological
Chart
CHAPTER XLVI.
Revelation of Celestial Marriage--Secrecy the Price of Safety--
Joseph Tests Heber and Makes him his Confidant--How Vilate Kimball
was Converted--Heber and Vilate give their Daughter Helen to the
Prophet in Celestial Marriage
CHAPTER XLVII.
John C. Bennett's Apostasy--Heber and the Twelve sent out to Refute
his Slanders--Heber's Famous Sermon: "The Clay in the Hands of the
Potter"--Inception of the Relief Society--Vilate's Vow and Heber's
Prayer
CHAPTER XLVIII.
Heber's Last Mission to the Gentiles--Joseph Smith a Candidate for
the Presidency of the United States--The Apostles his
Electioneerers--The Martyrdom--Return of the Twelve to Nauvoo
CHAPTER XLIX.
Choice of Joseph's Successor--A Miracle--The Mantle of Joseph Falls
Upon Brigham Young--Heber C. Kimball his Right Hand Man
CHAPTER L.
The Work Moves on in Spite of Persecution and Apostasy--The Nauvoo
Temple Finished and Dedicated--The Saints Prepare for their Removal
to the Rocky Mountains
CHAPTER LI.
The Exodus--Heber's Prophecy Fulfilled--Evacuation of Nauvoo--The
Camp of Israel on Sugar Creek--Brigham and Heber Lead the Church
Westward--Arrival at the Missouri River
CHAPTER LII.
Destination of the Saints--The Call for the Mormon Battalion Heroic
Response of the Exiles--Brigham, Heber and Willard as Recruiting
Sergeants--Departure of the Battalion--The Camp of Israel Goes into
Winter Quarters--The Fall of Nauvoo
CHAPTER LIII.
The Word and Will of the Lord Concerning the Camp of Israel--The
Pioneers Start for the Rocky Mountains--Names of the
Heroes--Incidents of the Journey West
CHAPTER LIV.
Arrival at Grand Island--The Pioneer Buffalo Hunt--Heber Kills his
First Bison--The Spirit of Levity Rebuked--The Pioneers Reach Fort
Laramie
CHAPTER LV.
The Pioneers Cross the Platte--Governor Boggs and the
Missourians--Col. Bridger--"A Thousand Dollars for a Bushel of
Wheat"--The Pioneers' First Glimpse of the Valley of the Great Salt
Lake
CHAPTER LVI.
The Pioneers Enter the Valley--Exploring and Colonizing--A Renewal
of Covenants--Selection of Inheritances--Return of the Leaders to
Winter Quarters
CHAPTER LVII.
The First Presidency Reorganized--Heber Attains to "The Honor of the
Three"--Second Journey to the Mountains--Sickness and
Distress--Heber's Character as a Colonizer
CHAPTER LVIII.
The Cricket Plague--Saved by the Gulls--Heber's Famous
Prophecy--"States Goods" Sold in Great Salt Lake City Cheaper than
in New York
CHAPTER LIX.
Heber C. Kimball Chief Justice and Lieutenant-Governor of
Deseret--In the Legislature--Laying the Corner Stones of the Salt
Lake Temple--Heber's Consecration Prayer--His Prophecy in Relation
to the Temple--He Predicts Another Famine
CHAPTER LX.
The Famine of '56--Heber a Second Joseph--A Savior to his
People--Vilate a Ministering Angel--A Strange Piece of
Counsel--President Kimball's Letters Descriptive of the Famine to
His Son William, in England
CHAPTER LXI.
The Hand-cart Emigration--Perishing in the Snow--Heroic Conduct of
William II. and David P. Kimball--President Kimball's Plea and
Exertions in Behalf of the Sufferers--The Utah War--The Great
Rebellion
CHAPTER LXII.
Some of Heber's Family History--A Patriarchal Household--Names of
his Wives and Children--Episode of Abram A. Kimball--Peter, the
Child of Promise--Heber at Family Prayers--David H. Kimball's
Story--Heber P. and Solomon F. Kimball in the Black Hawk War
CHAPTER LXIII.
Anecdotes and Reminiscences of Heber C. Kimball--The Man as Others
Knew him--Golden Grains from the Sands of Memory
CHAPTER LXIV.
Gems from the Words of Heber--Spirit Rappings--Address at the
Funeral of Mary Fielding Smith--Love, Unity and the Courage of the
Righteous--Joseph and the Keys of the Kingdom--Cultivation of
Spirits--Heaven and Hell--Administration of Angels and the Spirits
of the Ancients--The Resurrection--The Spirit World--The Clay and
the Potter--A Cause of Apostasy--A Miraculous Cane--The Church in
Heaven
CHAPTER LXV.
Gems from Heber's Words Continued--His Striking View of Time and
Eternity--His Words and Works at the Last Conference Preceding his
Death--His Last Sermon
CHAPTER LXVI.
Death of Vilate, the Wife of Heber's Youth--President Brigham Young
Preaches her Funeral Sermon--His Feeling Tribute to her
Memory--Heber Prophesies of his Own Death
CHAPTER LXVII.
Death of Apostle Kimball--All Israel Mourns--Expressions in Honor of
the Illustrious Dead
CHAPTER LXVIII.
Obsequies of President Kimball--Tributes and Testimonies of his
Brother Apostles--"He was a man of as Much Integrity as Any Man who
Ever Lived"--Earth Returns to Earth and the Spirit Unto God Who Gave
it
APPENDIX.
A Glimpse of the Great Beyond--Thrilling Experience of David Patten
Kimball--Lost in the Desert--Communing with the Spirits of the
Departed--David Predicts his own Death and the Death of Four
Others--The Fulfillment
CHAPTER I.
A PRE-EXISTENT GLIMPSE--GOD'S NOBLE AND GREAT ONES--HEBER C. KIMBALL A
PREDESTINED PROPHET--OPENING OF THE LAST DISPENSATION--HEBER'S BIRTH
AND PARENTAGE--EARLY INCIDENTS OF HIS LIFE--CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE.
Men like Heber C. Kimball are not accidents. They are emphatically and
in the truest sense, children of destiny. If we seek their origin, and
would know their truth, we must not halt beside the humble cradle
which "lulled their infant cares to rest." We must rise on spirit
wings above the mists and vapors of mortality, and survey them in the
light of an eternal existence, a life without beginning or end. Says
one of old:
"Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that
were organized before the world was; and among all these there
were many of the noble and great ones; and God saw these souls
that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he
said, 'These I will make my rulers'; for he stood among those that
were spirits, and he saw that they were good, and he said unto me,
Abraham, thou art one of them, thou wast chosen before thou wast
born."
Again, unto Jeremiah:
"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou
camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained
thee a prophet unto the nations."
What is true in this respect of ancient prophets, is true also of
modern prophets, for verily are their origin, their mission and their
destiny the same.
It devolved upon the subject of this writing to come forth at a time
which has no parallel in all the ages of the past. The day of God's
power and of Zion's glory was about to dawn. The Sun that set in blood
behind Judea's hills was soon to rise o'er Zion's mountain-tops and
flood the world with light. The latter-day dispensation was opening.
All things in Christ were to be gathered in one. The curtain of
history had risen on the last act of the tragedy of Time.
Would God leave the world without "great and noble ones" at such an
hour?
----
Heber Chase Kimball was born into this life June 14th, 1801. The same
soil produced him that in colonial times brought forth an Ethan Allen,
the hero of Ticonderoga, and in later years the wondrous twain of
spirits known to the world as Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
A far greater work than the capture of a British fortress was in the
future of this Mormon triad of "Green Mountain boys," who went forth
"in the name of the great Jehovah" to invade the strongholds of Satan,
and plant the banner of gospel truth above the ramparts of his
conquered citadels.
Heber's birthplace was the town of Sheldon, Franklin County, Vermont,
ten miles from the shores of Lake Champlain. He was the fourth child
and second son in a family of seven, the order of whose birth was as
follows: Charles Spaulding, Eliza, Abigail, Heber Chase, Melvina,
Solomon and Daniel Spaulding, the last named of whom died in infancy.
These were all born in Sheldon.
His father's name was Solomon Farnham Kimball, a native of
Massachusetts, where he was born in the year 1770. He was "a man of
good moral character," and, though he professed no religion, taught
his children correct principles. His mother's maiden name was Anna
Spaulding; she was a strict Presbyterian, lived a virtuous life, and,
according to her best knowledge, reared her family in the ways of
righteousness. She was the daughter of Daniel and Speedy Spaulding,
and was born in Plainfield, New Hampshire, on the banks of the
Connecticut river.
The Kimballs were of Scotch descent, their ancient name, it is
believed, being Campbell. Heber's grandfather and a brother came from
England, in time to assist in gaining the independence of the
colonies. In America his ancestors and those of the Prophet Joseph
Smith were related by marriage.
Heber derived his given name from a Judge Chase, of Massachusetts, by
whom his father was reared from a boy, and who chanced to visit his
former protege soon after his son was born. The judge himself proposed
the christening, and the parents being nothing loth, Heber Chase
Kimball became the infant's name.
This Judge Chase, though presumably "learned in the law," like many of
his class in those primitive, common sense days was not above
following the humbler pursuits of life. He was a blacksmith, and
taught Heber's father that trade, and when he had married, helped him
to establish his smithy in the town of Sheldon.
"At the close of the Revolutionary War," says Heber, "my father was
thirteen years old, and I can remember his rehearsing to me some of
the scenes of the war.
"He was captain of a company of militia in Sheldon, and wore a cocked
hat of the old English style, a straightbodied coat, and short
breeches with a knee buckle, long stockings, and Suwarrow boots with a
pair of tassels.
"He was partly bald, had dark-brown hair, blue eyes, sandy whiskers
and light complexion; he was five feet, eleven inches high, and
weighed two hundred pounds and upwards.
"He engaged in farming and clearing land, burning the wood into coal
and ashes; he had also a forge and trip-hammer, in the manufacture of
wrought iron.
"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."
In February, 1811, the Kimballs migrated from Vermont, and settled in
West Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York, five hundred miles from
their former home, where the head of the family reengaged in his
occupations of farmer and blacksmith, to which he now added that of
builder. He was aided in his new venture by Judge Towsley, of Scipio,
Cayuga County, who had employed him for several months as foreman in a
blacksmith shop.
Heber thus describes the journey from Sheldon to West Bloomfield, with
incidents of their subsequent experience in that then new country:
"My father took my mother and six children in a sleigh, with one span
of horses, a change of clothing for each of us, and some blankets to
wrap us in; when we reached St. Albans, my father bought each of his
boys a hat, which was the first hat I ever had on my head. We traveled
on Lake Champlain, on the ice, and the wind being very high, my hat
was blown off and lost.
"We traveled on the ice up to Whitehall, a distance of one hundred and
ten miles, where, spring being open, he traded his sleigh for a wagon
and proceeded to West Bloomfield.
"He built an academy in West Bloomfield, also two tavern stands and
several private dwellings; he made nearly all of the edge tools, such
as scythes, augers, axes, knives, etc., also plow-shares and
agricultural implements, for the country around, to a distance of
fifty or sixty miles; and sometimes he had eight forges employed at
once.
"He continued living in West Bloomfield during the 'last war' with
England, which place was on the thoroughfare between Albany and
Buffalo, on what was called 'the public turnpike,' and on which the
soldiery passed during the war (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 a banking
establishment, and issued 'shin-plasters' from one cent up to five
dollars.
"My father lost the greater portion of his property, which broke him
up in that place. He then moved two and one-half miles east, half way
between East and West Bloomfield, where he bought a farm of a Mr.
Stewart, near a small lake called Stewart's Pond; on this farm there
was a little improvement. Here he established blacksmithing, built a
large tavern stand, barns and other out-houses, and once more set out
an orchard of various kinds of fruit trees.
"This was in the year 1816, which was called the cold season; the same
year that the black spot was seen on the sun. The following year we
had little to subsist upon; for some three weeks we gathered milk
weeds, and boiled and ate them, not having salt to put on them. It was
with difficulty that bread could be procured."
Evidently the elder Kimball was a man of force and energy, qualities
which his son Heber inherited, and in turn transmitted to his
posterity. The Kimballs, with scarcely an exception, are, in this
respect, of just such sterling stuff as their sire and grandsire, and
invariably "show the mettle of their pasture," as colonizers, wherever
their lot is cast.
The limited amount of schooling that Heber received in these days of
his childhood and early youth, extended from his fifth to his
fourteenth year, and was of the quality usually found in the primitive
village schools of the day. He was not an ardent lover of books, but
drew his lessons from life and nature in all their multiplied and
varied phases. It was "about the time of the great eclipse in 1806"
that he commenced going to school. The eclipse he "remembered well,"
as his father was about starting on a journey, but was obliged to wait
on account of the darkness.
At the age of fourteen he was put to work in his father's blacksmith
shop, and acquired a knowledge of that useful trade. When he was
nineteen, his father having met with further reverses, he was thrown
entirely upon his own resources, and now began to taste the first
bitter experience of his life.
He was a singular compound, in his nature, of courage and timidity, of
weakness and strength; uniting a penchant for mirth with a proneness
to melancholy, and blending the lion-like qualities of a leader among
men, with the bashfulness and lamb-like simplicity of a child.
He was not a coward; a braver man probably never lived than Heber C.
Kimball. His courage, however was not of that questionable kind which
"knows no fear." Rather was it of that superior order, that
Christ-like bravery, which feels danger and yet dares to face it. He
had all the sensitiveness of the poet--for he was both a poet and a
prophet from his mother's womb--and inherited by birthright the power
to feel pleasure or suffer pain, in all its exquisiteness and
intensity.
Hear his own pathetic story of his early hardships:
"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 heart-aching hours I suffered much for want of food
and the comforts of life, and many times when two or three days
without food to eat, being bashful and not daring to ask for it.
"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.
"While living with my brother, he moved into the town of Mendon,
Monroe, County, New York, six miles north of Bloomfield, towards the
city of Rochester, where he again established the potter's business."
Here Heber finished learning his trade and commenced working for
wages. Six months later he purchased his brother's business and set up
in the same line for himself, in which he prospered for upwards of ten
years.