I ran across the full account several years ago, and it mentioned our ancestor, William H. Kimball and his mother Vilate welcoming A. A. Kimball into their home at Kimball Junction.
Early Life - Finding a Father
Abraham Alonzo Kimball-Born April 16, 1846 To Heber C. Kimball and Clarissa Cutler in Nauvoo, Illinois. He wrote his own history in his journals. Jerry Higginson used those histories to write a Masters Thesis at BYU in 1953. This account it taken from his Thesis, and from the journals of Abraham Alonzo Kimball. Adrus Kimball edited this story for a talk in 2004.
While the saints were Nauvoo and after plural marriage was instituted, Heber married two daughters of Alpheus Cutler, Pres. of the High Council. After the martyrdom of the Prophet and Hyrum, Alpheus Cutler thought he should become the Prophet. When Heber departed Nauvoo for the West, Cutler would not allow his daughters to go along.
Heber, prior to his leaving, "believing that my mother would never come to Utah, blessed my brother Isaac and myself, and while his hands were on my head he significantly remarked that I should see the day that I should come to the valley of the mountains and afterwards return for my brother. Shortly after he left us, my grandfather was called on a mission to the Indians on the Grasshopper River and took his
daughters and two children with him.
About two years afterwards, the grim monster, death, visited us and deprived me of my mother, and a few months later my aunt Emily died. We shortly afterwards moved to Iowa where grandfather established a church and constituted himself its leader, calling it 'The true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints' , and presumed to officiate in the ordinances such as baptisms, endowments, etc.
He taught his followers that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God, but that Brigham Young was not his successor, but an imposter, and that he, Alpheus Cutler was a true leader and had the authority to carry on the latter day work.
"Grandfather Cutler became affiicted with rheumatism and was unable to care for us. When I was about nine years of age it became necessary for him to make arrangements with my uncle Thaddeus for our further maintenance."
"My uncle did not provide us suitable clothing and food. My brother and I were repeatedly ill-treated by uncle's family and were continually persecuted and called names for being polygamist children. In order to tantalize us they called us "b-------" and on the slightest provocation would threaten to send us to Utah, telling us that the "Mormons" would soon settle us."
"No nervous children were ever worse frightened by stories about hobgoblins than my brother and I were with what they told us about the "Mormons". We were also taught that if we stayed in the woods picking fruit, etc. the Mormons would be sure to catch us and carry us off. More than once when gathering berries in the woods, we were alarmed by a flight of a bird or the rustling noise of a small animal in the underbrush. Our first impulse on such occasions was to drop our baskets and run like frightened antelopes, until we were safe from our fancied pursuers . The name "Mormon" became to us synonymous with that of an ugly dangerous monster, and we grew up with the most bitter prejudice and intense hatred in our hearts towards all who bore that name. We endured the ill treatment of our uncle's family until patience no longer seemed to be a virtue and we rebelled . Our grandfather Cutler released us from their power and we commenced to work for ourselves and also to support grandfather and grandmother.
Later, another uncle asked Abe if he would like to go to California because he was going there in search of gold. On hearing this invitation, Abe was suddenly seized with the gold fever. Without permission from his grandparents, he left,taking with him a small bundle containing a suit of old fashioned clothes and a fiddle. He later sold his fiddle for a gallon of whiskey and a dollar in money. "From the effects of drinking the whiskey I felt that I could easily reach California and after obtaining a pipe and a pound of tobacco I felt fully equipped for the trip."
When they had traveled 500 miles and reached Laramie, his aunt told him they were going through Utah. "This troubled me greatly and aroused all my fears of and hatred towards the "Mormons". He learned of man named James Spicer who was going to California, and even though his uncle was very "vexed'' he joined Spicer's company. And because he resented Abe leaving his company, he undoubtedly told other travelers about Abe.
On arriving at the Fort Hall road, which was the route to California, Spicer was informed that several trains had been robbed and some persons killed while traveling in that direction. He, therefore, decided to change his plans and go through Utah as this was his last chance. I replied, "D--- the odds, Spicer,, we will die brave . Naturally I supposed that the Mormons would kill me or mark me in some way for recognition. Up to this time all our company was ignorant of my parentage, and I thought I better make a confident of one of the boys names James Lefler. I told him I had a father in Utah. He was very anxious to know who my father was, and I informed him it was either Brigham or Heber, I was not sure which, though I thought it was Brigham ."
"At Green River ferry we met Lewis Robison and sons. They soon discovered who I was, and commenced joking me by remarking that I could not cross on their ferry as they did not ferry Mormons. This maddened me and I threw off my clothes and, placing them in the wagon, I jumped into the river, telling them they could "Go to H...."
"Lewis Robison, desirous of making my acquaintance and having learned that I was the lost boy, brought my clothes to me. When I saw him coming, I remained in the water for fear he would catch me, for I felt that I would rather drown than be taken to Utah. He tried hard to persuade me to come out, but I declined for fear he would take me to Salt Lake.
Abe finally decided to go into Salt Lake and surrender. "Feeling I might as well meet my problems first as last. I expected to fall into the hands of the Mormons, and then I could not conceive what my fate would be. I expected, however, it would be something awful and dreaded it."
"I reached West Temple Street, but dared not speak to anyone and instead of going on the sidewalk I walked up the middle of the street. Such an odd looking person as I appeared caused everyone to gaze at me. I kept looking over my shoulders as I supposed everybody was anxious to catch me. I encountered a gatekeeper who eyed me with suspicion as if he suspected that I was a desperado or a lunatic. I wished that the earth would open up and swallow me".
A cousin, Charles Kimball, recognized him and took him to the house of his father, Heber C. Kimball. "On nearing the house, I saw a man who I perceived to be my father. Charles said 'Here's your boy". "My father was 6 feet 1inch in height and had keen piercing black eyes, which seemed to pierce my inmost thoughts. His countenance ,however, was pleasant and he spoke to me in a kind fatherly, manner and undertook to embrace me, which I declined as I was not used to such exhibitions of affection. He said he was glad to see me and asked if I knew he was my father. I told him I neither knew or cared and hoped he would kick me out and let me go. He informed me that he was really my father. I told him it was allright then, as I did not say he wasn't. After viewing me from head to toe, he asked if I had any clothes. He them called his wife and told her to get a tub of water so that I could have a wash and change my clothes."
Abe goes on to recall his meeting of his huge family, and after several months his eventual decision to be baptized. Heber confirmed him, ordained him an Elder, and set him apart for a mission to the States, "confirming the blessing pronounced upon me in my infancy to return to bring my brother Isaac home. And "as many others as I could induce to come".
After a long a tiresome journey- and after walking many miles, Abe was reunited with his previous family and they "were glad to see me".
When alone, his grandfather Alpheus Cutler, who was then an invalid, began to question him about Utah and the Church. Then he said "I knew the Heber C . Kimball was your father, and always knew it, but did not calculate that it should be known by you. I intended that you and Isaac should be the means of my support while I live. I knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and I knew that Brigham Young is his legal successor, and I always did know it, but the trouble with me was I wanted to lead and could not be led. I have nun my race and sealed my doom."
My grandfather paused here, but continued by saying, ''I want you to go back to your father, taking your brother Isaac with you, as I know he is a good man. Remain steadfast to Mormonism. Let what might turn up never yield the point, for it will save and exalt you in the kingdom of God.'
He wept like a child after saying this, then he said to me, "One favor I wish to ask you, namely, that you will not divulge this confession while I live."
In the case of my grandfather, Alpheus Cutler, ambition for worldly honors, for office and position among men, led him to outrage his conscience. It caused him to barter away his claim upon the eternal riches, and honors and glory of heaven for a miserable mess of pottage. It caused him to lead a false life. It caused him to make a pretense of believing that which he had a positive knowledge was untrue. It caused him to bring himself under condemnation by deceiving others. It even caused him to mislead his own offspring until he could do so no longer. I learned something of the misery and sense of loss and remorse of conscience that result from such a course as that which my grandfather pursued, and I hope that his example may ever prove a warning to all who read this sketch. May they avoid such unlawful aspirations as caused his ruin, and live so that they can ever look back with satisfaction upon the past and forward with joy to the future."