• Abel initially traveled to the Salt Lake Valley in the Jedediah M. Grant - Willard Snow Company in 1847. However, he later went back out on the trail and played a prominent role in the rescue effort of the members of the Church stranded in Wyoming the winter of 1856.

  His death is recorded in the Millville Ward records.

Jedediah M. Grant/Willard Snow Company (1847)

• Age at Departure: 13

Rescue Companies (1856)

• Age at Departure: 22

Sources

• Book of the Pioneers, Book 1, p. 266.
• Burton, Robert T., [Journal], in Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 30 Nov. 1856, 54-58.
• Burton, Robert T., to the members of the Hand Cart Association, Handcart Veterans Association, 1 October 1907. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 4.
• Burton, Robert Taylor to S. S. Jones, Handcart Veterans Association, 9 Nov. 1906. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook, 1906-1914, fd. 2.
• Elizabeth H. Kingsford autobiographical sketch, undated.
• Elizabeth Horrocks Jackson Kingsford reminiscences in Utah Pioneer Biographies, 17:92-103.
• "Express," Deseret News [Weekly], 19 November 1856, 293.
• Grant, George D., "The Companies Yet on the Plains," Deseret News [Weekly], 19 November 1856, 293.
• Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 4.
• Handcart Veterans Association. Handcart Veterans Association scrapbook, 1906-1914, folder 7. 
• J[aques], J[ohn], "Some Reminiscences," Salt Lake Daily Herald, 15 December 1878, 1.
• Jackson, Aaron, [Reminiscences], in "Utah Pioneer Biographies," 44 vols., 15:2-7.
• James G. Bleak journal, 1854 February-1860 February.
• John Bond, Handcarts West in '56.
• Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 21 June 1847, 35.
• Marilyn Austin Smith, Faithful Stewards--the Life of James Gray Willie and Elizabeth Ann Pettit, 95-120.
• Millville Ward, Record of Members.
• Robert T. Burton diaries, 1856-1907; Record book, circa 1856 October-November.
• Rogerson, Josiah, "Martin's Handcart Company, 1856 [No. 10]," Salt Lake Herald , 8 Dec. 1907.
• "The Companies Yet on the Plains," Deseret News [Weekly], 26 November 1856, 301.
• Utah Death Registers, 1847-1966
• Woodward, W., to Albert Jones, Handcart Veterans Association, 12 Sep. 1906. Handcart Veterans Association, Scrapbook, 1906-1914, fd. 2.
• Young, Joseph A., "Remarks," Deseret News, 19 November 1856, 292.