Martha McBride Knight facts for kids
Martha McBride Knight Smith Kimball (born March 17, 1805 – died November 20, 1901) was an important early member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She helped start the Relief Society in 1842, which was a women's organization. This happened on her 37th birthday.
Martha was married to Vinson Knight, an early leader in the church. They had seven children together. Later, in 1842, she was married to Joseph Smith in a special way. In 1846, she married Heber C. Kimball. She had one more child with him, but the baby died young. Martha later moved to Utah Territory and lived there until she was 96 years old. She saw and was part of many important events in the early history of the Latter-day Saints.
Contents
Early Life and New Homes
Growing Up in New York
Martha McBride was born on March 17, 1805, in Chester, New York. She was the youngest of nine children. Her father was a minister who moved the family around western New York. He died when Martha was 18.
On July 26, 1826, Martha married Vinson Knight. They first lived in Perrysburg, New York. They had their first four children there. Vinson became quite wealthy from his farm.
Joining the Church
Starting in 1833, some of Martha's family joined the Latter-day Saint church. Martha and Vinson were baptized on March 24, 1834. Joseph Smith himself taught them about the church in their home.
Moving to Ohio and Missouri
In June 1835, Martha and her family moved to Kirtland, Ohio. Many other Latter-day Saints were gathering there. Vinson became a leader in the Kirtland church. Martha and Vinson received special blessings in 1835. Martha had a son named Nathaniel in Kirtland, but he died young.
In 1838, Martha and her family moved to Far West, Missouri. Vinson was appointed a bishop there. However, they soon faced trouble and were forced to leave their home by angry mobs. Vinson later asked the state of Missouri for $10,000 to cover their losses. This was one of the largest claims made by a Latter-day Saint family.
After being forced out of Missouri, the Knight family found safety near the Mississippi River. Martha gave birth to her daughter, Martha Abigail Knight, there in February 1839.
Life in Nauvoo, Illinois
Building a New Home
In April 1839, Vinson Knight went to Iowa to buy land for the Saints to settle. He and his family then moved to Commerce, which later became Nauvoo. Vinson helped choose the land for the new city. He built a strong two-story brick house on Main Street. This was one of the first brick houses in Nauvoo. It is still standing today.
Vinson was very active in Nauvoo. He helped Joseph Smith in the Nauvoo Legion, which was like a local army. In 1841, he became a bishop in Nauvoo. He also served on the city council and helped with the University of the City of Nauvoo.
Martha's Important Role
Martha was also very involved in Nauvoo. She was a founding member of the Relief Society. This women's group was started on her 37th birthday, March 17, 1842.
Martha was told by Joseph Smith that she was the first woman to agree to her husband entering into a special type of marriage called plural marriage. This meant her husband would marry another woman. Martha's husband, Vinson, was worried about telling her. He explained that he felt he should help Philindia Merrick, a widow whose husband had died. Martha reportedly said, "Is that all?" Philindia Merrick also helped start the Relief Society.
Loss and New Beginnings
Vinson Knight suddenly became ill and died on July 31, 1842. He was only 38 years old. Joseph Smith spoke at his funeral. He said Vinson was the "best friend he ever had on earth."
One month later, Martha and Vinson's youngest child, Rodolphus, also died. He was less than a year old. Around the time of Vinson's death, Martha was married to Joseph Smith in a special way. After Joseph Smith died, she was married to Heber C. Kimball.
Life in Utah
Journey West
Two months after marrying Heber C. Kimball, Martha left Nauvoo in March 1846. She was part of the large group of Latter-day Saints moving west. She traveled through Iowa and arrived at Winter Quarters, west of the Missouri River. She lived there with her married daughters, Adaline Knight Belnap and Rizpah Knight Gibbons.
Martha left for Utah on June 15, 1850. She traveled with her daughter Adaline, Adaline's husband Gilbert Belnap, and their two young sons. Martha's son, James Vinson Knight, was also in the group. They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 17, 1850.
Settling in Ogden
Two weeks later, Martha went to Ogden, Utah with her daughter Adaline's family. They were sent by Brigham Young to help settle the area. Their first home was a dugout built into the side of a hill.
Soon after arriving in Ogden, Martha had a serious accident. She was riding in a wagon with Gilbert Belnap. The oxen pulling the wagon started to run down a steep hill. Martha was thrown from the wagon and it ran over her. Gilbert carried her lifeless body back home. Martha later said that she saw her own body lying on the ground and in the house, as if she was standing nearby watching.
Helping Others
In 1856, Martha became a leader in the first Relief Society in Weber County. This group helped people until 1858. Martha and her daughter Adaline were part of a committee that helped members of a handcart company. These pioneers had frozen and bleeding feet. The committee cared for them and gave them homes until they recovered.
Although Martha was one of Heber C. Kimball's wives, she did not live with him much after arriving in Utah. He visited her sometimes in Ogden until he died in 1868.
Later Moves and Final Home
Martha moved around a lot until she was quite old. She often felt alone until she lived with her daughter Adaline in her later years. In 1858, Martha left Ogden during a time when many Saints moved south because of an approaching army. She stayed in Springville for a while. She also lived in Fillmore and Santa Clara, Utah, with other family members.
After her daughter Adaline moved to Hooper in 1869, Martha spent most of her remaining years there. She lived in a room in her daughter's house. In 1877, Martha attended the dedication of the St. George Temple. She did special work there for her ancestors who had passed away.
Later Years and Legacy
A Long Life
In 1891, Martha's brother Reuben died. This made Martha the last living member of her childhood family. Ten years later, on November 20, 1901, Martha died in Hooper at her daughter Adaline's home. She was 96 years old. Adaline was in the room when Martha died, but she had fallen asleep. This fulfilled a prophecy that she would not actually see her mother die.
Martha's funeral was one of the largest ever held in Hooper. A long line of carriages traveled to Ogden. Martha was buried on November 24, 1901, in the Ogden City Cemetery. She was buried in the family plot of Gilbert Belnap.
Amazing Abilities
An article written after Martha's death said she had amazing physical strength. She did not need glasses for almost 20 years. Her needlework was known for being very fine. She loved to read, especially the daily newspapers. During the Spanish-American War, she knew more about the war than almost anyone else in her area.
At a birthday party when she was very old, Martha gave a speech. She talked about the huge changes she had seen in her lifetime. She mentioned the steam engine, modern printing presses, and the telegraph. She explained how slowly news traveled when she was 40. Then she said that on that very day, people could watch every detail of a boxing match live!
Martha was very neat and clean. A granddaughter remembered that her shoes had to fit perfectly. She was a small woman with delicate features, gray-blue eyes, and dark hair.
Family Support
In 1941, one of Martha's granddaughters said that the church gave Martha's parents, Gilbert and Adaline Belnap, money each month to buy clothes and food for Martha. When Martha died, the church also sent a casket and burial clothes for her.
Family
Martha McBride Knight had eight children. Seven were with her husband Vinson Knight, and one was with Heber C. Kimball. The last four of her children, including the son with Kimball, died young.
- Almira Knight (born 1827, died 1912)
- Rizpah Knight (born 1829, died 1895)
- Adaline Knight (born 1831, died 1919)
- James Vinson Knight (born 1833, died 1912)
- Nathaniel Knight (born 1835, died 1836)
- Martha Abigail Knight (born 1839, died 1844)
- Rodolphus Elderkin Knight (born 1841, died 1842)
- (son) Kimball (born 1847, died as an infant)
Today, Martha's family includes tens of thousands of people. Most of them are still members of the Latter-day Saint church. Some notable descendants include church leaders Francis M. Gibbons and Larry W. Gibbons.
