Abigail Thorn

Abigail Thorn was born April 2, 1821 in Sempronius, New York to Richard Sr. and Mary Anne Armstrong Thorn. Abigail is a Pioneer of Richmond. Abigail served as the second President of the Relief Society of the Richmond Ward. Abigail is the mother of Brigham Pond.

History

"I resided with my parents at Moravia until I was about 15 years of age. My father then sold the farm and moved to Livingston County, about 100 miles west. I was, at that time, attending boarding school and continued till the term expired. I then went by stage to the new residence of my parents. I commenced teaching school the spring I was 15 years of age, which occupation I followed most of the time till married. During the winter seasons, I often worked at tailoring.

"When 16 years of age, it was given out that a Mormon elder would preach in the schoolhouse adjacent to my father’s residence. I, as well as all our neighbors, attended through curiosity, not expecting to hear anything of interest, or that would benefit us here or hereafter, inasmuch as we had never heard one good word spoken of them. To the surprise of all, the meeting was opened by singing and communion. “The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning” was sung, and such singing I had never heard before. The other hymns I remember as distinctly as though it were yesterday. They were “Adam-on-di-Amon” and “There’s a Feat of Good Things for the Righteous Prepared.” The elder had the singers with him, all members of the church.

"Before the meeting was out, the Spirit of the Lord was manifest to such a degree that I scarcely knew whether I was in Heaven or on the earth. I received that day the test that has ever stayed with me, which has been an anchor to my soul, sustaining me through all the trials which I have been called to pass, giving me knowledge that Mormonism was true and the God lives. They held more meetings and left the vicinity. We heard nothing more of them for about a year, such a long time indeed, the longest I ever experienced."

In 1841, Abigail moved to Nauvoo, Illinois to be closer to the Saints where she received her Patriarchal blessing from Hyrum Smith. On Jan 20, 1846, Abigail married Samuel Russell in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Russells joined the Abraham O. Smoot company on June 17, 1847 where Samuel was also appointed Captain of the company along with Abraham. The Smoot/Russell company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 25.

Sometime between 1847-1848, Samuel had a desire to find gold in California. Abigail objected by saying, "Samuel Russell, I came here for the sake of the gospel and not for gold." Samuel left Abigail and their small daughter Francis Maria during this time. On Feb 8, 1849, Abigail married Stillman Pond in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Pond family lived in Salt Lake until they were forced south to Spanish Fork, Utah during the Utah War in 1857. In 1860, the Pond family moved to Richmond and lived in the Richmond Fort. Their three-room log home was located on the north side at today's 100 W. After about four years in the fort, the Pond family relocated to a city lot.

In 1875, Abigail was set apart as the second President of the Relief Society for the Richmond Ward. She served until 1884.

"As a Relief Society president of her ward, she served capably and well. She possessed a powerful and magnetic personality together with a great sore of practical wisdom. She was intelligent and well informed. An outstanding achievement for which she enjoyed distinction was of being a clever fire-side conversationalist."2

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