Father of a Prophet Andrew Kimball Edward L. Kimball with research by Spencer W. Kimball BYU Studies Provo, Utah
This volume is part of the BYU Studies series Biographies in Latter-day Saint History Other volumes in this series: T. Edgar Lyon: A Teacher in Zion No Toil nor Labor Fear : The Story of William Clayton Qualities that Count: Heber J. Grant as Businessman, Missionary, and Apostle An Advocate for Women: The Public Life of Emmeline B. Wells, 1870 1920 From the Muddy River to the Ivory Tower: The Journey of George H. Brimhall Copyright 2011 Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. Cover design: Robert E. M. Spencer Cover image: painting of Andrew Kimball by William Whitaker, 1980, courtesy Edward L. Kimball Unless otherwise noted, all photographs were supplied by Kimball family members Opinions expressed in this publication are the opinions of the author and his views should not necessarily be attributed to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brigham Young University, or BYU Studies. All revenues from this book will help fund future publications. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, digital, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording or in an information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. To contact BYU Studies, write to 1063 JFSB, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, or visit http://byustudies. byu.edu. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kimball, Edward L., 1930 author. Father of a prophet : Andrew Kimball / by Edward L. Kimball ; with research by Spencer W. Kimball. p. cm. Summary: Biography of Andrew Kimball (1858 1922), father of Spencer W. Kimball. Describes his work as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as a mission president, and as stake president of the St. Joseph Stake in Arizona. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8425-2795-8 (paper back : alk. paper) 1. Kimball, Andrew, 1858 1924. 2. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Arizona. 3. Mormons Biography. 4. Mormon missionaries Biography. 5. Mormon Church Arizona. I. Kimball, Spencer W., 1895 1985, contributor. II. Title. BX8695.K39K56 2011 289.3092 dc23 [B] 2011014693 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents Illustrations viii Preface xi Introduction 1 Youth and Marriage 1 Family Background 3 2 Growing Up 8 3 Teen Years 11 4 Work 15 5 Marriage 19 6 Church 21 7 Community and Family 22 Indian Territory Mission 8 Indian Territory Mission 26 9 Adding More Missionaries 35 10 Mission President 41 11 Mission Tours 44 12 Final Visit to Indian Territory Mission 50 13 Release from Mission Presidency 55 Employment as a Traveling Salesman 14 Employment as a Traveling Salesman 60 15 Move to Brigham City 62 16 Sample of Andrew s Journal 65 17 Representing Auerbach Brothers 69 v
vi Father of a Prophet: Andrew Kimball 18 Representing Multiple Firms 79 19 Return to a Salesman s Life 82 20 Utah Constitutional Convention 85 21 Travel as a Salesman 88 Called to Arizona as Stake President 22 Call to Arizona 92 23 St. Joseph Stake 96 24 Stake Reorganization 97 25 Moving the Family to Arizona 100 Establishing Leadership 26 Stake Academy 104 27 Enterprise Canal 108 28 Flood Control and Water Rights 113 29 Building Railroad Bed 116 30 Political Matters 121 31 Mines and Tailings Dispute 127 32 Sinking Roots in Arizona 131 Personal Character 33 Andrew 135 34 Ollie 153 Church 35 St. Joseph Stake Operations 160 36 Counseling and Blessings 168 37 Church Finances 171 38 Disciplinary Cases and Settling Disputes 173 39 Plural Marriage 176 Community and Business Interests 40 Cluff Expedition and Collier Fire 182 41 Refugees from Mexico 184 42 Community and Business Interests 189 43 Frauds 198
Contents vii Family 44 World War I 204 45 Ollie s Death 208 46 Josie Cluff 212 48 Mary Connelly 221 49 Andrew s Death 224 Appendixes A Andrew s Mother and Siblings 231 B Andrew s Children 236 C Opening of Indian Territory Mission, 1855 247 D Andrew s Self-Assessment 249 Bibliography 253 Index 261 About the Authors 274
Illustrations Andrew Kimball as a young man and later in life x Heber C. Kimball and his wife Ann Alice Gheen 1 1860s view looking north-northeast from Temple Square 4 Andrew and his twin, Alice, about ten and sixteen years of age 9 Andrew, about eighteen years old, and Olive, about seventeen 13 Family of Edwin D. Woolley and Mary Ann Olpin about 1880 14 Andrew and Ollie at marriage, 1882 20 Andrew built his family home 24 William H. Hendricks s home in Manard 28 Elder Spencer W. Kimball located the cabin built by his father 30 Andrew, David Shand, and Ammon Green 36 Andrew s family grew with the addition of Gordon in 1888 43 Members and friends built a log meetinghouse at Manard 45 Fifteen Arkansas elders met in conference 52 Andrew met with Elders Dalley and Miner in San Antonio 54 Bee Hive Soap Company 81 Ruth with baby Spencer 87 Street scene in Thatcher, Arizona Territory, c. 1898 101 Kimball family as it moved to Thatcher, 1898 102 The old academy building 105 The new academy building, dedicated in 1909 106 The Porter house and the White House 132 Olive built a new house with her share of her father s estate 133 The house as it looks in the early twenty-first century 133 Andrew stands in his farmyard 139 Gordon, Spencer, and Dell with Old Dick 141 Academy girls outing at the lumber flume, 1913 145 Andrew and son-in-law George Nelson slaughter a hog, 1917 146 viii
Illustrations ix Andrew had his cows milk tested for quality, 1903 147 Stake officers on their way to St. David ward conference 149 Ollie 156 Alice with Fannie 159 Robinson Hall 163 Thatcher chapel and St. Joseph stake center 164 High council and clerks 166 Andrew and newly married son Spencer 167 Funeral held in Robinson Hall, 1900 183 Mormon colonists fled Mexico in 1912 185 Andrew, chair of Arizona Territorial Agricultural and Horticultural Commission 191 Big Six store in Thatcher 193 Andrew 197 Andrew and Ollie, 1906 209 Josie as academy matron 213 Andrew and Josie in a playful mood 216 Josie entertained wives of stake leaders 219 Andrew and Mary Connelly, 1923 222 Andrew late in life 225 Spencer W. and Camilla Kimball at Andrew s grave 228 Ann Alice Gheen Kimball s family 232 Olive Clare Brinkerhoff Claridge 236 Andrew Gordon Kimball 238 Dell Gheen Kimball 239 Ruth Woolley Kimball Udall 242 Spencer Woolley Kimball 243 Alice Ann Kimball Nelson 244 Fannie Woolley Kimball 245 Helen Mar Kimball Williams 245 Rachel Woolley Kimball 246