Vilate (Murray) Kimball (1806 - 1867)

Born 1 Jun 1806 in Florida, Montgomery, New York, United States

Wife of Heber Chase Kimball — married 7 Nov 1822 in Mendon, Monroe, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 22 Oct 1867 at age 61 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cathleen Bachman [send private message]

Biography

Vilate (Murray) Kimball was a Latter Day Saint pioneer.

Vilate Murray was born June 1, 1806 in Montgomery County, New York. She was the youngest daughter of Roswell Murray and Susannah Fitch.

Vilate was the first wife of Heber Kimball. Vilate and her family made the great overland journey to Salt Lake, Utah from Winter Camp in Nauvoo, Illinois.^[1] They endured many hardships, including near starvation.

Heber and Vilate were also tried on at least three occasions by the practice of polygamy. First, Joseph Smith commanded Heber to hand Vilate over to him to be his own wife which Heber did but Smith refused to accept, stating that it was only a test.^[2]. Then Smith ordered Heber to take three other women as his wives but not to say anything to Vilate.^[3]. He had to order him three times before he acted, he was so troubled by the idea. Finally, they were asked to hand over their young daughter to be Smith's wife.^[4] Helen Mar Kimball became a plural wife of Joseph Smith at the age of fourteen. She later wrote that her mother had a vision about Heber taking plural wives.^[5]

Obituary

On the 22nd of October, 1867, died Vilate Murray Kimball, as noble a wife and mother, and as unselfish and devoted a Saint, as ever drew breath. Her loss was a heavy blow to her sorrowing husband. "I shall not be long after her," was the sad prophecy that fell from his quivering lips, as he followed the remains of his beloved partner to the tomb. In less than a twelve-month his words were fulfilled.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Pioneer Overland Travel.
2. ↑ LDS Women's History Vilate Kimball.
3. ↑ Vilate Receives a Revelation.
4. ↑ Wikipedia Heber Chase Kimball.
5. ↑ Vilate Receives a Revelation.
6. ↑ Find A Grave.

• See also
• Autobiography
• Life in Nauvoo, June 1844: Vilate Kimball's Martyrdom Letters
• Wikipedia Heber Chase Kimball
• Pioneer Overland Travel
• Find A Grave
• Utah Pioneers Vilate Kimball
• LDS Women's History Vilate Kimball
• Vilate Receives a Revelation

Acknowledgments

• Profile Chase-1328 was created through the import of familysearch export.ged on Aug 31, 2011 by Jeff Thomas.