L.D.S. Family Travels:
A Forgotten Church History Site
by Becky Cardon Smith
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Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball are familiar names to Latter-day Saints, but few are aware that many of the sites and some of the significant events in their early church years are located in and around Mendon, New York. Here a lasting friendship was forged between the two future leaders of the Church. Located about 20 miles southwest of Palmyra, Mendon is a brief but worthwhile stop.

click to enlarge
Mendon, New York and surrounding countryside. In this photo one can see the homes of John Young and Heber C. Kimball. One can also see the farm and site where Brigham Young had his mill. Samuel Harrison Smith came through here as one of the first missionaries of the Church in June, 1830.
Photo by Scot Facer Proctor

PLANNING YOUR TIME

Allow one hour or more to walk around the small cemetery and visit the suggested sites. Most are in close proximity to each other.

SITES TO SEE

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Credit for the location of many of these sites goes to Sheldon Fisher, a local historian who spent many years researching and preserving the history of this area. Sheldon recently passed away at the age of 95. He was a delightful person and will be greatly missed.

• John Young Home (front portion of home) – The original home of John Young (Brigham Young’s father) has been separated into two homes. The front portion of the home is located at 981 Cheese Factory Road, while the back portion of the home is across the street. An old barn was once located near this home. The barn was dismantled and the wood was used to build the threshing barn located at the Joseph Smith family farm in Manchester. The home is owned by the Church but is not available for tours.

• John Young Home (rear portion of home) – John Young served in the Revolutionary War under George Washington. In 1783, he married Abigail Howe and they were the parents of eleven children. They named their ninth child Brigham after one of his great-grandparents. Abigail died when Brigham was just fourteen years old. John Young arrived in Mendon with his second wife, Hannah Brown, in 1827 and eventually purchased over 50 acres of land. Many of his children also relocated here including Brigham and his wife Miriam, who built their home on part of John’s land. It is believed that Brigham built this home for his father and lived here until his own home was completed. John was baptized on April 5, 1832, moved to Kirtland, Ohio in June of 1833, and died in Quincy, Illinois on October 12, 1839. His home stood at 984 Cheese Factory Road. The Church also owns this property but the home is not available for tours.

• Brigham Young Home Site and Mill – The site of Brigham’s home was by a small stream located southeast from his father’s home. Brigham, his wife Miriam, and their young daughter Elizabeth moved here in the spring of 1829. He built a two-story house with the mill in the lower section and their home on the top. Brigham was a carpenter by trade and the small stream with a dam located next to the home was sufficient to turn the water wheel that operated his lathe. Soon after their arrival, a daughter Vilate was born on June 1, 1830. Around this same time, Brigham Young first saw a copy of the Book of Mormon that had been given to his brother Phineas. It would take Brigham almost two years of study before he was ready to baptized in the stream by his home on April 15, 1832. His wife Miriam was baptized about three weeks later. Soon thereafter she became very ill with tuberculosis and died at the age of 27. In September of 1833, Brigham and his daughters moved to Kirtland, Ohio. Brigham Young remained a true and loyal friend to Joseph Smith from the moment he first met the Prophet in Kirtland. Brigham served with Joseph in Zion’s Camp and was President of the Twelve Apostles at the time the Prophet was martyred in Carthage. Under Brigham’s leadership, the Saints in Nauvoo continued working on the Nauvoo Temple while preparing for their trek out West. Brigham was the prophet of the Church for almost 30 years. He died at the age of 76 on December 27, 1877. The last words he uttered before his death were: “Joseph, Joseph, Joseph.”

• Tomlinson Inn – The Tomlinson Inn was once an important stagecoach stop on a three-day route that went from Canandaigua to Buffalo. In April 1830, while stopping here to have dinner, Phineas Young met Samuel Smith (Joseph Smith’s brother). Samuel presented Phineas with a Book of Mormon explaining, “There is a book, sir, I wish you to read.” Not only did Phineas read it, but so did many members of his extended family. Phineas, his father John, brothers Joseph and Brigham, and his other brothers, sisters, and spouses all read the Book of Mormon and eventually joined the Church. The innkeeper, Nathan Tomlinson, also joined the Church. His inn became a meeting place for missionaries and a place of worship. The Tomlinson Inn is located at the northeast corner of State 65/Boughton Hill Road. The elongated portion on the east side of the home is the original portion of the inn. Members of the Church own this home and it is available for tours by contacting the owners. Permission is also given to walk the grounds for those without an appointment.

• Heber C. Kimball Home – Heber’s home was located just to the east of the Tomlinson Inn. Heber moved into this area in the early 1820s. Though originally trained as a blacksmith, he also worked as an apprentice at his brother’s pottery shop and eventually purchased the business. Heber married Vilate Murray in 1822, first met Brigham Young in 1829, and later went with Brigham to Phineas Young’s home to hear the missionaries teach about the restored gospel. Heber was baptized in the small millpond by Brigham’s home in April 1832. Vilate was baptized about two weeks later. They helped take care of Brigham’s children after Miriam’s death. Heber and Vilate moved to Kirtland in the fall of 1833. Like the clay he once molded, Heber’s life would be shaped by future experiences. Heber participated in Zion’s Camp, left his family to serve a mission in England on two occasions, defended and remained true to Joseph when other prominent members apostatized, and served as counselor to Brigham Young. His life was one of dedication to the gospel. His grandson, Spencer W. Kimball, would serve as the 12th President of the Church. The owners of the Tomlinson Inn also own Heber’s home site. Permission is given to walk the grounds.

• Tomlinson Corners Cemetery – In the southwest corner of this very small cemetery is the gravesite of Miriam Young. Also buried here are Heber’s parents, Solomon F. Kimball and Anna Spaulding Kimball and other members of the Kimball family. The Church has placed a newer headstone marking Solomon Kimball’s grave (notice the original embedded in the front). Walk across the street for a great view of the surrounding area. See if you can locate the Tomlinson Inn, John Young’s home, and the general area of Brigham’s home site. The cemetery is located on the south side of Boughton Hill Road about .4 miles east from the State 64/Boughton intersection.

• Solomon Kimball Home – Solomon F. Kimball and his wife, Anna Spaulding, were the parents of seven children. He was the father of Heber C. Kimball and the great-grandfather of Spencer W. Kimball. The Solomon Kimball home is located about .4 miles further east of the cemetery at 933 Boughton Hill Road. It is privately owned and not available for tours.

• Roswell and Susannah Murray Home Site – Continue about 2.2 miles further east of the cemetery and you will pass the area of Vilate Murray Kimball’s childhood home. Heber first stopped here in the summer of 1822. While riding his horse, he became thirsty and stopped to ask a man working in his yard for a drink. This man, Roswell Murray, called to his daughter to bring a glass for the stranger. Heber was so taken with her that he lingered as long as possible by drinking the water as slowly as he could. It wasn’t long before he frequently took rides down this same road and always became “thirsty” and stopped. Heber and Vilate were married on November 7, 1822. The Murray home was once located at what is now 406 Boughton Hill Road. The home now standing at this site is not the original.

If time allows, there are several other interesting stops in the village of Fishers. They include:

• Valentown Museum – There are several items to note inside this small museum. Notice a chair made by Brigham Young, bricks and other artifacts excavated from his home, some of his tools, and a drawing showing what his home and mill looked like. Credit for all the artifacts and the museum goes to Sheldon Fisher. Due to his recent death, the status of the museum is currently unknown. The museum is located in Valentown Square, Fishers (Take exit #45 on I-90).

• Woolson-Fearnside Home – Tradition says that this home was built by Brigham Young in 1829. It is located at 7864 North Main in Fishers. The home is privately owned and not available for tours.

• Charles Fisher Homestead – It is believed that Brigham cut and glazed the windows on the east side of this two-story home. Charles attended the Mendon Baptist Church, as probably did Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. By the early 1830s, many from the Baptist church became converts to the restored gospel and were baptized in Brigham Young’s millpond. It is also believed that early missionaries held meetings in this home. The Fisher home is located at 7868 North Main Street. It is privately owned and not available for tours.

• Phineas Young Home – Tradition says that Phineas Young (Brigham’s brother) lived for a short time in the home located at 8026 North Main Street. Phineas was born in 1799 and moved to this area to be near his family in 1829. He was baptized the same day as his father (John Young) on April 5, 1832. His brother, Joseph, was baptized the following day. This home is also privately owned and not available for tours.

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