Life History of Abraham Daniel Washburn - 1805-1886Abraham Daniel
Washburn, Son of Daniel
Washburn and Anne Wright was born 17 Mar 1805 at
Nine Partners, Duchess, New York. He had two brothers, Isaac and Jacob and a sister
Philena. His father, a farmer, was one of the early settlers of Mt. Pleasant, New York.
His first ancestor in America, William
Washburn, was a pioneer of Connecticut and Long Island. Later ancestors were pioneers of
Westchester, Duchess and other counties of New York. Their descendants are scattered throughout United States and in other countries.
Abraham's father died 14 July 1813. His mother had failing health from then until her death, 8 March 1824. Abraham being the oldest child, carried great responsibilities in helping his mother with the younger children, the home and the farm. As he grew older he accepted the role of the father, looked after their education and learning a trade. His brother Jacob became a Methodist minister in New York City until his death. Abraham continued study throughout his life and was considered well educated. He was a tanner and shoemaker by trade.
Soon after his mother's death, Abraham Daniel married Tamer, daughter of Jesse and Susannah (Tompkins)
Washburn. Her father was the brother of Abraham's
grandfather, Daniel. Abraham had a successful tanning and
shoemaking business in Sing Sing, New York.
About 1836-7, Orson Pratt came to New York teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints. Abraham said that it was like a light in the darkness. His wife was much against these teachings. Abraham was baptized by Parley P. Pratt. Son after, while attending a meeting conducted by Orson Pratt, a message came saying that Tamer had fainted. As Abraham arose to go, Brother Pratt
said, "be not alarmed, I promise you in the name of the Lord, that your wife will soon be a member of this church". In a few weeks Tamer became a member. At one time she gave Orson Pratt money to pay his way on a mission to England. Another time the Prophet Joseph Smith gave Tamer a special
blessing, saying that her salvation in the celestial kingdom was secure because of her liberality. Tamer had a dream while living in Sing Sing, New York. She thought she was in heaven, everything was so beautiful and orderly. She saw a small group of children and among them her own two children. The gracious lady in charge of the
group said to her, "do not grieve for your children, it is your privilege to see, before hand, the joy and happiness surrounding them, so you will not mourn for them". Her two children died soon after and the impression of this vision sustained her and she did not grieve.
Abraham was raised a Quaker and during the Sabbath, from Saturday evening until Sunday evening, there could be no laughter or pleasant pastimes. He later joined the Methodist Church and influenced his family to
become members. He saw the evils of liquor and tobacco and abstained from their use. After joining the
LDS Church, he was a good friend of Parley and Orson Pratt. They were often guests in his home at Sing Sing. Abraham was appointed to preside over the branch of the
LDS Church there until about 1841 when he sold his business to the husband of Sally
Kider, a relative of Tamer.
The
Washburn family moved to
Nauvoo,
Illnois. Abraham had been ordained a Teacher and an Elder by the Pratt brothers. At
Nauvoo he was ordained a Seventy by
Hyrum Smith. He was a member of the School of the Prophets and of the
Nauvoo Legion. He was a close friend of the Prophet Joseph and other church leaders. Joseph Smith was often in the
Washburn home. Abraham helped in finishing the Temple and other public works. He stood at the corner of the platform upon which Joseph Smith stood when he gave his last address to the
Nauvoo Legion.
Abraham sometimes related incidents from the trying times when the people were overcome by persecution and grief at the time of the martyrdom of their beloved leader Joseph and his brother
Hyrum. Abraham was at the meeting when the
mantle of Joseph fell upon Brigham Young.
During this period, Flora Clarinda Gleason was living at Macedonia, 20 miles from
Nauvoo, in the home of John Smith, uncle of the Prophet. She was set apart as President of the Relief Society, the second woman holding this position in the church, Emma Smith being the first. Flora Clarinda was married to Benjamin Johnson, as his second wife.
When the Mormons were driven from
Nauvoo and that area, they crossed the river and established Winter Quarters in Nebraska. Abraham and his family were among the first to reach this place. He was 1st counselor to Bishop Bates Nobles; he helped build houses to shelter the homeless Saints.
Fora Clarinda came to Winter Quarters where her first child was born 15 January 1847 while she was living in a wagon box. During a blinding snowstorm a few days later, Flora Clarinda was obliged to go into the storm and gather her baby clothes from the bushes where they had been hung to dry. Kind neighbors were busy. Seven babies were born the day her baby,
Huetta was born. Flora's
husband was not there. In the spring of 1848 she with her baby came with the
Musser company to Utah. She drove her mule team the entire distance from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake City. She had not seen her husband. After talking to Brigham Young, she was given a divorce in Salt Lake City.
Flora Clarinda was married, as second wife to Abraham
Washburn in President Young's office. Jedediah Grant and his wife Susan were married at the same time.
Abraham
Washburn was called to help make a settlement at
Manti. The company
arrived there 21 Nov 1849. The next day, Flora Clarinda's second child, Almeda Maria was born, she being the first
white child born in
Sanpete County.
The night after Almeda's birth a terrible storm came. Snow was knee deep. The winter was hard. Most of the 30 head of cattle Abraham brought from Salt Lake City died that winter.
The Ute Indians came and made the settlers watch a three-day war dance. Chief Walker and his tribe camped near
Manti Canyon. He rode into the settlement early in the morning on several occasions, excitedly waving his arms saying that the Great Spirit had visited him during the night and said not to kill the white people because they were his children the same as the Indians were. The
settlers felt that these heavenly messages were all that saved them.
The first
Manti homes were built on the south side of Temple Hill. But the place was infested with snakes, which were often found in the houses. One morning Clarinda found on on the mantle above the fireplace.
They later built a for, the northwest corner was directly across from the present City Hall. On this corner was the
Washburn home. Several of their children were born there, the last being Lorena E.
Washburn Larsen. Their home later was block east of Main Street.
While farming fighting crickets and grasshoppers, producing their food, clothing, shoes and other needs these people had to keep watch on the Indians who were constantly on the warpath. In May 1865, the Black Hawk War began. The cattle were brought in and placed in large corrals. Men were on constant guard. They knew the dread and fear everyone felt at the sound of the bass drum in the night. It was the signal that every able bodied man was to gather on the public square, Indians had killed, plundered or driven away the cattle. Women and children were left terrified. Latch strings were pulled inside, heavy flour boxes or
their large pieces of furniture were pushed against the doors. They all waited for reports.
Soldiers from the Salt Lake area came to help. Two soldiers, Mr. Vance and Mr.
Houtz, who had breakfast at
Washburns one morning, were killed later in the day at Twelve Mile Creek. There were a few Indians who had worked for Mr.
Washburn before the war. Some loved him because of his kindness and honesty. One, 'Indian Joe' a chief, sent messages to Mr.
Washburn by other men. When cattle were being driven off, Indian Joe, turned back some with the
Washburn brand on. Years later in Grass Valley, Indian Joe met some of Abraham
Washburn's sons. He hugged and kissed these sons. Later when the
Washburns lived in Monroe,
Indian Joe's son who was now a chief came with his band of Indians. When he saw Brother
Washburn, he gave him his finest buffalo robe as a token of the love his father had had for Abraham
Washburn.
Mr.
Washburn built and operated a tannery and shoe making shop in
Manti. Later when the family moved to Monroe he did this kind of work there. He was called by the church to be in charge of the Order tannery in
Glenwood, where several men worked for him. In Monroe in his later years Brother
Washburn sent to Salt Lake City for his shoe making supplies, as the demand for shoes was great.
In the 1870's when living in Monroe, the
Washburn families joined in a Christmas Celebration, with a Christmas tree, the first in Monroe. Abraham
Washburn was Santa Claus.
It was thought that Mr.
Washburn found the Monroe Hot Springs. Soon after their arrival, he cleaned out a spring and bathed in the warm water often. His son Parley was healed by bathing in that spring, from a pain in his left shoulder that had remained since childhood when he had measles in 1864-5. Abraham didn't lay claim to these springs because he thought they should belong to the community.
He advocated free schools. He was kind and loving to his family. He was considerate and a friend to all people. Each day he encouraged his children to be kind to their mother and help her all they could. He was a peace-loving man who put oil on troubled waters to bring love and friendship. He looked for the good in his fellowman. He was hospitable and had many dear friends from
everywhere - Winter Quarters,
Nauvoo and crossing the plains. His home was a welcome place for them all. Sometimes a dozen teams were cared for by the
Washburn boys in one night. Many times hay was scarce. The people were taken care of in the home. Often they talked on both friendly and serious topics until late into the night. Volumes of unwritten church history were told there.
Abraham
Washburn was ordained a Patriarch for
Sevier County by Apostle Albert
Carington in 1884. He gave 162 Patriarchal Blessings in 19 months. The first one was given to his small grandson, Bent F. Larsen.
Abraham Daniel
Washburn died 17
June 1886, at Monroe, Utah. Each Sunday for three weeks after his funeral in the sacrament meeting, speakers told of the splendid life of Abraham
Washburn.
He and his wives left comfortable homes, friends and wealth, endured persecution, disaster and hardships for their religious convictions and
personal standards.
Throughout their long useful lives they kept their faith, high ideals and a good honorable name that will live in history for all time. [Written by Lorena E.W. Larsen]
Life History of Tamer Washburn - 1805-1882Tamer Washburn was born 4 July 1805. She embraced the gospel in Sing Sing, New York now called Ossing in West Chester County New York. She came with her husband Abraham Washburn and their family to Nauvoo, Illnois in the spring of 1841. They passed through all the trials and persecutions of those trying days and became well acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum and all the leaders of the Church at Nauvoo.
They crossed the plains, that trackless desert with the Saints. They left Nauvoo for Winter Quarters in the year 1846 and from there came to Salt Lake City 1848. Tamer drove three yoke of wild stears across the trackless desert and on June 17, 1847 while crossing the plains her little daughter, Artemisia was born.
They lived in Salt Lake about one year and then went to Manti, Sanpete, Utah in the fall of 1849, making the time about eight years since they left New York.
Abraham and Tamer Washburn passed through all the mobbings of those early days of the Church. On one accasion when the mob was raging a leader of the mob came in Abraham's home and started up the stairs. Tamer caught him by the coat tail and pulled him down again. Later he returned with the mob and took possession of their home and all their belongings and turned them all in the street.
In those early days Tamer had the Prophet Joseph Smith visit with her and her folks. On one occasion at a public gathering the Prophet arose on his feet and said "Sister Washburn there is a special blessing from the Lord to you and the Lord says that your just as sure of your celestial crown as though you already had it on your head." The sisters that were assembled said to the Prophet, "This is enough to make us jealous" and then the Prophet said, "This blessing is for Mother Washburn above the rest because she is a free giver. She could always give and never regret."
After the persecutions and the death of the Prophet and the exodus of the Saints from Nauvoo, Tamer and her busband Abraham came to Utah. She lived an honorable life and was always ready to lend a helping hand. She died in Nephi, Juab, Utah on 10 Oct 1882 and left many loved ones to miss her and praise her name. [ Written by her daughter Susanna Washburn Bowles, wife of Thomas Bowles]
Tamer Washburn was born 4 July 1805 at Newcastle, Duchess, New York
Parents: Jesse Washburn and Susannah Tompkins
Married Abraham Washburn 16 March 1825
Died 4 Sep 1886 (age 81) at Nephi, Juab, Utah
Children: Daniel born 23 July 1826 Mt. Pleasant, New York;
Mary Ann born 18 Nov Mt. Pleasent, New York;
Emma Jane born 28 July 1832 Mt. Pleasant, New York
Elizabeth born 23 Aug 1834 Sing Sing, New York and died 1837
Daniel Abraham bor 8 Sep 1837 Sing Sing, New York
Sarah Elizabeth born 16 Aug 1839 Sing Sing, New York and died 1841 or 2
John E. born 13 Apr 1842 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illnois and died 1842
Susannah born 23 June 1843 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois
Joseph Bates born 20 Jul 1845 Nauvoo, Hancock, Illnois and died 1845
Artemisia Minerva born 17 June 1847 Winter Quarters, Nebraska.
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