Smith, John, 1832-1911

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John Smith, son of Hyrum and Jerusha Barden Smith, was born 22 September 1832, in Kirtland, Ohio. His mother died when he was five, while his father was in Missouri. Three months later, on 24 December 1837, his father married Mary Fielding. In June 1844 John's father, Hyrum Smith, was murdered. Nineteen months later, the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo began. In February 1847, John joined Heber C. Kimball's family on their westward journey. On the westward journey, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, John assisted Col. Thomas L. Kane, who was extremely ill. He helped his family travel to Winter Quarters after arriving there himself. He and his family remained there for the winter. On his sixteenth birthday, 22 September 1848, John Smith drove five wagons into the Salt Lake Valley. In 1853 his stepmother, Mary Fielding Smith, died, leaving John to support a family of eight. He was married on 25 December 1853, to Hellen Maria Fisher, and the couple had nine children. In 1855 he was sustained as the sixth Presiding Patriarch of the Church, replacing his deceased grand-uncle. In 1862 John was called to set aside his duties as Patriarch and go to Scandinavia as a missionary. He served there until 1864. John, was strongly supported in his position as Patriarch by his half brother, Joseph F. Smith. When Joseph F. Smith became President of the Church in 1901, he requested that "strictly in accordance with the pattern the Lord has established," John, as Patriarch, should do the ordaining. As Patriarch of the Church, John pronounced over 20,000 blessings. He died at his residence in Salt Lake on 6 November 1911. (Biographical information for John Smith was taken from the collection itself; from articles found in Andrew Jenson, L.D.S. Biographical Encyclopedia. 4 volumes (Salt Lake City UT: Deseret News Press, 1901-39) [Vol. 1, pp. 52-3;183-6 and Vol. 3, p. 780]; and from Irene May Bates, "Transformation of charisma in the Mormon Church: a history of the office of Presiding Patriarch, 1833-1979," (Ph. D. dissertation, UCLA, 1991), pp. 212-38.).

From the description of John Smith papers, circa 1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367601587

John Smith (1832-1911) was born in Kirtland, Ohio, to Hyrum Smith and his first wife Jerusha Barden Smith. He was primarily raised by Hyrum's second wife Mary Fielding after the death of his mother. He was the fifth Presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, following in the footsteps of his father and paternal grandfather. He was the longest serving Presiding Patriarch, holding the office from 1855 until his death in 1911. Following his death, his grandson Hyrum Gibbs Smith was sustained as Presiding Patriarch. He served in this office from 1912 until his death in 1932. After some years without a Presiding Patriarch and a brief stint by Joseph Fielding Smith (future President of the Church), Hyrum G. Smith's son Eldred Gee Smith was called to the office in 1947. In 1979, he was given the status of Patriarch Emeritus and no new Presiding Patriarch was called. This collection comes from the personal collection of Gilbert Isom, whose mother was Cleone Smith Isom, daughter of Hyrum Gibbs Smith. It includes photographs of each of these former Presiding Patriarchs as well as numerous other members of the Smith Family. Also included are photographs of Cleone Smith Isom's mother Martha Electa Gee Smith and other Gee family members.

From the description of John Smith and Gee family photographs, undated. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 368046261

Sixth presiding patriarch of the Mormon Church.

From the description of Patriarchal blessing, 1869. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122699819

From the description of Patriarchal blessings, 1888. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122367797

From the description of Notebook, 1865-1921. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122351575

From the guide to the John Smith notebook, 1865-1921, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

From the guide to the John Smith patriarchal blessings, 1888, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

John Smith, son of Hyrum & Jerusha Barden Smith, was born 22 September 1832, in Kirtland, Ohio. His mother died when he was five, while his father was in Missouri. Three months later, on December 24, 1837, his father married Mary Fielding. In June 1844 John's father, Hyrum Smith, was murdered. Nineteen months later, the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo began. John, in February 1847 joined Heber C. Kimball's family on their westward journey. On the westward journey, near Council Bluffs, Iowa, John assisted Col. Thomas L. Kane, who was extremely ill. He helped his family travel to Winter Quarters after arriving there himself. He and his family remained there for the winter. On his sixteenth birthday, September 22, 1848, John Smith drove five wagons into the Salt Lake Valley. In 1853 his stepmother, Mary Fielding Smith, died, leaving John to support a family of eight. He was married on December 25, 1853, to Hellen Maria Fisher, and the couple had nine children. In 1855 he was sustained as the sixth Presiding Patriarch of the Church, replacing his deceased grand-uncle. In 1862 John was called to set aside his duties as Patriarch and go to Scandinavia as a missionary. He served there until 1864. John, was strongly supported in his position as Patriarch by his half brother, Joseph F. Smith. When Joseph F. Smith became President of the Church in 1901, he requested that "strictly in accordance with the pattern the Lord h

as established," John, as Patriarch, should do the ordaining. As Patriarch of the Church, John pronounced over 20,000 blessings. He died at his residence in Salt Lake on November 6, 1911. (Biographical information for John Smith was taken from the collection itself; from articles found in Andrew Jenson, L.D.S. Biographical Encyclopedia. 4 volumes (Salt Lake City UT: Deseret News Press, 1901-39) [Vol. 1, pp. 52-3;183-6 and Vol. 3, p. 780]; and from Irene May Bates, "Transformation of Charisma in the Mormon Church: A History of the Office of Presiding Patriarch, 1833-1979," (Ph.D. dissertation, UCLA, 1991), pp. 212-38.)

From the description of John Smith Papers, ca. 1865. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82898007

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Smith family. Monument dedication, 1916 June 26. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn PH 100, Cannon, Marsena photographer 1812-1900. Daguerreotype collection circa 1850s-1860s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf John Smith notebook, 1865-1921 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf Smith, John, 1832-1911. John Smith and Gee family photographs, undated. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Monument dedication, 1916 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf Pinegar family. Patriarchal blessings, 1867-1944. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Don C. S. Millikin and Joseph Smith letters, 1863 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn Miles Anderson papers, 1799-1877 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
referencedIn PH 8004, Smith, Bathsheba Wilson Bigler 1822-1910. Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith photograph collection circa 1865-1900 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Smith, John, 1832-1911. John Smith papers, circa 1865. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn PH 5962, Smith, George Albert 1817-1875. George A. Smith photograph collection circa 1862-1873 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf John Smith patriarchal blessings, 1888 L. Tom Perry Special Collections
creatorOf Smith, John, 1832-1911. Patriarchal blessing, 1869. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn PH 1300, Carter, Charles William photographer 1832-1918. Charles W. Carter glass negative collection circa 1860-1900 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Church History Library
creatorOf Smith, John, 1832-1911. Notebook, 1865-1921. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Smith, Joseph, 1832-1914. Letters, 1863. Harold B. Lee Library
referencedIn Smith family artifacts, circa 1832-1911. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Smith, John, 1832-1911. John Smith Papers, ca. 1865. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Smith, John, 1832-1911. John Smith autobiography : Salt Lake City, 1885. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Smith, John, 1832-1911. Patriarchal blessings of Thomas S. Williams and Albina M. Williams, 1841-1848. Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library
referencedIn Anderson, Miles, 1795-1877. Collectioin, 1799-1877. Harold B. Lee Library
creatorOf Smith, John, 1832-1911. Patriarchal blessings, 1888. Harold B. Lee Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anderson, Miles, 1795-1876 person
associatedWith Anderson, Miles, 1795-1877. person
associatedWith Anderson, William Rucker, 1842-1939 person
associatedWith Bancroft, Hubert Howe, 1832-1918. person
associatedWith Carter, Charles William photographer 1832-1918 person
associatedWith Church Historian's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints corporateBody
associatedWith Coolbrith, Ina D. (Ina Donna), 1842?-1928. person
associatedWith Hawkins, Charles, 1845- person
associatedWith Hawkins, Charles, 1845- person
associatedWith Hawkins, Susan Sophia, 1845- person
associatedWith Holladay, Henrietta, 1833- person
associatedWith Millikin, Don C. S. person
associatedWith Pinegar family. family
associatedWith Smith, Bathsheba Wilson Bigler 1822-1910 person
associatedWith Smith family. family
associatedWith Smith, George Albert 1817-1875 person
associatedWith Smith, Hellen Maria Fisher, 1835-1907. person
associatedWith Smith, Hyrum Fisher, 1856-1923. person
associatedWith Smith, Hyrum Gibbs, 1879-1932. person
associatedWith Smith, Joseph, 1832-1914. person
associatedWith Smith, Joseph Fielding, 1876-1972. person
associatedWith Smith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding), 1838-1918. person
associatedWith Taylor, John, 1808-1887. person
associatedWith Woodruff, Wilford, 1807-1898. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Utah
Utah
San Francisco (Calif.)
Logan (Utah)
Illinois
San Francisco (Calif.)
England
Provo (Utah)
Wyoming
Utah
Missouri
Denmark
Illinois
Denmark
Utah
Missouri
Scandinavia
Wyoming
Logan (Utah)
Subject
Religion
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Handcart migration
Home and Family
Missions and Missionaries
Mormon Church
Mormon Church
Mormon families
Mormonism (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
Mormon missionaries
Mormons
Mormons
Mormons
Mormons
Mormons
Overland journeys to the Pacific
Patriarchal blessings (Mormon Church)
Patriarchal blessings (Mormon Church)
Patriarch
Social life and customs
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1832-09-22

Death 1911-11-06

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