Heber C. Kimball Home

We served in the Heber C. Kimball home today. He was a member of the council of the twelve apostles during the Nauvoo years and later in Utah was a counselor to President Brigham Young in the First Presidency. This home was begun in 1843, completed in November 1845 and they left 4 1/2 months later when the saints left for the Rocky Mountains. It is a combination of Greek Revival and Federalist architecture. Pretty amazing for people who were destitute when they arrived in 1839. The east wing was added on after the "Mormon" years. Notice the step chimneys. Theoretically they were supposed to slow down chimney fires. They are a charming feature of the Nauvoo brick homes.

This is Dad in the study. The portrait is of Heber C. Kimball. The chairs are Windsor loop back arm chairs circa 1800.

This piano was built in the early 1800's and was of the type Beethoven played.






This is the parlor with a portrait of J. Leroy Kimball who in 1954 bought his ancestoral home and began Nauvoo Restoration Inc. That round thing by the cabinet is a fire screen from 1830, the red plate you see in the cabinet is cranberry colored glass which was popular for glass at the time. On the table is copper Lustre ware.








The cabinet and tables here are from the 1830's and 40's and the table with the dishes on it was made in Nauvoo during that time. Very little remains of the possessions of the saints. They had to simply abandon most of their life and only take what would fit in the wagons. Their possessions and the materials that made up their houses disappeared over the many years.


Most of the artifacts were acquired when Nauvoo Restoration began its work and don't belong the the original saints but simply represent the time period. The blue dishes are English Staffordshire. The colorful plates in the cupboard are Spode Imari style from the time period.



Heber C. died in 1868 which sticks in my mind because a century later I was graduating from high school during a turbulent time in society for people coming of age. I am indebted to these people for holding fast to the faith in spite of persecution as they searched for a place where they could follow the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in peace. Because they did, it was passed down from generation to generation and I received it in '68 at a pivotal time in life. Between the love of good parents and the teachings of Jesus Christ I was spared alot of grief as those two things helped me navigate those vulnerable years.