Jemima Powell Bio

Jemima Wimmer

Jemima's family was living in Hamilton County in Ohio at the time of her birth. Jemima married James Powell in Henry County, Indiana.They became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and loved working on all church assignments. They were also called upon to make many moves with other members of the Church and experienced terrible persecutions through Missouri and Nauvoo.

Her husband, James, was beaten on his head with a gun by a mobster in Randolph County, Missouri. This left the left side of his body paralyzed and he suffered from seizures the rest of his life. Her eighth child was long four months old when they began their journey across the Plains with the Robert Wiemer Wagon Company*. They arrived in Salt Lake on September 15, 1852. (see Note)

They moved to Ogden where her ninth child was born. James was crossing the Weber River on his horse when he took a seizure, fell off his horse, and was drowned. They found the body the next day and Jemima had him buried in Ogden Cemetery.

Jemima took her children to Springville to be near her parents. After her mother died, she moved up to Summit County where she lived with her son, John Ammon.

Jemima served as midwife and nursed the sick when called upon. She loved to cook, sew, and help people. When they were having trouble with Indians in Summit County, she moved her children to Salem, Utah.

Her greatest attribute was her ability to overcome trials she had to endure in her life. She served her church faithfully and was a visiting teacher until her death.

Near the end of her life, she had moved to Price to be near her children, so her death occurred in Price, Utah. She was buried in the Salem Cemetery.

Note: *The James Powell family were among the known individuals to travel in the Robert Wimmer Company, arriving in Salt Lake on September 15, 1852. 230 Individuals and about 130 wagons were in the company when it began its journey from the outfitting post at Kanesville, Iowa (present day Council Bluffs) in early July.(Link) See Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel. 

Descendency

Jemima Wimmer (1809-1954), wife of James Powell

Simeon Comfort Powell (1842-1918)

Hannah Caroline Powell (1882-1947)

Allen Berry Williams (1905-2000)

LaVon Williams

Diane Finlinson

Source:
Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Daughters of Utah Pioneers, p. 2436.