Started writing in 1850 by herself
I was born in the State of Ohio, Washington County, on the 14th
of February 1811. The daughter of Thaddeus Pond and Lovisa Miner Pond. They had
eleven children, I being the eighth. Father did not belong to any church, my
mother was a Methodist, also my two sisters and one brother. I was religiously
inclined, in my young days I read the New Testament often, and many times
wished that I had lived in the days of Christ and his Apostles, and often
wondered why the same gifts and blessings were not in any of the churches. We
were told that they were no longer needed, and that seemed a mystery to me. My
desire was so great to prepare for a future state that I made up my mind to
unite with the Methodist church. That was in the year 1827. In 1829 we moved to
Adams County, Ill. From that time I was not a member of the Methodist church. I
found that I could not believe as they did. I did not believe in shouting or in
calling out amen before a prayer was finished. I believed that God was a person
as I had read in the New Testament, that Christ was in the exact image of the
Father. I had a great anxiety to find something that would satisfy my mind. I
was sometimes impressed with the hope that greater light would come, and it was
my sincere prayer that I would be prepared to believe it.
On the 19th of June 1831, I was married to Henry William Miller.
He was not religiously inclined, but I believed that he was the one for me for
I loved him the first time that I met him. I began housekeeping at Quincy. We
had one child born there. We then moved on a farm about 18 miles from Quincy
where two more children were born. We then moved to Steam Flour Mills, about 10
miles from Columbus. Our eldest son was born here on the 22nd of December 1838.
In 1839 I heard the first true Gospel sermon I had ever heard in
my life. I could not help but express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father for
sparing my life, and giving me the opportunity of hearing the same Gospel
taught by Christ and his Apostles. Some of the families of the Latter Day
Saints settled near us after they were driven from Missouri. Brother Lamb held
meetings at our house. After having a few meetings he gave an invitation for
baptism. I was one of the first to accept. He said he did not like to baptize
me, as my husband was not then at home. He wanted me to wait until the next
meeting which would be held in two weeks, and he promised me that my husband
would be ready to be baptized at that time. I did not like to wait, but did as
he desired, and the promise that he made me was fulfilled, as we were both
baptized at the next meeting. This was about the middle of Sept. 1839. The
Gospel was so plain that I could not believe that my relatives would reject it,
but only three of my sisters believed, and one of them did not join the church
because her husband refused to let her be baptized.
Soon after I became a member of the church the Advisary tried to
make me believe that I had not received the Holy Ghost. I was tried and
troubled in my feelings for several days. I finally sought the Lord for a
witness, and prayed for the Gift of Tongues. When I arose from prayer, I
commenced speaking in Tongues. I felt thankful to my Heavenly Father for so
precious a gift. Soon after I was tempted to believe that it was not a language
because there were so few words in it. I then asked for another language and
notwithstanding my unbelief, the Lord gave me another. This thru His help I
have been able to keep until the present.
I feel to bear my testimony to this work. I know it to be the
true church, the only one the Lord has on earth, and whatever I may have to
pass through I never can doubt it. This knowledge I received not only by those
appointed to lead, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which is a sure
guide. I have many testimonies to bear. I have seen the sick healed by the
laying on of hands and the prayer of faith. I have been healed myself and so
have my children. One of my sisters was healed by shaking hands with Hyrum
Smith. She had a burning fever and the minute that she took hold of his hand it
left her entirely. That was before she was baptized, although she was
thoroughly converted. She was baptized soon after and was a faithful member
until her death.
In the spring of 41 we moved to Nauvoo. Some of the brethren
were receiving the word of the Lord concerning their property. I was very
anxious to know what the Lord wished my husband to do with him. Brother Joseph
inquired concerning him and several others and was told to take shares in the Nauvoo
House. He then gave the committee $4,000.00. I was willing as he to have him do
so. We had been prospered ever since our marriage and this was a call for some
of the means the Lord had given us. In the fall of 41, one the 22nd of Sept. my
husband was called to take a company of men and go up the Black River to get
out lumber for the temple. He took his family with him. The company went up the
river in a boat. The river froze over and they were obliged to leave most of
their provisions until spring. We went the rest of the way with ox teams, as
the snow was about two feet deep. The men had to walk ahead to break the road.
At night they had to shovel off the snow to make the beds. There were fifteen
of us in the sled. We had five children at this time, the youngest being a
little over a year old. Before spring opened our provisions gave out and we had
only potatoes and salt for several weeks. It would have been a great trial for
me to hear my children cry for bread and have none to give them, but I was spared
that. The Lord over-ruled their minds in so much that when we told them we had
no bread and no flour to make any, they did not even ask for it. The baby was
only 14 months old, but when the flour came he could not wait for it to be
baked but wanted a piece of dough. One of our daughters never ate a potato
before in her life. When she came to the table she would look so sorrowful but
never uttered a word of complaint. I cooked and washed for part of the men. We
were there ten months and then moved back to Nauvoo. We did not stay in Nauvoo
very long, but moved to Daniel Miller’s place four miles from Carthage. We were
there when Joseph and Hyrum were shot. But did not hear of it until the next
morning. I could not describe my feelings at that time. It had not entered into
my mind that our enemies would be suffered to take the life of our Prophet. It
seemed a dark day for us to be left without a leader, but when Brother Brigham
spoke to the saints it was plainly manifested that the same spirit rested on
him that was on Brother Joseph. While living here, four miles from Carthage,
our daughter, Freelove, was born on July 24, 1845.
When the saints houses were being burned we could see the light
from several of them while they were burning. We heard that they had a night
set to come and burn Daniel’s home. The men thought it best to make some
preparations in case they came. They filled two large chests with clothing and
took them out of the house, then sent word to them that they were ready for
them. They did not come. That fall we moved again to Nauvoo. In 1846 we left
with a company to come to this valley. Before we came we had the pleasure of
going into the temple and receiving our endowments. When we came away we left a
two story brick house all ready furnished. There was no chance to sell
anything. We were three months on the way to Council Bluffs. In the spring of
1847 another son was born at Council Bluffs. We named him Hyrum S. The next
season Daniel and his family continued their journey toward the valley.
Brother Brigham counciled my husband to stay at the Bluffs and
raise corn to help supply the brothers, who were coming into the valley, with
bread stuff. It was good country for corn and seemed a great help to others as
well as ourselves. When Brother Hyrum’s wife came through Bro. Miller told her
to come and get what corn she needed to take her through, and she came and
stayed all night and helped to shell the corn. In the morning when she went to
take her departure she said, “Well, Bro. Miller, I haven’t anything to pay you
with except Hyrum’s blessing and that you shall have.”
Four children were born while we lived at Council Bluffs and one
died there. In the summer of 1852 we crossed the plains. We had a hard time
making a new home but was prospered and was soon in the way to be comfortable
again. We were glad to think that we had gone so far from our enemies and
thought we would be unmolested here. In 1855 my husband was called to take a
mission to the Cherikee nation. I found it quite a task to have the care of a
large family alone but I did not complain, he was only doing his duty and it
was my wish that he should do so. He was gone two years and a half. In 1857 the
army was sent from the states to drive the Mormons out of the valley. We were
tried to see if we would obey council. In 1858 we were told to leave our home
and move south, we knew not where, but we cheerfully obeyed our leader and went
until told to camp. We stayed about six weeks until peace was restored and when
the word came, “Return to your homes”, we all rejoiced to hear the good news
and I felt to thank the Lord for his kindness to us.
In 1862 my husband married another wife, this was not according
to my natural feeling, but I was willing for the gospels sake to make the
sacrifice and gave my consent. She had five children, four sons and one
daughter. In 1864 my husband was called to go south and settle. He took his
other wife with him. In 1866 myself and family went. We then settled in St.
George, as the first place he settled in was washed out with high water.
In 1869 we commenced doing work in the endowment house at Salt
Lake City for our dead. This I consider one of our greatest privileges, to go
and do work for our dead that they did not have the privilege of doing for
themselves while in the flesh. In 1866 the temple was completed at St. George,
and we again commenced the work for the dead. From that time until 85 we did
what work we could. My husbands health had been poor for two years past and we
thought it best to go north on a visit to our children, hoping a change of
climate would do him good, but in this we were disappointed. We left St. George
toward the last of May, he lived until the 9th of Oct. 1885, when he died and
was buried at Farmington. Since that time I have lived with my children and
grandchildren and have received the kindest of treatment. My posterity is as
follows: 11 children, 99 grandchildren, 183 great-grand children, and one
great-great- grandchild.
Signed,
Elmira Pond Miller
Grandmother is now nearly 89 years old, enjoys good health, her
eyesight is remarkably good. She can read for hours without the aid of glasses,
also knits thread lace without her glasses on. She has enjoyed many
manifestations of a spiritual nature and it is a pleasure to be in her society,
she is so gentle and patient, and never complains at anything. She has
accomplished a great work and now as the eve of her life approaches, she waits
the call to the spirit world and looks forward to it as a tired child to her
homecoming.
Ella Campbell
Elmira Pond Miller died at Syracuse, Sept. 3, 1904, and was
buried at Farmington, Utah.
This biography was given to me by my grandfather, Seth
Chamberlin, years ago. Her life has inspired me and I remain in awe of her
strength, character and most of all, her faith.
Cyndia Sandberg Johnson
CYNDIAJOHNSON • 2013-06-24
Daniel’s father, James Gardner
Miller had been born in Cornwall, CN.
His father, Henry, and Daniel’s Grandpa Miller had been born in Quincy,
MA, but married Elizabeth Gardner who had been born in Lexington, NY, which
accounts for Lexington becoming Daniel’s birthplace.
If you have not yet read Daniel
Miller’s stories, you can find them in the previous volume. What follows is what is available on FSFT for
other offspring of the
Miller and Pond lines. To be added….
Much of the following comes from the
writing of Sarah, daughter of Daniel and second wife, Hannah.
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