Blog #85

By Kevin V. Hunt

One of my favorite places to serve as a site guide in Nauvoo was the home of Sarah Granger Kimball. I love the home because it is so authentic and beautiful. And it is a home that I think I could enjoy living in.

Sarah Melissa Granger – daughter of Oliver and Lydia Granger, of Kirtland came to visit Nauvoo. While in Nauvoo, she met Hiram Kimgall. Hiram had lived in the little village of Commece, Illinois even before the Latter-day Saints came to reside there. He owned a store and was heavily involved with real estate investments and transactions. He was not then a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He owned a beautiful home in Nauvoo.

Hiram must have been quite “taken” by Sarah for he followed her back to her home to Kirtland. Receiving her father’s permission, Hiram courted Sarah and won her heart. They were soon married. Hiram then took his new bride back to his home in Nauvoo and they moved into the beautiful home that he alrady had acquired.

Sarah made the home famous as she hosted a quiet meeting with her seamstress, Ann Cook. They talked of forming a “sewing society” to give Sisters opportunity to contribute to the Temple construction by helping create and maintain clothing for the Temple workers. That simple discussion in Sarah’s Parlor, ultimately led to the creation of the Women’s Relief Society in 1842.

The family lived in the home for several years – even beyond 1846 when most of the Saints left Nauvoo. They later did make it to Salt Lake City. Hiram had joined the Church while the famiy was in Nauvoo and in 1863, he accepted a mission call to serve in the South Pacific. He and other missionaries boarded a ship for their mission voyage.

Sadly, there ws an fre accident and ultimately blew up. Hiram lost his life in that accident.

As ever, Sarah remained true and faithful to the Gospel she had known since her teens. She later served for over 30 years on the General Relief Society Board and was the President of her local ward Relief Society.

The Kimball home was lived in almost continuously from the time that the Kimballs departed Nauvoo and so it was in excellent shape when the Church purchased it and began restoration. The home had been added upon in subsequent years and so these non-Nauvoo addtions had to be removed.

The home of Hiram and Sarah Kimball has been beautifully restored. Every detail of the place testifies of Sarah, her family, her faith and testimony.

Here are some things that Nauvoo guests can experience and learn as they visit the Hiram and Sarah Kimball home:

Hiram and Sarah Granger Kimball were great people and their home tells their story. Like all of the restored homes and shops of Nauvoo, their home tells of their lives, their faith, and their commitment.

Previously I published a blog about the Nauvoo home of Heber C. Kimball. This article about Sarah Granger Kimball is another in a series that features the homes and shops of old Nauvoo.

These two articles are a part – a snippet – of a grand book that I have in production. The book “Nauvoo Homes, Shops, and Experiences” will feature a multitude of historic photos (vintage photos from past eras, photos which I took on my “young mission” to Nauvoo, as well as photos from the present day in Nauvoo). The book will actually show and detail almost every room in each of the historic homes and shops of Nauvoo.

Watch for the book – nearly done – to make its debut!

Kevin