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Story of Malinda Gimlin
By: Laura McBride Smith
Malinda was the daughter of Samuel Gimlin and Elizabeth Moore, and was born March 27, 1811. This information was received from Tugie Baxter, who is the daughter of Malinda’s brother. Malinda was a small woman, as were all of the Gimlins. She only weighed 100 pounds and when she stood beside Tarlton, if he was sitting down, they were about the same height. She had beautiful dark hair and eyes. What she lacked in size she made up in sweetness and energy; thus her memory will live forever and she will be revered by each generation of her family as they come along. Malinda’s brothers and sisters felt bad when Tarlton married Malinda; her brothers threatened to whip him and all that prevented them from doing it was his size; they were afraid of him. The whole family felt bad about it. The Gimlin family was devoted to God, and her brother David was a great preacher and held a high position in that church. David and Malinda sang together and their voices added to his church position, and they were in demand to sing at many congregations. But to marry a Mormon and planed to go to Utah was almost more than they could take.
Malinda Lewis was the first President of the Relief Society in Minersville, Utah. On April 16, 1859 her husband donated the land where the Relief Society building stood.
Laura Smith gives this information, as it was related to her:
One of my long time friends tells me this story about Tarlton and Malinda Lewis. She said when she was a young girl her family were moving into the town where the Lewis family lived; they were quite poor and had to do a lot of repair work on the house they were moving into. It was cold and they had worked so hard all day and were very tired and still they hadn’t had time to fix any supper, and hadn’t much to fix. It was night when a knock came at the door, on opening it who should be standing there but Tarlton and Malinda Lewis with a big basket of food all for them and she quoted, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." And what a spread they had that night, a big pot of hot beans, a big roast, hot bread, just out of the oven and a great bowl of fresh butter, and oh how they enjoyed that meal. This friend of mine told me that was the best dinner she ever ate in all of her life. She said from then on she dearly loved this couple, and had never forgotten the kindness these good people had shown her family. She said Brother Lewis had a good home, a big farm and all farm animals needed to care for his property; his place was so free of weeds that he had to get weeds from his neighbors to feed his pigs. Everything was well cared for; he had a nice strawberry patch, orchard, and a wonderful garden, in fact he raised nearly everything they needed to eat, drink, or wear. His home was a model for anyone to pattern after. It is said that Tarlton gave away more than he kept for himself. All the neighbors dearly loved the family.
When Malinda and Tarlton were in Richfield, Utah, and Tarlton was Bishop, this is the last time he was made Bishop. His son, Beason, came and got them and took them to Teasdale where he had a great big home with many rooms in it. He fixed them good quarters and cared for them, until Tarlton passed away. Their daughter, Martha, and her husband, Chris Johnson, also helped to care for them and after Tarlton’s death, they took Malinda to Richfield and cared for her until she passed away. Beason’s wife also helped to care for her in Richfield.
Malinda and Tarlton were the parents of eight children. Theirs is a great posterity. From a second marriage, there were two sons, William and Benjamin.
It can be said of Malinda that she was one of the kindest persons that ever lived. She was ever on the lookout for ways to help those in need. It seemed she knew just when her neighbors needed her help most and would appear on the scene at the right moment to do the most good. What a wonderful way to be remembered!
Source: Nello Rue Smith & Arminta Echols - Lewis Family Stories & Histories
from their website as of 3-23-2010 http://www.surnames.com/documented_websites/arminta/lewis_family_stories.htm
Malinda is #9 on Chart 3
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