Kimball, Heber C. (Heber Chase), 1801-1868

Mormon apostle.

From the description of Diaries, 1845-1846. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122630452

From the guide to the Heber Chase Kimball diaries, 1845-1846, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Mormon Church leader and polygynist, who served as first counselor to President Brigham Young.

From the description of Letter, 1840. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122645075

From the description of Letter, 1844. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122622533

Heber Chase Kimball (1801-1868) was an influential Mormon leader. Born in Vermont, he later moved to upstate New York where he met Brigham Young. In 1832 he joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and moved to Kirtland, Ohio. From Kirtland, Kimball went on the Zion's Camp expedition, was made an apostle, and left on the first Mormon overseas mission to England. He followed the Church to Missouri and on to Nauvoo, Illinois. After the Saints arrived in Utah, Brigham Young made Kimball his First Counselor. Very influential in the early days of the Utah Territory, his influence on Utah affairs overall declined in the last four years of his life. He died after having been thrown from a wagon in 1868.

From the guide to the Heber Chase Kimball papers, 1837-1914, (J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah)

Kimball was one of original members of Quorum of the Twelve called in 1835, and served as first counselor to Church president Brigham Young from 1847 until Kimball's death.

From the guide to the MS 627 Heber C. Kimball papers 1837-1866 (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Church History Library)

Heber Chase Kimball was born on June 14, 1801, in Sheldon, Vermont. Financial troubles led Kimball's father, Solomon, to move the family to West Bloomfield, New York, around 1811. After attending school for a time, Kimball left home in 1820 and became a pottery apprentice to his brother, Charles. Kimball moved with Charles to Mendon, New York, and enlisted with the local militia. He married Vilate Murray in 1822, purchased Charles' pottery business, and spent the next ten years working as a potter and a blacksmith. In 1823 he was made a Master Mason at the Freemasons lodge in Victor Flats, New York. He joined the Baptist Church sometime in the 1820s, but was soon exposed to the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while at the home of Phinehas Young. Soon thereafter, he decided to join the Church, and was baptized in April 1832. Kimball was made an Elder by Joseph Young and began to travel on local missions with Young and his brother, Brigham Young. In 1833 Heber moved his family to Kirtland, Ohio, where he was made a member of The Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1835. After the imprisonment of Joseph Smith, Kimball helped Brigham Young found Nauvoo, Illinois. In 1847 he was made a member of the First Presidency of the LDS Church. In addition to leading several missions to England, Kimball took a large company of Mormons to the Salt Lake Valley in 1848. He eventually married 42 plural wives, and his daughter Helen Marr was a plural wife of Joseph Smith. Kimball died in Salt Lake City on June 22, 1868.

From the description of Discourse delivered by Heber C. Kimball, 1852, April 8. (Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens). WorldCat record id: 506340720

Second president of the Mormon Church.

From the guide to the Brigham Young letter, 1849, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)