Abiah Wadsworth

Abiah came from a family of carpenters and ship builders as they lived on the coast. As he grew up, he too learned the trade. He also learned to play the violin and drums. When he was 21, he married Eliza and continued in his trade, from which he made a good living. In 1839, missionaries from the Mormon Church came into the area. Many were converted including Abiah and his wife who were baptized in1840. They soon made plans to cross the country and join the rest of the saints. Abiah kept a journal of this period of his life, which is very interesting. They lived in LaHarpe, 20 miles from Nauvoo until the mobs started to burn the homes. They moved to Montrose where they remained over the winter and then came to Council Bluffs. The next spring, 1851, they crossed the plains to the Valley, arriving in September. Six of their children were with them. Abiah and his tools were very welcome on the trip west.

Upon their arrival, Brigham Young called them to settle in a new town called East Weber at the mouth of Weber Canyon. Abiah and two other men were asked to construct a road up the canyon, which they did. Abiah married Phoebe in 1857, and his family lived there for several years doing the best they could between the crickets and other problems. In 1858 they moved to Mountain Green, a small town in Weber Canyon. He built a shop and continued to work at his trade. Soon Indians caused them to move to Morgan, some miles east. While there he h elped build a saw mill, grist mill, a small tannery, and a number of houses. In 1862 they returned to Mountain Green.

Because of his larger family now, he found it necessary to move where he could have more land. In 1869-70 they moved to Hooper where he worked in his carpenter shop as well as on his land. His two sons-in-law helped him. He built all kinds of things as well as mended shoes, harnesses, and other things that were needed. He was well liked by everyone. He was known as the "village Blacksmith". In later years his first wife became blind and went to live with a daughter who could care for her. No call from the church or anyone else ever went unheeded by Abiah. In Hooper, Abiah was made presiding elder. He was like a father to the ward. He dearly loved music and was a good violin player. He would relax by entertaining family and friends, with singing, violin music and step dancing.

In 1885-6 because many men were being jailed because of polygamy, Abiah, at 76 decided to move to Taylor, Idaho, rather than go to jail. He got a home and some cattle but lost the cattle in a bad winter. Things weren't easy for them from then on, but he enjoyed the company of neighbors and friends and family. He lived to be 89 years old.

Children of first wife:

Joseph Warren, married Lydia Stoddard and Abigail Highley

Aroline, married Nelson Arave

Nancy Ellen, married George Higley

Eliza Ann

Abiah, Jr., married Cornelia Robinson

Lucinda Marthina

Frederick James

Aroline Ann, married Eli Spaulding

Cynthia, married William Miller

Children of second wife:

Charles Warren, married first about 1883, Harriet Hardy, married second Elizabeth Rappley

Phoebe Theodicia, died young

John, died

Mary Elizabeth, married Charles Rapp

Susan Victoria, married John Child

Flora M., married Heber Child

Julia A., married Nathan Child

Sarah Lynette

Frederick James

Daniel Chester

Ray William

Minnie Augusta

The order of the children in both families is probably wrong and there are probably other children who were not listed here.

Submitted by: Clair Kilts

SOURCE: Conquerors of the West, Volume 4

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The following information is from Find A Grave.com:

Abiah and his family were baptized by Elder William Hyde in 1839 at Lincolnville, Waldo County, Maine. The next year, they left their home to join the Saints in Illinois. At that time, they had four children: Joseph, Caroline, Nancy, and Ann. They arrived in Nauvoo in the spring, 1840. One of the first persons they met was the Prophet Joseph Smith, "one of the grandest men they had ever seen." They had a home near the Smiths at the time of the martyrdom. In 1845, Abiah turned in several bolts of cloth for tithing and a horse to help finish the temple.

In the spring of 1846, President Brigham Young, called the first company of Saints to go West. Abiah turned in his remaining team, harness, and wagon, leaving him only three cows and a few head of sheep. After the family was forced to move across the river to Montrose, Abiah returned to Nauvoo to guard the temple, which angry mobs threatened to destroy. Later, the family moved to Salem, where everything seemed quiet and peaceful. In 1849, George A. Smith called for the Saints in Salem to help another company going to the West, and Abiah turned over a yoke of oxen for them. Then Abiah found enough work to buy a team and wagon and enough supplies to move the family to Council Bluffs.

On May 10, 1851, the family joined the 50 member Abraham Day company in their long journey West. They had five yoke of oxen, one span of ponies, four cows and three wagons. Abiah drove two yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows on one wagon. Joseph and his mother drove three yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows on another wagon plus the ponies. They had no serious trouble and arrived in Great Salt Lake valley on September 17, 1851. They were thankful to join the Saints in this valley, where they could live in peace.

In his personal history, Abiah wrote, "When I was 30 years old , Dec 30, 1840, I was baptized into the LDS church and ordained. Teacher and presided over the Branch until I left that country for Nauvoo in 1842." Also before moving Abiah and Eliza had Eliza Ann b. 1842 in Searmont , Maine, so they could not of left in 1840. Thanks to Saundra Cox. (Obit courtesy Ellis & Lynn)

Parents:

Sedate Wadsworth (1775 - 1846)

Susan Hassen Wadsworth (1782 - 1825)

Spouses:

Phoebe Augusta Hubbard Wadsworth (1840 - 1919)

Eliza Ann Hardy Wadsworth (1806 - 1897)

Children:

Lucy Adoline Wadsworth

Joseph Warren Wadsworth (1831 - 1925)

Eli Wadsworth (1833 - 1833)

Susana Aroline Wadsworth Arave (1836 - 1917)

Nancy Wadsworth Higley (1839 - 1920)

Eliza Ann Wadsworth Spaulding (1842 - 1887)

Charolette Wadsworth (1844 - 1848)

Abiah Wadsworth (1849 - 1921)

Lucinda Mathea Wadsworth Miller (1851 - 1933)

Susan Victoria Wadsworth Child (1866 - 1949)

Daniel Chester Wadsworth (1879 - 1955)

Inscription: Let our Father's will be done

Maintained by: Lonnettec

Originally Created by: Collins Crapo

Record added: Aug 25, 2004

Find A Grave Memorial# 9366900