Heber Chase Kimball (1801-1868)

14 June 1801–22 June 1868. Blacksmith, potter. Born at Sheldon, Franklin Co., Vermont. Son of Solomon Farnham Kimball and Anna Spaulding. Married Vilate Murray, 22 Nov. 1822, at Mendon, Monroe Co., New York. Member of Baptist church at Mendon, 1831. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Alpheus Gifford, 15 Apr. 1832, at Mendon. Ordained an elder by Joseph Young, 1832. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1833. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve by Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, 14 Feb. 1835, at Kirtland. Served mission to the East with Quorum of the Twelve, 1835. Served mission to eastern U.S., 1836. Stockholder in Kirtland Safety Society. Presided over first Latter-day Saint missionaries to Great Britain, 1837–1838. Moved to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, 1838. Worked closely with Brigham Young and others in supervising removal of Latter-day Saints from Missouri, 1838–1839. Present at Far West temple site, 26 Apr. 1839, when members of Quorum of the Twelve formally began their missionary assignment to Great Britain. In removing from Missouri, initially located at Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, and then at Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, June 1839. Served mission with Quorum of the Twelve to Great Britain, 1839–1841. Member of Nauvoo City Council, 1841–1845. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Participated in plural marriage during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Served mission to eastern U.S., 1843. Labored on Nauvoo temple. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 11 Mar. 1844. Joined exodus from Illinois into Iowa Territory, Feb. 1846. Member of Brigham Young pioneer company to Salt Lake Valley; arrived July 1847. Sustained as first counselor to Brigham Young in First Presidency at what became Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, 27 Dec. 1847. Elected lieutenant governor in provisional state of Deseret. Served in Utah territorial legislature. Died at Salt Lake City.

Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.