Elijah Ables

Spelling of Name:

"...According to two early manuscript sources, Elijah spelled his name alternatively as “Elijah Ables” and “Elijah Able.” ..."

SOURCE: http://mormonhistoryguy.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/elijah-able-and-el...

Wikipedia Biographical Summary:

"...Elijah Abel (July 25, 1808 – December 25, 1884) was the first black elder and seventy in the Latter Day Saint movement, and one of the few black members in the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to receive the priesthood..."

"...Abel was born in Maryland as a slave, and is believed to have escaped slavery on the Underground Railroad into Canada. He was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in September 1832 by Ezekiel Roberts, and he married Mary Ann Adams, another African-American.[citation needed]
Abel was ordained an elder on March 3, 1836 in Kirtland, Ohio by Joseph Smith. In 1839, Abel was made a member of the Nauvoo Seventies Quorum. While living in Nauvoo, Illinois, he worked as a mortician at the request of Joseph Smith..."

"...In 1843, Abel served a mission in New York, but returned to Cincinnati, where he married Mary Ann Adams about 1847. Their first child, Moroni Abel was born there in 1849..."

"...In 1853 he and his family migrated in the Appleton Harmon pioneer company to Utah Territory, where he managed a hotel.

In Utah, Abel remained a seventy, and in 1884 he served a final mission in Canada, during which he became ill. He died upon his return home to Utah Territory and was buried at Salt Lake City Cemetery..."

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Elijah Abel', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 11 March 2013, 22:54 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elijah_Abel&oldid=543516993> [accessed 31 August 2013]

Obituary:

"...In the 18th Ward, December 25th 1884, of old age and debility, consequent upon exposure while laboring in the ministry in Ohio, Elijah Able. Deceased was born in Washington County, Maryland, July 25, 1810; joined the Church and was ordained an Elder as appears by certificate dated March 3d, 1836; was subsequently ordained a Seventy as appears by certificate dated April 4, 1841; labored successfully in Canada and also performed a mission to the United States, from which he returned about two weeks ago. He died in full faith of the Gospel..."

SOURCE: Deseret News; December 31, 1884. http://udn.lib.utah.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/deseretnews3/...

US Federal Census Records:

• 1850 Hamilton County, Ohio – Federal Census
• 1860 Salt Lake City – Federal Census
• 1870 Salt Lake City – Federal Census
• 1880 Salt Lake City – Federal Census

SOURCE: http://www.juvenileinstructor.org/elijah-abel-and-his-family-in-cen...