Myron Abbott was born December 1, 1837, at Perry, Pike County, Illinois; the son of Stephen Joseph Abbott who was born August 16, 1804 at Providence, Penn; who was the son of James Abbott who was born March 9, 1753; who was the son of Abiel Abbott who was born March 3, 1726; who was the son of Philip Abbott who was born April 3, 1699; who was the son of William Abbott who was born November 14, 1659; who was the son of George Abbott of Andover, Mass., born May 22, 1615, his wife's name was Hannah Chandler.

George Abbott was born in Yorkshire, England about 1615, and immigrated to America in 1640. He was one of the first settlers of Andover, Mass. In 1647, he married Hannah Chandler. They raised a large family. He died December 24, 1681. She died June 11, 1711.

About 200 years afterwards, a monument was erected in the old burial place in Andover, to their memory, by popular subscription of their many descendants. Their posterity is indeed a numerous tribe. Their descendants have been traced and names recorded in the family register for six and seven generations.

It has been said of Abraham that he was of pure stock; that the man in himself was so strong that his characteristics have marked his entire race through a thousand generations. The same seems to be true of George Abbott. Although they have intermarried with all the old families of New England, in later generations with the English, Scotch, Irish, Welsh, German, Scandinavian, and Italian stock, yet they exhibit the traits of character of their ancestors of 250 years ago. First of all, a deep religious sentiment that inclines them to conduct themselves with some organized form of worship, perhaps all of the prominent church organizations contain names of members of this family. They are modest and unassuming; content to live humbly if need be; yet when entrusted with public affairs, they discharge their trust with fidelity and honor. They love education and liberty, both religious and civil, and resent oppression in any form. They are firm in their convictions and have frequently made great sacrifices for conscience sake. They are generally studious and sober. Many are graduates of institutions of higher learning. Although generally industrious, few have accumulated great wealth. Many are poor, but would disdain to eat the bread of charity.

They follow all vocations but a large percent are farmers and home builders, a hardy, thrifty, frugal race, prolific also, and the name of Abbott is likely to endure as long as surnames are recorded. They are people who exert an influence for the best things wherever they are, which is in accord with Christianity and the forces that impelled George Abbott to leave his native land and settle in the New World.

The name appears to be derived from an office or occupation, Abbo, Abbi and Abbe or from the Gothic tongue. In olden times, the office of Abbott in point of dignity was next to Bishop.George Abbott and Hannah Chandler had thirteen children of who William was sixth son. William married Elizabeth Geary and they had twelve children of whom Philip was the ninth child. Philip married Abigail Birchford and they had eight children of whom Abiel was the second son. Abiel married Abigail Fenton; they had five children of whom James was the second son. James married Phoebe Howe Coray; they had five children of whom Stephen Joseph Abbott was the fourth son. He married Abigail Smith and they had the following children: Emily, Charilla, Phebe, Lydia Lucina, Abiel, Myron, Cynthia and Abigail.

Stephen Joseph Abbott was born August 16, 1804 in Providence, Pa., on December 11, 1825. He married Abigail Smith in Dansville, Steuben County, New York. Stephen was a full six feet in height, strongly built, with black hair and brown eyes. He was alert and honest, a good business man, loved by his relatives and respected by all. He learned the trade of furniture making and painting. He was rather indifferent to religion until after his marriage, when he and his wife attached themselves to a sect called Universalists, who seemed to hold much broader view than the Methodists or Presbyterians, the dominant creeds of that section. Besides his cabinet making business, he and his nephew, a son of his half brother, Elijah, owned and operated a cording and fulling machine at Arkport, New York.

About 1838, there was a great tide of emigration pouring into the Mississippi Valley. Stephen's two brothers, Austin and Eleazer, were already living in Michigan, so he concluded to go to the Mississippi Valley and make a permanent home for himself, where he could settle his family. He went by boat down the Allegheny River and in five weeks, arrived in Pike County, Illinois. He bought a quarter section of farmland and 40 acres of timberland. He then went to Michigan to visit his brothers, which was the last time they ever met. He went on to New York where he was warmly greeted by many friends, all anxious to learn something of the new country in the Great Valley. He settled up his business affairs and after visiting with his wife's family at Palmyra, New York, he said farewell to friends and relatives and took his wife and children, by boat, down the Allegheny River, leaving April 14, 1837. They landed at Naples on the Illinois River in Pike County in the latter part of May 1837. They at once began to cultivate their land and build a home. His wife, writing of this period says, "On the first day of December of that year, our son, Myron, was born, a promising child. My daughters went out in the garden and found a beautiful rose. Although the season for that flower was long past, I took it as an omen of promise and rejoiced. There is nothing unusual or strange in this for a mother, but after many years, when it was known that through him alone descended his father's name, the incident may be worthy of preservation.

In 1838, Stephen's older brother James and his family and their mother, Phoebe Howe Coray Abbott, came to Illinois and settled near them and again they were surrounded by friends. Their mother died here about 1840. In 1839, Stephen and his wife, Abigail, came in contact with the Mormon people. Who on being driven out of Missouri, were settling in Nauvoo, Illinois. They investigated the new religion long and carefully, and they and their children became members of the church. Stephen was baptized in March 1839 by Joseph Wood, and confirmed by him and William Brenton. At the April conference of the Church, held in Nauvoo in 1840, he was ordained an Elder. In 1842, he was ordained a seventy, the same year they moved to Nauvoo and bought a home and some land. In company with George Miller and Lyman Wight and James Brown, Stephen was called on a temporal mission to gather funds to build the Nauvoo temple. Afterwards, he was called on a mission to Wisconsin. When he left Pike County, he placed a quantity of wheat in the mill; this he depended on to feed his family in his absence. Through false pretence, one Brier Griffin, a distant relative, obtained four barrels of flour, and a Mr. Jaques also obtained a considerable quantity. This loss was a great disappointment to him, so to make provision for his family, he in company with E. Thompson, his cousin, who was to accompany him on this mission, began to get some cord wood down the Mississippi from an island. This entailed much wet and exposure. On October 16, he was taken ill, and on October 19, 1843, he died, age 38 years. Yet a young man, just coming into the prime of manhood, just beginning a life that held much promise of honor and usefulness. He was much loved and sincerely mourned by his family, his young wife and eight children, his six girls and two boys. His struggle was over; theirs was now to commence.

The work he commenced was destined to be continued by his wife, the faith he exposed and practically gave his life for, is professed by all of his children unto this day, and almost without exception, by their children also. He sleeps in an unmarked grave on the hillside over-looking the Great Father of Waters.

His wife was stunned, heart broken and almost overwhelmed by the terrible and unexpected blow. Winter was almost upon them, of her eight children, the eldest was 16. The country being new, provisions were hard to obtain. The people with whom she had cast her lot were nearly all poor, mostly refugees, having been robbed, scourged and driven out of Missouri.

Her husband, being public spirited, had put a large portion of his property into the building of the Nauvoo Temple and other public buildings.

Public opinion was inflamed against the whole community. In just a few months, they saw their leaders Joseph and Hyrum Smith murdered. Emily, the eldest daughter, speaking of this sad time, says she was wrapped up in her father, loved him dearly, and grieved bitterly when he died, but she says her sorrow was nothing compared with their grief when Joseph the Prophet of God, was murdered. She felt their home was spoiled when their father was taken, whereas, at the death of the Prophet, she felt the whole world was spoiled. Such was the gloom among the people of Nauvoo.

Abigail Smith Abbott was alone with few relatives, nobody to rely upon except God and her own efforts. It is probable that her father may have given her some help. He lived in Michigan at the time and partially accepted the doctrine of Mormons; but according to his own statement, at times, he was wavering. She did not complain to him or ever tell him of her destitution nor did she ever waver in her faith. It became her guiding star, and she never lost sight of it day or night, in sorrow and adversity, in sickness or in health, it was ever pointing to the West and thither she followed across the great rivers, across the undulating prairies, across the giant mountains, into the Valley of the Great Salt Lake; there to find solace and rest, not entirely free from toil, for her hands were ever busy; not entirely free from care, for her sympathies were broad and the welfare of her family was ever uppermost in her mind, but free from the terrible strain she was under for several years after her husbands death. She has said, "I had no means to erect a monument, or even a slab to mark my loved one's grave, but I planted some morning glories on the grave and left him there to sleep and rest."

Abigail Smith was the daughter of James Smith, a soldier of the war of 1812, and Lydia Lucina Harding; born at Willimson, near Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, September 11, 1806, and died at Willard, Box Elder County, Utah, July 23, 1889. A fine headstone marks the grave, and on face it has the record of her birth and death; on the opposite side, the record of her husband.

She was the youngest of several children, all of whom died young. Her mother died when she was six weeks old and she was nursed through infancy by her Aunt, Mrs. Polly Harding, and later by her stepmother Mehetable Adams. At the age of fifteen, she had a sick spell of many months duration in which her life was despaired of. Her father was a farmer and a teacher of music. Myron Alma Abbott records that he has in his possession several letters written by James Smith, in a beautiful hand, the grammar being excellent, the dictation good, showing that he was a man of education and refinement. Of her mother, little is known, but her family was good. One member, the Hon. Stephen S. Harding was appointed Governor of the Territory of Utah in 1863 by President Lincoln.

Lydia Lucina Harding Smith was born July 31, 1781, and died October 1806 at Williamson, Ontario County, New York. Her husband, James Smith, was a native of Norwalk, Connecticut, born January 14, 1777, and died at Bedford, Michigan, August 26, 1857. At the age of 16, Abigail Smith went to Homellsville, (Homellsville) New York to visit relatives of her mother. Here she lived in the family of James Abbott for some time, and a warm attachment between her and his son, Stephen Joseph Abbott, sprang up. Her father came to take her home, but instead, by mutual consent of both families, the young couple was married December 11, 1825. About 1836, her father moved to Michigan. Although she kept in touch with him by correspondence, she never again met any of her family. Many of the letters have been preserved, most of which are kind and affectionate to her personally, but some are full of vindictive denunciations of her religious view and of the Mormon people. Some of her people were, at one time, attached to the Mormon faith, but the movement west left them behind. At her husband's death, Abigail was left with a home, some land and a few cows and sheep. They had always been independent, and the thought of dependence upon strangers was bitter indeed. She taught a private school in her home and obtained both food and clothing. She says, "I trusted in God and improved every opportunity to help myself, but the necessity of becoming servants to our fellowmen was almost more than I could bear." Some of her older children did hire out to neighbors. Besides relieving her of their keep, they earned a little recompense.

In the spring of 1844, she fenced a small tract of land near the Mississippi River. As she was teaching school, much of the work was done of evenings in the moonlight. She planted one and one-half acre to garden truck, and cultivate it. As the ground was low and swampy, she and the children were stricken with fever and ague. Lyman Wight, then an apostle, lived in an upper room of her house and was ill also. The week after the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, he was visited by Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, Amasa Lyman, Wilford Woodruff and several ladies. When they went to leave, she asked them to administer to each of her sick children, which they did. Heber C. Kimball manifested his charity by giving her a half-dollar. When Brigham Young got to the door, he turned, and in the name of the Lord, promised them that they should all recover. At times, after doing all they could to help themselves, they were compelled to ask for charity. This was a great grief to Abigail Smith Abbott, for never before in her life had she needed to ask for anything she could not pay for. Many friends showed them favors and assisted in what ways they could. Some of her husband's relatives from Pike Co., Mrs. James Abbott, Lyman Wight, John Higbee, Capt. James Brown and others are remembered for their kindness. She was able to collect some debts owing to her husband and their wants were relieved. She continued to correspond with her father and her sisters, but she never complained to them. A letter which came down to her grandchildren from her father, received while she was in the wilderness of Iowa says: "We received your letter in which you have no complaints to make, etc."

In May 1846, she was offered $10.00 for her house and lot and twenty acres of fenced land. To her remonstrance at the price, she was told, "The Mormons have got to go. That amount will ferry you across the river and it is better than nothing." She accepted it and also the demand that the furniture be left in the house.

On February 9, 1846, the eldest daughter, Emily, married Edward Bunker, who was a young man of sterling worth, intelligent, pure and ambitious. He was ever a friend to the family. History relates their cruel expulsion from Nauvoo, and when they were forced to flee, Edward Bunker assisted the family across the river, and from the west bank of the Mississippi, they witnessed the battle of Nauvoo. Abigail felt fortunate indeed to get away with her children before this awful occurrence. She remained here until November 1846. Edward Bunker, his wife and the three eldest daughters of Abigail went on to Garden Grove where he built a cabin. The family thus scattered, was not reunited for fifteen months. When Abigail arrived at Garden Grove, she found Edward Bunker had enlisted in the Mormon Battalion, called out to assist with the war in Mexico, and had already gone, leaving his young wife in a delicate condition. They fixed the cabin up the best they could and lived there eleven months, planted a crop and harvested it. During the winter of 1846-47, Abigail taught school and thus helped support her family. On February 1, 1847, Emily gave birth to a fine son. They called him Edward Bunker, Jr. This date also came near being a fatal one to Abigail's son, Myron, then nine years of age. He was sent out early in the morning to hunt for wood and encountered a large, hungry wolf, thinking it to be a dog, he threw chips at it. It stood growling and ready to attack the lad when the attention of a neighbor was attracted and the wolf was frightened away. This winter proved to be a hard one for Abigail. Besides teaching school, she had the regular care of her household. One of her elder daughters was ill for 11 weeks with fever. Emily was ill nine weeks at the time of her confinement. Water for the home had to be carried a quarter of a mile, firewood had to be gathered and cut &endash; enough to keep a fire all the time, for the cabin had no floor and was very cold. During the winter, Abigail received $22.50 from Capt. James Brown, sent to her from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Edward Bunker sent Emily some money. In October 1847, they moved to Mosquito Creek, a point farther west, near Council Bluffs, Iowa. On the morning of December 18, 1847, they heard a group of Battalion men had arrived in town the evening before, so Emily prepared to go and inquire if they knew anything of Edward Bunker. Just before she was to leave the house, a knock was heard at the door. It proved to be Edward himself. Abigail's son, Abiel, came to her from Council Bluffs. Once more she had her family all together again. She says "I thanked God, sang and praised him and took jew courage for my burden seemed much lighter."

Before leaving Nauvoo, Abigail Smith Abbott had been married for time, as a plural wife to Captain James Brown. He was a man of broad views, great energy and a natural leader of men, but he had a great train of relatives dependent upon him. The relation sustained between them gave him more the right of protector than husband. They accepted and believed in the principle of polygamy and probably did at one time, sustain the relation of wife to him, but she insisted that it be the relation of wife and not concubine. After they were living in Ogden, he married her daughter, Phebe, over her protest. Thereupon, she repudiated the relationship and ever afterward lived apart from him.

James Brown went into the Mexican War in 1846. He sent Abigail money from Sante Fe. He helped her a little in Nauvoo. He followed the pioneers into Salt Lake Valley July 28, 1847, just four days after Brigham Young's party. He sent teams, wagons and money to her to assist in the journey to Salt Lake. In 1848, Abigail fitted up the wagons and sent all of James Brown's family that remained on to the Valley. She remained until the next year; raised a crop, sold it before it was harvested and came on to the valley. She left Mosquito Creek, August 6, 1849, and was just 16 weeks on the way. She brought all of her children except Emily and she never lost one dollar's worth of property on the trip, which speaks volumes for her care and management. Soon after arriving in Salt Lake City, she went to Ogden, that city then contained six families. Captain Brown had purchased nine square miles of territory, the center of which is now Ogden City, from Miles Goodyear, who owned the land through a grant from the Mexican government, and offered it for sale to Captain Brown when he went through there on the way to San Francisco in charge of a squad of cavalry men from Company C, Mormon Battalion. The price paid for this tract of land was $3,000.00 from money he had and his sons, Alex and Jesse, received for wages from the U.S. Government for services in the army and some gold they brought from California where they were when gold was discovered at Sutter's Fort in 1849. A city was laid out and settlers welcomed. The first winter was spent in a fort.

Abigail Abbott received a tract of land in the southern part of the city facing what is now the Washington Avenue. Here a home was built and she dwelt with her family for several years until the children were grown and married and gone to homes of their own. Charilla Abbott was the first school teacher in Ogden City. Preferring not to live alone, Abigail sold her home and lived with her children, visiting them all as a ministering angel, greatly beloved and respected by them and their children.

She was active and enjoyed good health, traveled much, was happy. Benevolent, pleasant, cheerful and was like a ray of sunshine wherever she went. During one of her visits to her children, Myron Abbott and Emily Bunker, living in Bunkerville, Nevada, I still remember seeing her as I saw her sitting in an easy chair near the east window of my grandmother's living room &endash; she was crocheting. She wore a lace cap on her head and a white apron. She was a short, fleshy woman. Agnes Earl relates that at Christmas time, Grandmother Abbott, then near 80 years of age, gathered a group of young people to her home in the evening and taught them Christmas carols and on Christmas evening, procured a wagon and accompanied the young carolers as they sang at the homes in the community, an act which brought much joy to the young people and endeared her to them.

The final summons came while she was visiting her youngest daughter, Mrs. Abigail Zundell at Willard City, Box Elder County, Utah, July 23, 1889. At her death, she was possessed of a little property which by common consent of the heirs, was devoted to the erection of a modest monument to her and her husband, Stephen Joseph Abbott, whom she left buried in Nauvoo. Abigail Smith Abbott was a heroic woman, pure, chaste and noble in purpose. The aims and objects of her life were as successful as could be expected in human life. Honor be to her memory.

Square Town Zarahemla District County, U.S. November 20, 1941

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