Prescinda Lathrop Huntington was born 7 September 1810 in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, United States to William Huntington (1784-1846) and Zina Baker (1786-1839) and died 1 February 1892 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah, United States of unspecified causes. She married Norman Buell (1805-1872) 6 January 1828 in United States. She married Joseph Smith (1805-1844) 1 December 1841 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, United States. She married Heber Chase Kimball (1801-1868) 7 November 1846 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois.
Family & Marriages[]
1st Marriage: Buell[]
History - Presendia Huntington Buell and her husband Norman, joined the church in 1836 in Kirtland, OH and subsequently journeyed with Joseph Smith's wagon company to Missouri and then later to Illinois.
- George William Buell (1828-1900) - at age 16 left mother and followed with his father, Norman.
- Silas Dimick Buell (1831-1833) - died young
- Thomas Jefferson Buell (1834-1834) - died young
- Chauncey Dresser Buell (1836-1836) - died young
- Adaline E Buell (1838-1838) - died young
- Oliver Norman Buell (1840-1872) - stayed with mother and the Kimball clan in Utah
- John Hiram Buell (1843-1844) - died young
2nd Marriage: Smith[]
Presendia's biographer, Emmeline B. Wells wrote, that in the fall of 1841, "Joseph himself taught the principle of plural marriage to Sister Presendia...She knew Joseph Smith to be a man of God...and consequently...she accepted the sealing ordinance with Joseph as a sacred and holy confirmation."
Presendia married Joseph Smith on December 11, 1841 (wife #6). Joseph had married her sister, Zina two months prior. As with Zina, Presendia's brother, Dimick, performed the ceremony. Another brother, Oliver wrote, "Dimick had given our sisters Zina & Presendia to Joseph as wives." In return, Joseph offered him any reward he wanted. Alluding to eternal salvation, Dimick replied, "that where you and your fathers family are, there I and my fathers family may also be." Presendia continued to live with her first Husband, Norman. In November 1843, she bore her seventh child, John Hiram, but he passed away a year later. Only two of Presendia's children had survived.
3rd Marriage: Kimball[]
After Joseph Smith's death in summer 1844, Presendia married Heber C. Kimball. She continued to live with her first husband, Norman, until May 1846. Her brother Oliver wrote, "Presendia's Husband would not follow the Church any longer...so she left him and followed after her Lord [Kimball]" Presendia took her six year old son, Oliver, with her, leaving behind her 16 year old son George and husband, Norman. Of the experience, Presendia wrote, "No tongue can tell my feelings in those days of trial; but I had considered well, and felt I would rather suffer and die with the saints, than live in Babylon."
Gravestone of Prescinda Huntington
Norman tried unsuccessfully to find Presendia in her flight. By 1848 he located her at Winter Quarters, Nebraska, living with other Mormons migrating to the Salt Lake Valley. Presendia's brother Oliver wrote, "Norman Buell...had been up to Winter Quarters on a visit...and wanted she should not marry but wait a while and he would come over to the valley, and be glad to live with her again". Norman was apparently unaware of Presendia's marriage to Kimball, and his offer to accompany her to Utah was refused. Presendia later bore two children by husband Heber.
She married on 4 February 1846 and had 2 children, Heber married four grandchildren of Lathrop-Pitkin Family.
- Prescinda Celestia Kimball (1849-1850) - (9 January 1849 Salt Lake City-8 May 1850); drowned in City Creek at age 16 months
- Joseph Smith Kimball (1851-1936) - (22 December 1851 - 29 March 1936) - md Lathilla Pratt
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| George William Buell (1828-1900) | |||
| Silas Dimick Buell (1831-1833) | |||
| Thomas Jefferson Buell (1834-1834) | |||
| Chauncey Dresser Buell (1836-1836) | |||
| Adaline E Buell (1838-1838) | |||
| Oliver Norman Buell (1840-1872) | |||
| John Hiram Buell (1843-1844) | |||
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Prescindia Celestia Kimball (1849-1850) | |||
| Joseph Smith Kimball (1851-1936) | 22 December 1851 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah | 29 March 1936 Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, Utah | Lathilla Merrill Pratt (1855-1940) |
Siblings[]
References[]
- Spencer Kimball Family Ancestry
- Heber Kimball Immigrant Ancestors - Early colonial American ancestors
