Anna Knight

Short History of Anna Knight - wife of Freeborn DeMill This story came from Nauvoo Illinois Birth date - 5 Mar 1804 at Marlboro, Windham, Vermont Death: 22 July 1878 Manti, Sanpete, Utah Parents: Joseph Knight Sr and Polly Peck Pioneer - 5 Nov 1850 Lorenzo Snow Wagon Train Spouse - Freeborn DeMill Married 11 Mar 1819 Death of companion - 23 Jan 1881 at Manti, Sanpete, Utah Children: Mariah 12 May 1820 Orpha 24 Dec 1822 Lora Ann 2 Jun 1828 Oliver 20 mar 1830 Adelia 29 sept 1832 Elias 12 Jan 1838 Lovina Esther 13 May 1843 Anna was an early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized by Oliver Cowdry on 28 June 1830, the same day as Emma smith. She married Freeborn DeMill and they were friends of the Prophet Joseph Smith when he worked for and lived with her parents. The family supported him through all the early church persecutions. She and Freeborn moved along with other church members to Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, and then to Utah. They all suffered starvation and extremely cold weather as they were driven by mobs from place to place. Her husband worked for the Knight in their mills and suffered an accident that left him crippled. This put an extra burden on Anna to help make a living for their seven children. When they were driven from Nauvoo, they went as far as Mt. Pisgah and remained there for four years. They came across the Plains with Lorenzo Snow Wagon Company and arrived in Salt Lake Valley on 5 November, 1850. Two months later, Brigham Young sent the family to settle in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah so Anna helped in the settlement of this new community. Her children lived close by and were always an asset to them. They all endured many hardships such as famine, pestilence, Indian Wars, and many disadvantages of pioneer life. They made their humble contributions toward the construction of the Manti Temple. Anna had a strong testimony of the gospel and instilled this in her children who stayed faithful to the church. Anna lived to be seventy eight years old. She is buried among the pines in the Manti Cemetery close to the temple that she loved.