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| Sandi |
One hundred thirty-four years earlier than Sandi, Abigail Thorn was born in 1821, the daughter of Richard Thorn, Senior, and Mary Anner Armstrong, my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandparents. (Note: some records indicate the spelling as Thorne.)
This information is gathered from Abigail's history written by her own hand and also from records of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
Abigail Thorn was born in Larr Promise, Cayuga County, New York, on April 2, 1821, where she resided until 15 years of age. Her family then relocated to Livingston Co., where it is said that “curiosity actuated” Abigail in September, 1838, to attend a religious meeting conducted in the community by two Mormon elders. Both the songs sung and the message proclaimed made deep impressions upon her soul. Because of this moving spiritual experience, she was converted and baptized upon the occasion, thus becoming the first proselyte to the Mormon faith in that section of the country. As a result of her conversion, the entire Thorn family joined the church with the exception of her father. The family emigrated to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1841.
Abigail had the great privilege of being acquainted with the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum Smith, who pronounced upon her a patriarchal blessing when she was 22 years of age, just 15 months before Hyrum was martyred. Of particular mention in this blessing was the gift of dreams and visions by the Holy Spirit.
Following the martyrdom of the prophet, it was her special privilege to be present upon the occasion of the transfiguration of Brigham Young. "It was on Thursday, August 8, 1844. A vast assemblage of Saints had gathered. Sidney Rigdon spoke for one and one half hours presenting himself as a guardian for the church. The longer he talked, the more the people were convinced that he was without the inspiration of the Lord. When Brigham Young arose to speak, the people were greatly astonished, for President Young stood transfigured before them and they beheld the Prophet Joseph Smith, and heard his voice as naturally as ever they did when he was living. It was a manifestation to the Saints that they might recognize the correct authority."
Abigail became a skilled seamstress and family lore holds that once Brigham Young was given a suit and coat made by Abigail Thorn.
After her marriage to Samuel Russell, in the Nauvoo Temple, they left Nauvoo in the spring of 1846, when they were driven from their homes by angry mobs. In consequence of the persecution and deprivation of the journey, Abigail suffered from scurvy and rheumatism throughout the remainder of her life.
In the spring of 1847, her family again set out to find a haven of rest, finally arriving in Salt Lake City in September of that year. Abigail walked by her husband’s side, carrying her baby, practically the entire distance from the Missouri River to the Salt Lake Valley. Upon reaching the valley of the mountains, her husband prevailed upon her to continue westward to the gold fields of California. Her immediate reply to this suggestion was both curt and poetic, “Samuel Russell," she said, "I came here for the sake of the gospel and not for gold.” He departed, with others, but his wife and child remained with the Saints.
About a year later, Abigail married for the second time to Stillman Pond, also a pioneer of 1847.
In her history, she never talked about her trials or her early life, but it is not difficult to imagine that her life was not one of comfort or ease. The life of this good woman, eventful and colorful, was typical of that of the sturdy pioneers who gave their all for the establishment of what they thought was right.
As with any mother, her outstanding accomplishment in life was her family of boys and girls. During the difficult task of establishing of a home in the desert, her boys did not have shoes, causing their feet to chap and often bleed. To relieve the soreness as best she could, Abigail would bath them in warm bran water. This kindly service during the summer time was one of the special duties of the mother before retiring at night.
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| Abigail |
Abigail Thorn Pond possessed a powerful and magnetic personality together with a great store of practical wisdom and was a popular fireside personality. With a profound knowledge of the scriptures, she always had an appropriate passage to substantiate most any statement she made. One of her favorite bits of philosophy was expressed in the following words: “Oh consistency, thou art a jewel.”
Abigail not only quoted that philosophy; she lived it. She had endured many privations and hardships throughout her life, but never wavered from the faith that came to her soul when a girl. The faith and devotion she manifested for the cause of truth in the long trek across the plains as a young woman remained with her to her dying day, and continues as a living inspiration to her posterity.
