Freeborn DeMille - Life History

Born: March 3, 1795, Plattskill, Ulster, New York Married: March 11, 1819, Anne Knight Died: January 23, 1881, Manti, Sanpete, Utah Children: Mariah, Orpha, Lora Ann, Oliver, Adelia, Ellias, Lovina Ester, Freeborn DeMill and Annie Knight Joined the church one year after it was founded. They lived neighbors to Joseph Smith. The family went through the persecutions and lived in Jackson Co, Kirtland and Nauvoo. Freeborn helped build the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples. In the spring of 1850 the parents, two sons and two daughters started for Utah and reached Manti late in the fall. They took up a piece of land and farmed and worked with the church, til death. The family endured all privations incident to pioneer life, during the grasshopper plague they saw many days when greens was all they had to eat. Indian troubles were among the difficulties here too. Freeborn DeMill married Anna Knight on March 11, 1819. Their first child was a daughter, that they named Mariah, who was born May 12, 1820. On December 24, 1822, a second daughter was born and given the name of Orpha. The third child was also a daughter, that they named Lora Ann, born June 2, 1828. Their 4th child, a son was born March 30, 1830 and given the name of Oliver. This was just a month before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized. In Freeborn’s own record he states that he was baptized in the Susquehanna River at Colesville and a few months later his wife was baptized in September 1830 in New York State. He does not give the date of his baptism but his church record gives it as June 30, 1830. Church history shows a number of the Colesville members were baptized in June 1830. However, all the Knight family had joined the church and became members in 1830. Freeborn and wife were numbered with the total of seventy members in all of New York State in Dec. 1830. In Dec. 1830, the section thirty seven of the Doctrine and Covenants was received by the Prophet in which the Lord told him to visit and strengthen the church at Colesville and commanded the church members in New York State to assemble in Ohio. The latter part of January 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife with Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge left New York for Kirtland, Ohio, with instructions from the Prophet that the members of the church in New York should follow in the spring. In Freeborn’s own written record, he states that on April 21, 1831, he with his wife and family, the oldest being eleven years old and the youngest thirteen months, left Colesville for Ohio. They arrived in Thompson, Ohio on May 16, 1831. The church history relates that the members of the Colesville branch, (which included all the Joseph Knight family) were instructed to settle in Thompson, Ohio, about ten miles east of Kirtland, where arrangements had been made for them to settle. Leman Copley had a considerable tract of land in Thompson, that he (a member of the church) had offered to let the saints from Colesville occupy. A contract was agreed upon and work commenced in good faith. However, Copely broke the agreement and some trouble over it caused the Prophet to receive the 54th section of the Doctrine and Covenants early in June 1831. As a result of this revelation, the church at Thompson composed of the members of the Colesville branch made all possible haste to leave Ohio for Missouri. In John Whitmer’s history of the church, Chapter 8, it states that Newel Knight was appointed leader of the company which was made up of the Colesville branch and under his leadership, they made the entire journey from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri. In the record of Freeborn DeMill, he states that they left Thompson, Ohio, June 28, 1831 and arrived in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri on July 25, 1831. (Twenty seven days). The Colesville branch did not settle in Independence, but in Kaw Township a few miles of Independence, in the valley of the Blue River. The saints rejoiced in the revelation of Section 57 of the Doctrine and Covenants naming the land of the Missouri as a gathering place for the saints and the place for the City of Zion; here they felt they could make their home in peace and safety. History of the Church, Chapter 16 starts out, and I quote, “On the 2nd day of August, 1831, I (Prophet Joseph Smiht) assisted the Colesville branch of the church to lay the first log for a house, as a foundation of Zion in Kaw township, 12 miles west of Independence. This was in between Independence and Kansas City, and is now covered by suburbs of Kansas City. The log was carried and placed by 12 men, in honor of the 12 tribes of Israel. At that time the land of Zion was consecrated and dedicated by Elder Sidney Rigdon for the gathering of the Saints.” Freeborn DeMill was one of the 12 men and it was from his record I gave the church historian the names of the 12 men. The church did not have the names of all 12 before I gave it to them. I quote from the same chapter 16 of the History of the Church as written by the Prophet as follows: “On the 4th of August, I attended the 1st conference in the land of Zion. I was held at the house of Brother Josua Lewis, in Kaw township in the presence of the Colesville branch of the Church. The spirit of the Lord was there. On August 7, 1831, I attended the funeral of Sister Polly Peck Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight, Sen. This was the first death in the church in this land, and I can say, a worthy member sleeps in Jesus Christ til the resurrection.” She was my great-great-grandmother. According to her son, Newel, her health had been failing for some time and she was very ill during the journey from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri. Yet she would not consent to stop travelling. Her greatest desire was to set her feet upon the land of Zion and to have her body interred in the land. While travelling on the steamer down the river, Newel went on shore at one of the stops and bought lumber to make a coffin, in case she should die before they arrived in Missouri. History of the Church, Chapter 20, the Prophet states he visited the saints in Kaw township a few miles west of Independence. He reported that the Colesville branch in particular, rejoiced as the ancient saints did with Paul. The foot note states that the Colesville saints were among the 1st to receive the gospel and were mostly converts of the Prophet that his heart was very tender toward them. Sept. 29, 1832, Freeborn DeMill and his wife had their fifth child born to them. A daughter given the name of Adelia. She was born in Kaw township, Jackson County, Missouri and is my grandmother. I will not take the time and space to tell of the persecution and hardships of the saints in Missouri as it is on record in the Church History. It must have tried the faith of the best of them after coming to the land of Zion and rest of them to have mobs and persecution drive them from their new made homes. In Freeborn’s own records he relates that on Dec. 1, 1833 as winter was settling in they were driven from their homes by mobs and out of Jackson county. They crossed the Missouri River to the north into Clay county where they took up new homes. Here a little over two years later, in the spring of 1837, they were driven with the rest of the Saints out of Clay county and went north-east to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, Here on January 12, 1838, their sixth child, a son was born, and given the name Ellias DeMill. Freeborn states that in the spring of 1839 they, with the rest of the Saints were driven out of the state of Missouri, they crossed the state for about one hundred miles to the east, came to the Mississippi River, crossed that and settled in Quincy, Ill. on the bank of Mississippi River. While here in Quincy, their oldest daughter, Mariah, at the age of 21 on April 22, 1841 was married to Daniel Buckley Funk. After coming to Utah this made their home in Sterling, Utah (six miles south of Manti) and raised a family of nine children, Freeborn’s record states that they left Quincy in 1842 and moved to Navuoo, Ill. Here on Jan. 8, 3.843, thei.r second daughter, Orpha, at the age of twenty one was married to Perry Davis and she died the same day. Here also in Navuoo on May 13, 1843, the seventh child of Freeborn and Anna was born. This was their last child, a daughter and was named Lovina Ester. On Thursday, Dec. 25, 1845, (Christmas day) Freeborn and his wife received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. (There were 107 endowments given that day. On January 27, 1846 they were sealed in the Nauvoo Temple. Freebom states in his record that they left Nauvoo for the west on April 22, 1846, being driven out of their homes by the mobs. They arrived in Mt. Pisgah on May 26, 1846. Freeborn DeMill had injured his leg with a saw and was laid up for about five years while in Missouri. Most all the time they were in Mt. Pisgah he was laid up with fever sores. Here in Mt. Pisgah on Oct. 1, 1848, their third daughter Lora Ann married Samuel K. Gifford. After coming to Utah, they were called with others to settle in Utah’s Dixie and made their home in Shonesburg, southeast of Springdale. They were the parents of ten children. In the spring of 1850 they left Mt. Pisgah for the valleys of the Great Salt lake and arrived in Salt lake City Sept. 17, 1850, with the Capt. Warren Foot Company. After a short rest in Salt Lake , they left for Manti, Utah and arrived there Nov. 5, 1850. Freeborn was now past fifty five years old and his wife past forty six. Manti was their home for the rest of their lives, never again to he driven by the mobs. On Dec. 31, 1852, their fifth child, Adelia married John F, Squire, Jun., Manti’s first schoolteacher. They made their home in Manti and had a family of 8 children. More will be told of them later. On May 13, 1855, the oldest son, Oliver at the age of 25, married Emily Almina Deal. They had eleven children. He married a second wife, Fidelia Winget June 3, 1865, and they had seven children. This family was also called to settle in Utah’s Dixie and made their home in Shonesburg later moving to Rockville, On Dec 11, 1859, the youngest child, Lovina Ester, not quite 17 married John Alma Beal. They had eleven children and lived in Manti until about 1875 and them moved to Shonesburg. On June 11, 1863, the youngest son, Ellias, the last to marry, was married to Malvina Winget. He was 25 years old. They made their home in Manti and were the parents of nine children. Freeborn was a member of the first High Council organized in Manti and was a member for many years after. Ann Knight DeMill died on July 28, 1878 in Manti at the age of seventy~four and is buried in Manti, Cemetery. Freeborn DeMill died in Manti, Jan 23, 1881 at the age of eighty-five and is buried in the Manti Cemetery next to his wife. On May 3, 1856, Freeborn DeMill married a second wife by the name of Lynittee Janett Richards and to them two sons were born. Orrin, born Jan 29, 1858, Manti, Utah, and Benjamin born Jan 23, 1860, in Manti, Utah. In his record he relates that one died and the other was living in Ephraim with his mother, dated April 21, 1864. 1 have been unable to find any trace of this other son. I don’t know if he died before age of marriage or not. Taken from a book written and published by Loren DeLance Squire. The following are exerts from an article that appeared in The Pyramid”, date unknown, by David Mackey, entitled “Lines from Hwy 89”. “Vast distance in time and space separates the communities of Sanpete County from the remote hamlets of Rockville and Springdale. The little towns are tucked away between the crimson canyon walls and the Virgin River on the south road to Zion Canyon. … This pocket of the planet was largely settled by people transplanted from Sanpete. Settlers beaqring surnames of Petty, Black, Gifford, Brown, DeMill, Averett, Larsen, Stevens, Isaacson, Lemmon, Funk, Millet, Washburn, Klingensmith, Allred, Beal, Thaxton, Stocks, Siler, Kenner and Whitlock, were among those who would become residents of the area. … It was Isaac Behunin who had been the first to stake out a lone claim at the site of present-day Ephraim. When others began to encroach on the Sanpete land immediately around him, reportedly told a friend that while he would like him for a neighbor, there was only water enough for one family. So the founder moved. This same Behunin pioneer later moved his family into what is Zion National Park today. Eventually the small settlement known as “Zion” consisted of about six families but for various reasons the town ceased to exist by 1875 when people moved away. … The headstone of Oliver and Emily DeMille stands amidst numerous relatives. DeMille was born in 1830 and not only represented the early days of Sanpete, but his parents, Freeborn and Anna Knight DeMill, were among the first to be baptized into the new church founded by Joseph Smith that same year. …”

Freeborn DeMille - Early Church History

In September, 1830, Newel and his sister Anna's husband, Freeborn DeMille, attended the Church's second conference, also held at Fayette, New York (see HC 1:108-20). There Newel became the young prophet's confidant during a surprise crisis caused when Hyrum Page claimed to have received revelations for the Church through a peep stone. Hyrum carried "quite a roll of papers full of these revelations," Newel said, which led many astray. Newel said that Joseph Smith "was perplexed and scarcely knew how to meet this new exigency." Sharing the same room, the Prophet and Newel spent "the greater part" of that night "in prayer and supplication" (13). In response, Joseph received a revelation (D&C 28) that spelled out proper channels for revelation to reach the Church. Brother Page was corrected and peace restored. At that conference Newel was ordained a priest and Freeborn DeMille was baptized. After this conference, Hyrum Smith was made president of the Colesville Branch. He and Jerusha moved in with Newel and Sally Knight, and the two couples became good friends. Newel Knight soon replaced Hyrum as president of the Colesville Branch, whose membership was almost totally Knight relatives. In 1831, this branch of Knights showed remarkable trust in Joseph Smith by obeying a revelation he received calling them to "assemble together at the Ohio" (D&C 37:3). The Knights "were obliged to make great sacrifices of our property," according to Newel. He sold 60 acres of land, Freeborn DeMille 61 acres, and Aaron Culver 100 acres. Joseph Knight, Sr., sold 140 acres, "two Dwelling Houses, a good barn, and a fine orchard" (Knight 19). Sixty-two Knight kin moved to Ohio to help initiate this "first gathering of Zion" in this dispensation. The cluster included Joseph and Polly Knight and every one of their seven children. Other relatives in this migration included Pecks, Slades, DeMilles, and Stringhams. This Knight/Colesville Branch settled near Painsville, Ohio, on lands donated by convert Leman Copley. Responding again to revelations received through Joseph Smith (D&C 38, 51), the group gave up its deeply-ingrained beliefs in private property and the profit system and became the first Saints asked to try to live an economic cooperative order (D&C 38, 51). When Copley disaffected and withdrew his lands, a revelation redirected the Knights to move once again, this time to Missouri—designated by revelation as "Zion." Again, the large clan moved enmasse to the sparsely settled frontier area. Joseph Smith welcomed his Colesville friends to Missouri on 15 July 1832 and directed them to settle 12 miles west of Independence. "We found the country to be butiful, rich and plesent and we made our selves as Comfortable as we could," said Father Knight (Jessee 39). The Knights helped to establish this center for the gathering of Israel (D&C 57). In an impressive ceremony, 12 men representing the twelve tribes of Israel laid the first log as a foundation of Zion; five of the men were Knight relations. Newel was one of seven men who dedicated the Independence temple site. Such rituals seemed full of promise to all the Knights except mother Polly, who was dying. She became the first Latter-day Saint buried in Zion. Death claimed two more Knights that year, including Newel's sister Esther. In this outpost colony of the Church, the families labored hard during an optimistic first year of building, fencing, and establishing homes. Once again, they agreed to consecrate properties in order to live cooperatively. When a council of high priests was created to govern the Missouri church, Newel Knight became one of them, and also he continued to be president of what was still termed the Colesville Branch. As part of plans to one day build the Independence temple, six Knight men made labor pledges. Joseph Knight, Sr., decided to remarry and chose Phoebe Crosby Peck, who was Polly's widowed sister-in-law. Phoebe had four children of her own, and she bore Father Knight two more. Counting Phoebe's four, Joseph Knight, Sr., was father or stepfather of 13 children. In 1834, Missourians drove the Saints, including the Knight network, from Jackson County. The mobbers shot Philo Dibble, whom Newel Knight saved from death through a remarkable priesthood blessing (see Christensen 79). Fearing for their lives, the Knights rushed to the Missouri River ferries. Joseph Knight, Jr., told of women and children walking with bare feet on frozen ground (see Hartley 216). The Knight group lost much property, including a gristmill. The family had moved twice before, but this was their first forced move. Of that hard winter, Emily Colburn Slade Austin recalled: "We lived in tents until winter set in, and did our cooking out in the wind and storms" (Austin 72). Lacking proper food and shelter, many Saints became victims of "fever and ague"—probably malaria—including Sally Knight. After she gave birth to a son who died, she died. "Truly she has died a martyr to the gospel," her bereaved husband Newel eulogized (46). Newel, being a high councilman, was sent to Kirtland to help build that temple and to receive temple blessings. At Kirtland he boarded with his good friends Hyrum and Jerusha Smith. There he met and fell in love with another boarder, Lydia Bailey, whose belief in Joseph Smith and experience with the miraculous was equal to his. Her husband had deserted her, and both of her children had died, so her family sent her to Canada for a change of scenery. In late 1833, while lodging with the Nickerson family, she heard Joseph Smith preach and saw his face "become white and a shining glow seemed to beam from every feature" (Homespun 18). This witness of the spirit converted her. She moved to Kirtland, where she met Newel Knight, and on 24 November 1835, was married to him in the Hyrum Smith home by Joseph Smith. Theirs was the first marriage performed by priesthood authority in this dispensation, which pleased Joseph Smith greatly (HC 2:320). DEMILL, Freeborn A bill of damages against the state of Missouri 1833 Loss of time and labour in Jackson County Mo. $500.00 For improvements 300.00 1836 Also for improvements &c in Clay Co. Mo. 300.00 Also for lands and improvements in Caldwell Clay Co. Mo. 500.00 1839 For the loss of time and mooveing out of the State into Illenoy & for two Rifles with expences 430.00 deprived of Citizenship in Jackson County Mo. 1833. by a lawless mob. also in Clay County Mo. 1836 by the same Mob. and last of all by an exterminateing orde the Governor. 203.00 I hereby Certify that the above bill of accomps are Correct according to the best of my knowledge— Quincy May 6th 1839 Freeborn Demill [Sworn to before C. M. Woods, C.C.C., Adams Co., IL, 6 May 1839.] The Colesville branch traced their awareness of Joseph Smith's religious experiences to Joseph Knight, a native of Worcester County, Massachusetts. He, like Whitmer, became acquainted with the Smiths in Palmyra. Knight lent encouragement to young Smith by employing him in his carding mill and on his farm. He was privileged to be in the Smith home the morning that Joseph entered with the original gold plates of the Book of Mormon in his possession. Joining the Knight family in the Colesville branch were Freeborn DeMill, originally from Ulster County, New York; Ira Willes, formerly from Albany County, New York; Hezekiah Peck, from Windham County, Vermont; William Stringham, from Queens County, New York; and Benjamin Slade, from Windham County, Vermont. The Saints in these small communities strengthened and encouraged each other as they met in worship. It was these early meetings in western New York that became the basis of the first branches of the Church, whose membership knew and professed Joseph Smith to be a prophet of God. *Documented as being present on the day of organization of the Church, 6 April 1830. 24 1. Bennett Family16. Jolly, Vincent 2. Burroughs, Anna17. Jolly, William 3. Burroughs, Phillip13. Knight, Elizabeth 4. Chamberlain, Hope Haskins14. Knight, Joseph, Jr. 5. Chamberlain, Solomon15. Knight, Joseph, Sr.* 6. Conrad, Sarah (Sallie) Heller 16. Knight, Nahum 17. Knight, Newel 7. Cowdery, Oliver*18. Knight, Polly 8. Culver, Aaron19. Knight, Polly Peck 9. Culver, Ester Peck20. Knight, Sarah (Sally) Coburn 10. DeMill, Anna Knight21. Knight, Thankful 11. DeMill, Freeborn27. Mack, Almira 12. Harris, Martin*28. Marshall, John 13. Jolly, Harriet29. Page, Catherine Whitmer 14. Jolly, John 30. Page, Hiram 15. Jolly, Julia Ann31. Peck, Electa 32. Peck, Ezekiel 54. Smith, Katharine 33. Peck, Hezekiah55. Smith, Lucy (dau.) 34. Peck, Martha Long56. Smith, Lucy Mack* 35. Peterson, Richard Ziba57. Smith, Samuel H.* 36. Poorman, John 58. Smith, William B.* 37. Poorman, Margaret59. Stoddard, Calvin W. 38. Rockwell, Caroline60. Stoddard, Sophronia Smith 39. Rockwell, Electa61. Stowell, Josiah 40. Rockwell, Orin (father)62. Stringham, Esther Knight 41. Rockwell, Orrin*63. Stringham, William 42. Rockwell, Sarah Witt64. Whitmer, Anna Schott 43. Salisbury, Wilkins Jenkins65. Whitmer, Christian* 44. Scoby, William66. Whitmer, David* 45. Slade, Benjamin67. Whitmer, Elizabeth Ann 46. Slade, Clark68. Whitmer, Elizabeth Scott 47. Slade, George69. Whitmer, Jacob* 48. Slade, Molly70. Whitmer, John* 49. Smith, Don Carlos71. Whitmer, Mary Musselman 50. Smith, Hyrum*72. Whitmer, Peter, Jr.* 51. Smith, Jerusha Barden73. Whitmer, Peter, Sr. 52. Smith, Joseph, Jr. 53. Smith, Joseph, Sr.*

Freeborn DeMille - [The following is a letter copied as written from the original which was found among papers after the death of John P. Squire. The original letter is in the possession of Loren D. Squire.] Manti, Sanpete Co., Deseret, April 21st. 1864.

In complyance with your invitation as noticed in the news of April 13th. I write this to you, As I once lived in Jackson Co. Missouri. I have six children now living: Maria - married to Daniel B. Funk living at Manti; Lora Ann - married to Samual K. Gifford living at Shonesburg, Cane County (it is said to be Dixie); Oliver Demill living at Shonesburg, having been called to go south in 1861 ( I think). Adelia - married to John P. Squire here in Manti; Elias living in Manti and Lovina married to John Alma Beal living in Manti, Sanpete Co. Freeborn Demill.I was babtised in the Susquehanna river at Colesvill and my wife Anna Demill in New York State Sept. 1830 an on the 21st. of April 1831 we started from Colesvill and arrived at Thompson, Ohio May, 16th; and on June 28th. left Thompson and arrived at Independance, Jackson Co. Missouri July, 25th; and on December 1st. 1833 was driven out and went to Clay County; and in the spring of 1837 driven again and went to Far West Missouri. And in the spring of 1839 being expelled from the State with the rest of the Saints we went to Quincy, Illinois, where we remained until 1842 then repaired to Nauvo where we resided until April, 22ed. 1846 we then started west and on the 26th. of May arrived at Mt. Pisga where I rested until May 1850 then started for and arrived in the valley of Great Salt Lake September 17th. and in Manti Nov., 5th. 1850, where I still reside. We received our endowments in Nauvo temple Dec, 25th. 1845 and sealed in January 27th. 1846. I was one of the 12 who cut carried, and laid the foundation log of the house which was dedicated by Oliver Cowdry and Sidney Rigdon Aug. 2ed. 1831 Jackson County. I was laid up for 5 years in Missouri by a hurt on my knee by a saw tooth and again in Pisga by a feaver sore for about the same length of time. I was born at Plattekill in Ulster Co. N.Y. 1795 of Garrett and Lana Demill. May 3rd. I took a second wife by whom I had two children, one is dead, the other now living at Ephraim with his mother. I was chosen one of the High Council at its 1st. organization here June, 5th. 1851, remain still a member 1864, April, 5th. It is with feelings of respect and thankfulness to God our heavenly Father, to you and the Saints generally for the blessings I have and do enjoy and that there are those who still look and feel after me that I feel greatful and hope ever to be so – With esteam and respect as ever in the bonds of the covenant I remain your friend and brother, Freeborn Demill.

Freeborn DeMill

Freeborn DeMille our first ancestor of the DeMill line to join the church and eventually come to Utah with his family was born 3 March 1795, in Platskill, Ulster co. New York (twin brother to Garrison DeMIlle). He married Anna Knight 11 March 1819. She was born 5 March 1804 in Marlborough, Windham Co, Vermont. She would have been just a few days passed her 15th birthday at the time of her marriage. Melvin Hall writes that in this part of our ancestors history we are especially interested in their lives as they were early members of the L.D.S. Church. They were the first to go west and they were persecuted and driven from one place after another until they finally settled in Manti, Utah. It is easy to see that Freeborn DeMIlle was closely associated with the beginning of the church. As the 5th child was born in Missouri in Jackson County in 1832, the next in Caldwell County in 1838 and the 7th born in Nauvoo in 1843. Joseph Knight had been a friend of Joseph Smith and he had given material assistance to the prophet. Joseph Knight was there with a group of close friends of the Prophet the day the church was organized. He kept a record of what took place that day. It is likely that Freeborn would have been there. There is no doubt that Freeborn DeMille and Anna Knight DeMille were familiar with all that took place in the beginning of the church. Freeborn DeMille was baptized the 30th of June 1830 and Anna Knight DeMille was baptized 6 Sept of that year. They were numbered with a total of 70 members in all of New York State in December 1830. The Colesville branch was the first organized branch of the church, it included all the Joseph Knight family. " In December 1830 Section 37 of the Doctrine and Covenants was given by the Prophet in which the Lord told him to visit and strengthen the church at Colesville and commanded the church members in New York to assemble in Ohio." "The latter part of January 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and his wife with Sidney Ridgon and Edward Partridge left New York for Kirtland, Ohio, with instruction from the Prophet that the members of the church in New York should follow in the spring." "In Freeborn DeMIlle's own written record, he states that on 21 April, 1831 he with his wife and family, the oldest being eleven years old and the youngest thirteen months, left Colesville for Ohio. They arrived in Thompson, Ohio on 16 May 1831." The Colesville branch included all the Joseph Knight family. Instructions had been made to settle at Thompson, Ohio about 10 miles east of Kirtland. Quotations above and some of the following account is taken from Loren Squires Family Genealogy published in 1960. "Arrangements had been made for them to settle on a tract of land owned by Leman Copley, a member of the church...work was began in good faith, however Copley broke the agreement and some trouble over it caused the Prophet to receive Section 54 of the Doctrine and Covenants early in June 1831. "As a result of this revelation the church at Thompson composed of the members of the Colesville branch made all possible haste to leave Ohio for Missouri." "Newel Knight was appointed leader of the group and under his leadership they made the entire journey from Thompson, Ohio to Missouri." In the record of Freeborn DeMIlle, he states that they left Thompson, Ohio June 28, 1831 and arrived at Independence, Jackson County Missouri on 25 July, 1831, in 27 days. The Colesville group was the first branch of the church of which Freeborn DeMille and Anna Knight DeMille were members. They were also the 1st to move west to Ohio and Missouri as a group. Also they were the first to move by River boat as I will relate. They were the first to start a school in Western Missouri, under the Prophets direction and were so honored 100 years later by the Missouri Historical Society placing a marker in Kansas City, Missouri in 1932. The information about the Colesville Saints being the first group to travel by river boat has been published by Conway Sonne in his new book. "Saints on the sea, 1830 to 1890" published 1983. He said, "At the war the Chiefton, discharged about 60 Mormon passengers, the first organized Company of Latter Day Saints to gather in the west. These emigrants were the Colesville branch of the Mormon Church from Broom County New York." The Captain said they were very well behaved. "They had come a long way, about 1200 miles, part of the Journey had been on water, a lakes loop from Buffalo, New York, to Fairport, Ohio and then the river trip aboard the steamboat." From the church section 1 March 1980 in an article by Arrington & Bitton,"We were told by teamsters that we were the most peacable and quite emigrants that had ever carried west: no profanity; no bad language,; no gambling; and no drinking." The Colesville branch did not settle in Independence, but Kaw Township a few miles west of Independence, in the Valley of the blue river. Just 8 days after their arrival, on 2 August, the Prophet Joseph Smith said, "I assisted the Colesville branch of the Church to lay the first log for a house, as a foundation of Zion in Kaw Township, 12 miles west of Independence." This was in between Independence and Kansas City, and is now covered by suburbs of Kansas City. The log was carried and placed by 12 men, in honor of the 12 tribes of Israel. At that time the land was consecrated and dedicated by Elder Sidney Rigdon for the gathering of the Saints. Freeborn was one of the 12 men to help carry the log. Freeborn recorded those 12 men and Lorin Squires said they did not have all the names and he gave them their names. (The church did not have all 12 names). There was a lot of early church history that took place in Kaw township. For our history the most important is the death of Polly Peck Knight on 6 August, 1831 (Anna Knight DeMille's mother) She was the first member of the church to die in Missouri. Then in a little over 1 year on 29 September ,1832 Freeborn and Anna Knight DeMille's 5th child was born there. Newel Knight continued to be branch president and leader of the Colesville Saints. They continued to live as a group. The Prophet Joseph Smith was so impressed with their unity that during a visit to Jackson County in 1832, he called the Colesville Saints together and sealed them up to eternal life. This account was given in the Church Sec. of the News, 1 March 1980 - Knight family aids gospel Restoration. The mobbing and persecutions became so bad that the Saints were forced to leave Jackson County. From Lorin Squires account I quote, "In Freeborn's own account he relates that on 1 December 1833 as winter was setting in they were driven from their home by mobs and out of Jackson County. They crossed the Missouri River to the north into Clay County where they took up their new homes. Here a little over two years later, in the spring of 1837, they were driven with the rest of the saints out of Clay County and went north-east to Far West in Caldwell County Missouri. Here on 12 January 1838 their 6th child, a son was born and given the name of Elias DeMIlle." "Freeborn states that in the spring of 1839 they, with the rest of the saints, were driven out of the State of Missouri. They crossed the State for about one hundred miles to the east, came to the Mississippi River, crossed that and settled in Quincy, Ill. on the bank of the Mississippi river. While here in Quincy, their oldest daughter, Mariah at the age of 21, on 22 April, 1841 was married to Daniel Buckley Funk. After coming to Utah this couple made their home in Sterling, Utah(six miles south of Manti) and raised a family of 9 children. Freeborn's record states that they left Quincy in 1842 and moved to Nauvoo, Ill. Here on 8 January 1843, their second daughter Orpha, at the age of 21 was married to Perry Davis and she died the same day. Here also in Nauvoo on 13 May 1843 the seventh child of Freeborn and Anna Knight DeMille wa born, names Lovina Esther DeMIlle." "On Thursday 25 Dec 1845 Christmas day Freeborn and his wife received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple.(There was 107 endowments given that day) On January 27, 1846, they were sealed into the Nauvoo Temple." "Freeborn states in his record that they left Nauvoo for the west on 22 April, 1846, being again driven out of their home by mobs, they arrived in Mt Pisgah on 26 May 1846. Freeborn DeMille had injured his leg with a saw and was laid up for about five years while in Missouri. Most of the time they were in Mt. Pisgah he was laid up with fever sores." "Here in Mt Pisgah on 1 Oct 1848 , their third daughter Lora Ann DeMIlle married Samuel K. Gifford." They came to Utah and settled in Shonesburg and were the parents of 10 children. "In the spring of 1850 Freeborn and Anna left Mt. Pisgah for the valleys of the Great Salt Lake City. They arrived 17 Sept 1850, with the Capt, Warren Foot Company. After a short rest in Salt Lake, they left for Manti, Utah and arrived there 5 Nov 1850. Manti was their home for the rest of their lives, never again to be driven by mobs. Freeborn was just past 55 and his wife past 46. They had been driven from 5 different homes, they deserved a rest. So they lived, for Anna 28 years and Freeborn 31 years in Manti, Utah. On 31 Dec 1852, their fifth child, Adelia married John P. Squires Sen; Manti's first school teacher. They made their home in Manti and had a family of 8 children. On 13 May 1855 the oldest son Oliver at the age of 25 married Emily Almina Beal. She was 16. They had eleven children. He married a second wife Fidelia Winget 3 June 1865 in the Endowment house in Salt Lake City and they had 7 children. Oliver also married a 3rd wife, Rebecca Jane Allred 10 Oct 1865, and they had one child. On 11 Dec 1859 the youngest child, Lovina Esther DeMille, not quite 17 married John Alma Beal. They had eleven children. They lived in Manti and Glenwood and they moved to Shonesburg in 1875 or near then. Their youngest son Elias married Melvina Winget on 11 June 1863, he was 25 years old. They made their home in Manti and were the parents of 9 children. This makes a total of 66 grandchildren for Freeborn and Anna Knight DeMille. Freeborn was a member of the first High Council organized in Manti and was a member for many years after. Anna Knight DeMille died in Manti 22 July 1878 at the age of 74 and is buried in the Manti cemetary. Freeborn died in Manti 23 January 1881 and is buried in the Manti cemetery by the side of his wife Anna. If you read of the trials that took place in Church History or any accounts of the period from 1831 to 1850 and from 1850 to 1881 you will know that Freeborn and his family experienced them. they lost loved ones. Anna's mother Polly Peck Knight died in Missouri 6 Aug 1831. Then their daughter died in Nauvoo 8 January 1843. Then Anna's brother Newel Knight, who had been their leader died 11 Jan 1846 and her father Joseph Knight died about one month later, also other family members died also. Conditions did get better in Manti. We cannot comprehend the trials and hardships that our early ancestors went through. They had expected to make a permanent home in Missouri as the Prophet Joseph Smith had said this is the land of Zion where the Saints were to gather. In each place they had been planning to stay but were driven on. After reaching Manti they still endured many hardships and privations, famine, pestilence, Indian wars, the disadvantages of pioneer life, building roads and ditches, clearing land, building log and rock houses, fencing farms etc." With all of these problems to face, it certainly was a time of peace compared with the previous 19 years, 1831 to 1850. Even during this 30 year period, 1850 to 1880 they had two Indian wars, also the uncertain time in 1858 of not knowing whether they would have to leave the country and flee to Mexico to keep from being hounded by the U.S. Army. There is a thin line between this life and the next and I am sure that Freeborn DeMille and Anna Knight DeMille can look with joy upon the large number of their posterity who are active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Each of us who is a descendant of them have traces of their characteristics in our blood stream, as well as the characteristics of all our other ancestors. Our lives are influenced by all these things as well as the environment past and present. We certainly can be proud of the decisions that Freeborn DeMIlle made in staying loyal to the church.

List of Original Colesville Branch Members, 1830 - 1831 Freeborn Demill Family

Freeborn Demill

Freeborn Demille

Freeborn Demille & Anna Knight