Freeman Nickerson

Description

Freeman Nickerson

Standing nearly 7 feet tall and weighing close to 300 pounds, Freeman Nickerson of Perrysburg, New York was not just large in stature but also large in spirit. In April 1833, Freeman joined the Latter-day Saints along with his wife Huldah and some of his 9 children. The fire burned hot for Freeman and his greatest desire was to share the gospel, starting with his family. Two of his sons, Moses and Freeman lived in Canada in the area of Mt. Pleasant, Ontario.

Freeman traveled to Kirtland to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith and asked him if he would accompany him to Canada to teach to his sons. Joseph agreed to go. October 5, 1833, Freeman, Joseph, and Sidney Rigdon left for Canada. The mission lasted about a month, traversed about 500 miles and resulted in the conversion of Freeman’s two sons, their families, and several others.

This was only the beginning of Freeman and Huldah’s service. Not long after Joseph Smith and Parley Pratt passed through on their way east to recruit volunteers for Zion’s Camp. Not only did the 55 year-old man join, but so too did two of his sons, Uriel and Levi. Freeman was actually given a mission by the Prophet to travel further east and raise more men and money for the march. Freeman, older than most any other man in the company, would complete that arduous journey and back. His family remembers the promises of the Prophet that their sacrifices were accepted of the Lord and by them they had earned the martyr’s crown.

Freeman and Huldah moved with the Saints from Kirtland to Missouri and from Missouri to Nauvoo—faithful and devoted all the while. Then in Nauvoo, Freeman was called on a mission to the eastern United States. It was March 1842, in Boston Massachusetts when Freeman advertised for a public meeting. Having heard of the persecution of the Mormons in Missouri, Abijah Tewkesbury attended that meeting, and due to the “magnetizing influence” of Freeman Nickerson, Abijah was converted and the first branch of the Church in Boston was organized.

Freeman returned home to Nauvoo and in the spring of 1844 was called out again to preach the gospel and campaign for Joseph Smith for President of the United States. He was on that mission when Joseph was martyred in June 1844.

Finally, it was 1846, the saints had fled Nauvoo following Brigham Young to the Rocky Mountains. By late summer only the poorest remained behind. Freeman’s family was provisioned and prepared, but Freeman was on a mission to the east—his fourth extended mission. They could not leave without him. Mobs continually harassed and assaulted those remaining saints. Finally in August, Freeman returned, but was so ill the family could not leave. Nauvoo became a city under siege as mobs attacked and drove the saints out. Finally September 28, 1846, the Nickersons had no choice—sick or not—they loaded their wagon and trudged toward the River. As they passed down Parley Street they looked back to see the mob ransack their home and then burn it to the ground. That night they would cross the River by the light of a burning city.

As the family continued westward sickness prevailed. Freeman could not regain his strength. He sank lower until finally on a cold January day under a makeshift shelter on the Chariton River in Iowa, Freeman Nickerson breathed his last.

A memorial plaque was placed to honor Freeman Nickerson in Chariton, Iowa. Part of the inscription reads, “He who has no feeling of veneration for his predecessors should expect none from those who follow him.”