Part 2: The 19th Century Pottery of Heber C. Kimball in Western New York and His Involvement with the Latter-day Saints of Utah

As I promised earlier this week, I was able to obtain pictures of red earthenware objects attributed to the Heber C. Kimball Pottery in Mendon, New York, circa 1822-1833. These pieces are owned today by the Museum of Church History and Art in Salt Lake City, Utah. The first object, a jug or bottle was acquired from Heber's son, Solomon Kimball (1847-1920) by the Deseret Museum about 1870, now operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. At the time, Solomon said it was the only pottery in existence made by the Church leader. Although, two jars reportedly bought directly from Heber in the 1820s or early-1830s have since emerged, and have been owned for more than century by the Museum of Church History and Art.

According to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Heber C. Kimball (1801-1868) was born on June 14, 1801, in Sheldon, Vermont. He was ordained as one of the original 12 Apostles on February 14, 1835, and later sustained as first counselor to President Brigham Young (1801-1877) who was also from Vermont, on December 27, 1847. Kimball died on June 22, 1868, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the age of 67. He was a potter by trade, and he frequently referred to the Saints as "Clay in the Hands of the Potter." He delivered his discourse on April 2, 1854."

Furthermore, agreeing to take on plural marriage, then part of church doctrine, Kimball married 43 women throughout his lifetime, and had a total of 66 children by 17 of his wives.

However, before Kimball arrived in Utah, he left Vermont and relocated about 15 miles south of Rochester, New York to Mendon, Monroe County, New York in the western part of the state. This may have been a religious quest, seeing that at the time, parts of New York were engulfed with new religious movements, finding much of this activity in central and western upstate New York.

This was also a time in Western New York history, when land opened up for settlement, men and women left their rocky farms in New England and moved west, while Pennsylvanians and Marylanders migrated from the south. 

It was in Mendon that Kimball first became a Mormon leader, but he also bought a pottery owned by his brother around 1822, operating until about 1833. Nevertheless, very little is known about this production today, even though there must be surviving examples in existence. Although, I have found no evidence that suggests any of this pottery was ever marked, nor does it appear that the site has been excavated for archaeological remains. I also do not believe it has been identified where Kimball was originally taught to make pottery, which he may have learned from his brother, but he may have learned the trade in Vermont, as well.

According to one twentieth century historian, Stanley B. Kimball (1926-2003), "The energetic Heber could turn out 20 dozen milk pans on a hard day at the potter's wheel. Apparently he specialized in common brownware made from fine-textured clay burned to a very high degree and covered by a hard brown glaze. It was used mainly for simple kitchen and table items - jars, crocks, pitchers, bottles, mugs, pots, milk pans, cups, churns and plates"

Though Heber Kimball gave up his potter's wheel once he was ordained as an apostle, he did not forget his experience as a potter. In later sermons, Kimball compared the shaping of his own life by the Lord "to the molding of malleable clay with his own hands."

In spite of that, I find it quite interesting that Kimball's business operated around the same time that Nathaniel Rochester's pottery produced some of the region's most dramatic examples of slip-decorated red earthenware in Rochester, New York. Seeing that potters must have known each other through the trade, it would fascinating to know how well known Kimball was by his colleagues in Western New York. Nevertheless, I think these objects owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Utah will be exciting to see, adding to the remarkable history of red earthenware production found in Western New York in the 1800s.

Red Earthenware Attributed to Heber C. Kimball in Mendon, NY

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bottle or Jug

Reportedly Attributed to the Heber C. Kimball Pottery in Mendon, NY

Acquired by the Museum in 1870 from Solomon Kimball

Circa 1822-1833

 See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Museum of Church History and Art

 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Reportedly Attributed to the Heber C. Kimball Pottery in Mendon, NY

Reportedly Purchased Directly from Heber in the 1820s or Early-1830s

Circa 1822-1833

 See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Museum of Church History and Art

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Reportedly Attributed to the Heber C. Kimball Pottery in Mendon, NY

Reportedly Purchased Directly from Heber in the 1820s or Early-1830s

Circa 1822-1833

 See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Museum of Church History and Art

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...