Albina Mariam Williams

Find a Grave

Birth: Jul. 25, 1826 Elba Genesee County New York, USA

Death: Nov. 28, 1914 Pocatello Bannock County Idaho, USA

Daughter of Samuel Merrill & Phebe Odell

Married Thomas Steven Williams, 25 Aug 1842

Albina Merrill was born on July 25, 1826 in Elba, Genesse County, New York to Samuel Merrill and Phoebe Odell. She married Thomas Stephen Williams on August 25, 1842, and was later sealed to Thomas on January 29, 1846, in the Nauvoo Temple. When the family left Nauvoo and went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, Thomas volunteered to go with the Mormon Battalion in Company D as a Sergeant. His wife, Albina went with him, as well as his two children, Ephraim and Caroline. A sister of Albina, Phoebe Lodema Merrill, also went with the Battalion and served as a nurse. (She was later the wife of Parmenio Adams Jackman)

It should be noted that this first family was very obedient to the prophet. They sent one son- Philemon C. Merrill, two sons-in-law-- Philander Colton and Thomas S. Williams, two grand-sons--Edwin Colton and Ferdinand Merrill,and two daughters-- Albina, and Phoebe Lodema with the Mormon Battalion. Eventually Albina and Thomas, along with their children and Albina's sister Phoebe, were sent back with the James Brown Detachment in October 1846, to Pueblo, Colorado. While spending the time there, Albina gave birth to a daughter on January 15, 1847. They named her Phoebe Isabell. The following is taken from Albina's biography.

"It was late in the fall of 1846, and Captain Brown determined to winter in the Spanish fort (Pueblo). It was hundreds of miles from any settlement, and poorly protected but it was the best refuge that could be obtained. "The men, who were able to work, set about strengthening the fortifications, as Indians and Spaniards were almost daily threatening attacks upon the fort. Insufficient food and clothing occasioned much sickness, among men, women, and children. The number of graves in the little cemetery increased as the population of the place decreased and, but for the tender nursing of the women of the camp, many more would have been added to the city of the silent dead."

Spring came and then the word was sent to the isolated little colony for them to start for the Rocky Mountains. They lost no time in bidding the little fort on the Arkansas a "goodbye". The Williams family arrived at the banks of City Creek in the Salk Lake Valley on July 29, 1847. In 1851, Phoebe Lodema Merrill, sister of Albina, became the wife of Parmenia A. Jackman. A few years later Parmenio and Thomas, his brother-in-law, engaged in a freighting business venture. In time, this business became one of the most prosperous in the city. In 1860, Thomas and Parmenio went to California to bring back a wagon train and merchandise. They had several wagons drawn by 40 spans of mules and they employed many teamsters. Near Bitter Springs on March 18th, the two men were shot down by Indians as they rode in advance of their wagons to look for a suitable place to camp. The Indians, an old man and his three sons, appeared friendly and told of good grass and water just ahead. The unsuspecting white men allowed the redskins to fall into the rear, when suddenly each rider was pieced by two arrows in the back. Mr. Jackman fell face down in the sand and Thomas thought him to be dead. Thomas galloped away and reached his men while yet enough life remained in him to tell the story. As he rode along he tried to pull one of the arrows from his back and the point was broken off inside him. He died that night. When found, Mr. Jackman was still alive but had been tortured by the Indians. He was paralyzed and unable to help himself in any way, except to reach a five-shooter pistol in his pocket. Four barrels had been emptied at the Indians, while the fifth was retained to put an end to his own suffering in case the Indians attacked again. He lived one month to the day. He was buried in San Bernardino, California. Of the entire, outfit, only one pair of mules was returned to the widows. The teamsters appropriated, for themselves, the remainder of the animals and the valuable outfits. The murdered merchants had much valuable real estate in the city, but the affairs, consequent upon the men's tragic death, reduced the windows from affluence to almost poverty.

Later Mrs. Jackman remarried, but Mrs. William remained a widow until her death. Albina died on November 28, 1914, in Pocatello, Idaho. She was the mother of ten children. After the death of her husband, Phoebe Lodema Merrill Jackman married Sylvenus Collett. Upon his death she married William Thompson. She, at some time, moved to Rexburg, Idaho and died there on January 18, 1909, and is buried in the Rexburg, Idaho cemetery with her husband, William Thompson.

Caroline Marie Williams, a daughters of Thomas and Albina, who went with them on the Battalion march, was born on April 24, 1843, in Nauvoo, Illinois. She married David Patten Kimball in 1857. They moved to Thatcher, Arizona, where she died on December 21, 1916, and was buried at St. David, Arizona. She was the mother of ten children.

Information below taken from personal journal of Charlotte Gunnell: ALBINA M. WILLIAMS known as "Grandma" Williams died at Pocatello [Idaho] 28 Nov 1914 at the residence of her son Thomas S. Williams. Buried in Fairview Cemetery in Soda Springs 1 Dec. 1914. Funeral in the L.D.S. church. Pres. Pond & Daniel J. Lau speakers. She was born in New York State 25 Jul 1826.

She joined the L.D.S. Church in an early age. With her parents she moved first to Kirkland, Ohio then to Nauvoo, Ill. where she was married in 1842 to Thomas S. Williams. She received her Patriarchal blessing from Hyrum Smith. She moved westward with the great Mormon emigration to Utah. She made two overland trips across the plains from the "states" to Utah, one of which was with the historic "Mormon Battalion", her husband having enlisted therein.

She resided in Salt Lake City most of her time between 1857 & 1880 and raised her family. Her husband was killed by the Indians 1860 while on an overland trip to California and was buried where he fell. She was the mother of ten children, 2 of whom are still living. They are Mrs. Caroline Kimball and Thomas S. Williams, 26 grandchildren, 58 great grand children & 1 g. g. grand child.

Family links:

Parents:

• Samuel Merrill (1780 - 1878)
• Phoebe Odell Merrill (1788 - 1862)

Spouse:

*Thomas Steven Williams (1827 - 1860)*

Children:

*Caroline Marie Williams Kimball (1843 - 1916)*

• Albina Altimira Williams (1849 - 1850)*
• Cyrena A. Williams (1852 - 1853)*
• Manasseh Woodrow Williams (1853 - 1905)*
• Thomas Stephen Williams (1855 - 1921)*

Burial: Fairview Cemetery Soda Springs Caribou County Idaho, USA Plot: Block 3, Lot 1

Maintained by: Schott Family Originally Created by: Lisa Olorenshaw Record added: Apr 09, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 25897084

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Nov 2 2017, 3:15:46 UTC