Abiah and his family were baptized by Elder William Hyde in 1839 at Lincolnville, Waldo County, Maine. Next year, they left their home to join the Saints in Illinois. At that time, they had four children: Joseph, Caroline, Nancy, and Ann.

They arrived in Nauvoo in the spring, 1840. One of the first persons they met was the Prophet Joseph Smith, "one of the grandest men they had ever seen." They had a home near the Smiths at the time of the martyrdom. In 1845, Abiah turned in several bolts of cloth for tithing and a horse to help finish the temple.

In the spring of 1846, President Brigham Young, called the first company of Saints to go West. Abiah turned in his remaining team, harness, and wagon, leaving him only three cows and a few head of sheep. After the family was forced to move across the river to Montrose, Abiah returned to Nauvoo to guard the temple, which angry mobs threatened to destroy. Later, the family moved to Salem, where everything seemed quiet and peaceful. In 1849, George A. Smith called for the Saints in Salem to help another company going to the West, and Abiah turned over a yoke of oxen for them. Then Abiah found enough work to buy a team and wagon and enough supplies to move the family to Council Bluffs.

On May 10, 1851, the family joined the 50 member Abraham Day company in their long journey West. They had five yoke of oxen, one span of ponies, four cows and three wagons. Abiah drove two yoke of oxen and one yoke of cows on one wagon. Joseph and his mother drove three yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows on another wagon plus the ponies. They had no serious trouble and arrived in Great Salt Lake valley on September 17, 1851. They were thankful to join the Saints in this valley, where they could live in peace.


In his personnal history, Abiah wrote, When I was 30 years old , Dec 30, 1840 I was baptized into the LDS church and ordained. Teacher and presided over the Branch until I left that country for Nauvoo in 1842 . Also before moving Abiah and Eliza had Eliza Ann b. 1842 in Searmont , Maine.so they could not of left in 1840.
Thanks to Saundra Cox
(Obit courtesy Ellis & Lynn)