Malinda "Belinda" Adams

History - Born in the township of Railey which was later known as Marion. Daughter of Catharine Ford and Joseph Railey.

Known as Malinda and "Belinda", she said she had been christened Malinda in the Catholic Church in Kentucky, but no church record has been found. Some legal documents identify her as Belinda, including her marriage certificate, but several deeds identify her as Malinda, the name she favored and used during her life. Belinda, which appears on her gravestone, was a nickname.

The Adams, County (Illinois) Clerk issued a marriage license to her and Elias Adams on May 31, 1837. They were married the next day, June 1, 1837 by a Quincy attorney and Justice of the Peace, Henry Asbury, who penned his witness on the back of the license and filed the document June 2nd with the Adams County Clerk. Reports that they were married 9 Jun 1837, at Quincy, Hancock, Illinois are in error.

Elias Adams was twice her age and her father signed permission for the marriage, as a signal of his approval of their marriage, although Malinda was 22 at the time.

Elias was divorced, but had custody of seven children, under thirteen, when Malinda married him. One other of his sons was born and died after his divorce. Malinda lovingly raised his remaining children, as her own. They joined the LDS Church in 1840 and moved to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois.

In 1850 they came to Utah by wagon train with David Evans as their Captain. They settled at Kays Creek, Utah Territory which was later known as Kays Ward, then Kaysville which later divided, and the northern part became Layton, Davis County, Utah.

Malinda would give birth to seven more children with Elias.

Adams Canyon was named for this family as was Adams Reservoirs, which they built.

Malinda's children said her last dying words were, "Oh, my children, always remain together."

Kaysville Cemetery Map

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 1 2016, 22:15:34 UTC