Mary Kimball

Daughter of James Smithies and Nancy Ann Knowles

Married Heber Chase Kimball, 25 Jan 1857, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Children - Mary Melvina Kimball, Wilford Alfonso Kimball, Abbie Sarah Kimball, Lorenzo Heber Kimball, James Heber Kimball

Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 10, p. 424

October 7, 1837. President Heber C. Kimball wrote the following:

The first child born in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Great Britain was the daughter of James and Nancy Ann Knowles Smithies. After she was born her parents wanted to take her to the church to be sprinkled, or christened, as they call it. I used every kind of persuasion to convince them of their folly; it being contrary to the Scriptures and the will of God; the parents wept bitterly, and it seemed as though I could not prevail on them to omit it. I wanted to know of them the reason why they were so tenacious; the answer was, "If she dies she cannot have a burial in the church yard." I said to them, "Brother and Sister Smithies, I say unto you in the name of Israel's God, she shall not die on this land, for she shall live until she becomes a mother in Israel; and I say it in the name of Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the Holy priesthood vested in me." That silenced them, and when she was two weeks old they presented the child to me; I took it in my arms and blessed it, that it should live to become a mother in Israel."

The child's name was Mary Smithies, who afterwards became Heber's wife last wife and the mother of several children. Soon after their baptism, the Smithies family left England for America, settling in Nauvoo. They began the journey across the plains in the Daniel Spencer Company, experiences of which are recorded in Mr. Smithies' journal. In the same journal the following information was found:

"January 25, 1855, I gave my daughter Mary to Heber C. Kimball for a wife."

They were the parents of five children: Mary Melvina, James Heber who died as a child, Wilford Alfonso, Lorenzo Heber, Abbie Sarah."

The Deseret News of June 8, 1880, printed the following:

Mary Smithies Kimball, wife of Heber C. Kimball, died June 8, at her residence in Farmer's Ward. She had been suffering for about a year with dropsy but was improving. Her death was quite sudden and unexpected. The funeral will be held Thursday at Farmer's Ward.

Kimball History, Frontier Colonizer

Heber C. Kimball, England

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Dec 2 2016, 15:40:08 UTC