Agness Hood Hill ~ Index
Agnes Hood having been born of goodly parents, James and Margaret Bissland Hood, was born the 5th day of March 1811 at Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. About the year 1815 the family came to America and settled in Toronto, Upper Canada.
Her parents like all early settlers of a new country had to clear the land of timber in preparation for farming. She met Alexander Hill, Jr. whose parents had also come from Scotland and they were married 6 April 1832. Sometime in the late thirties, missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were sent into this part of Canada to preach the gospel. Parley P. Pratt, came as early as 1836. Sometime between 1836–1840, an Elder by the name of Samuel Lake, visited the Hill family and taught them the gospel. In April 1840, the entire family consisting of thirty members was baptized. They received the spirit of gathering; also their friends deserted them for joining the Mormons and they longed to join the main body of the church. In the month of September 1842, after disposing of their property at a great sacrifice, the Hill family bid farewell to their Canadian home and crossed the border into the United States with their horse drawn, covered wagons and wended their way to Nauvoo, Illinois. Here they experienced the same joy, the same type of persecution, the same trials and sorrow as the rest of the saints.
Agnes became personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith and his family. She was at Nauvoo when the Prophet and his brother Hyrum were martyred; and knew that they sealed their testimonies with their blood, contrary to the idea advanced by the wicked mob, that if the leaders were killed it would be the end of Mormonism. The faithful saints were more convinced of the truthfulness of the gospel and Agnes often bore testimony to that effect.
Agnes was sealed to Alexander, Jr. in the Nauvoo Temple in the Spring of 1846, shortly before they were driven from their beautiful city. Agnes had seven children born to her in Canada, namely; Margaret Hood, born 1833, but died in infancy; Margaret Ann Hood, born 1 May 1834; Alexander Hood, born 18 January 1836; James Hood, born 9 December 1837; William Hood and Elizabeth Hood, born 22 February 1840; and Moroni Hood, born 19 May 1842. Agnes Hood, born 16 January 1845, was born in Nauvoo.
The Saints were being mistreated by wicked, designing men. They had killed the Prophet and Patriarch. Agnes and Alexander's home was always open to those in need. In the Spring of 1846 the Saints were driven from their homes and the Hill family moved to Quincy, Illinois where they lived for three years. While there in 1849, another child was born, Nephi, but the little fellow didn't live long and is buried at Quincy where others who were not physically able to stand the hardships are laid to rest.
In May 1849, Agnes gathered her belongings together and with seven little children, turned her face toward the land of Zion. They stopped at Council Bluffs to visit some relatives and where a company was formed to make the trip Utah. This company was known as the Allen Taylor Company and left Council Bluff in June 1849 by ox drawn wagons. This was a very severe trip for Agnes, riding in a covered wagon over tractless plains, with scanty food supplies. Agnes was expecting her tenth child.
In August, Agnes gave birth to a baby girl at Scotts Bluff on the Platte River in Nebraska. The Hill family was obliged to lay over for a couple of days until Agnes was able to travel. They were able to catch up with the main company later. This babe was named Isabella.
The family settled in Mill Creek, six miles south of Great Salt Lake. At this place three more children were born: Joseph Robert Hood, born on 8 February 1851; Jane Mary Hood, born 18 January 1853; and Hyrum Hood, born 25 June 1857, making a total of thirteen children. Agnes claimed to have a baker's dozen children.
Agnes taught her children the Gospel by example as well as by Precept. She was very industrious. She made lye to make soap, from the wool; and spun the wool into yarn and made it into clothes for her large family. She lived the laws and commandments of the Lord as revealed. Agnes died on 16 Feburary 1872 just a few days short of the age 61; and was buried in the Salt Lake cemetery.