Escape from Prosecution: Ralph Smith's Journal

September 17, 1879: 7 p.m. Train began to move. Health poor. Had valises containing our most precious possession stolen. Changed cars at Pittsburg. Found very uncivil officers of the railroad.

September 19, 1879: Mind and body ill, on account of loss of things, I set great store by. Of little value to thief but of great value to me and mine. Changed cars in Chicago. Thirty minutes and on the way again. Change cars at Omaha. Fasted and prayed for the Lord's blessings. Train rolling ahead with rocking flat wheeled cars which UPRR reserves for emigrants. Singing, prayer and short discourses on each car.

September 22, 1879: Feel much better.

September 23, 1879: Health much better.

September 24, 1879: Arrive in Evanston. Feel much better. Parly Pratt joins us on his homeward travels. Arrive at Ogden 10 a.m. My wife Emma Girdlestone meets me, also many acquaintances. 6:30 p.m, left Ogden, arrive Logan 10:30 p.m. Met by family and friends and went home to enjoy the kind reception of my family. Beautiful weather and so fine to be with my family and freinds. My health is improving but much debilitated. Hope soon to be restored to health in this beautiful valley.

September 30, 1879: Very ill again. Able to walk out a little for first time on October 20th. The day I became a Grandfather! My son Thomas and his wife.

Februrary 26, 1880: A terrible snow slide in Logan Canyon. Seven men out of fourteen Temple hands buried in the snow. Five were rescued. Two men killed and three span of mules and horses. William King and Nephi Osterholdt were killed and their bodies not recovered until Sunday the 29th.

March 2, 1880: Attended their funeral.

March 18, 1880: Superintended the loading of five cars UNRR with lumber for the Salt lake Temple.

April 13, 1880: The Masons commenced work on the Salt Lake temple. snowy afternoon.

April 17, 1880: Snowed about eight inches. Try to attend to labors at Temple block through in poor health.

May 6, 1880: whole country covered with snow.

May 14, 1880: got down a pair of tombstones off the mountain and loaded them. Intended for my wife hannah, dead 16 years, who I expect to move from the old grave to the main one North and East.

May 22, 1880: Still blasting and working in quarry for stone for Logan Temple.

June 8, 1880: Frost this morning and hail this afternoon.

June 10, 1880: Three of my little boys and little Alice Girdlestone Smith have Whooping Cough.

June 17, 1844: Much sickness in my family.

April 23, 1844: I ask bishop Ballard and others to visit us and help dedicate our new home.

April 27, 1844: After mutual meeting in afternoon, go to bench home and have house and surroundings dedicated by Bishop Counselor Christian J. Larsen, by request of Bishop Ballard. Counselor C.J. Larsen and R.S. My brother Edward and Geroge Usher with wives. William Jolly and wife, Emer Crockett and wife, Mary Ann Smith Hodgetts, their children, and my wives Emma Girdlestone, Susannah Jolley and Mary Ann Rutledge Jolley Smith and some of the little children. After some refreshments were partook of, C.J. Larsen and wife, Edward and wife, went to Logan in the rain.

May 19, 1844: Take a portoin of my family to Logan Temple dedication service.

May 23, 1844: I take my mother Mary Usher Smith to the Temple. She is baptized for her mother, Ann Fatherly, I for my Grandfather ralph Smith. Mother gets endowments for her mother, and I for my father thomas smith. After I visit home, I go to the bench farm home. Feel very weary, but glad I hav emade a start to work for my dead relations.

May 26, 1884: I give 16 male names into the Temple to officiate for, 14 female for my mother.

May 27, 1884: Go with Mother to Temple. We get baptized for the dead.

May 28, 1884: Go to the Temple with Mother, get endowments and are sealed for Grandfather Usher and Mother for Grandmother Usher, maiden name Ann Fatherly.

May 29, 1884: Endowments for great Grandfather Michael Usher and Mother for Jane, his wife, and we were sealed for them.

May 30, 1884: go to Temple Endowments for George Usher and Mother his wife, Elizabeth. Sealed for them. Forth, Fifth and sixth, same but no names given. (With names given Temple for baptisim.)

June 10, 1884: Baptized for my deceased relatives.

June 11-13, 1884: Do endowments and sealings for the dead. My wives seal some of their friends to me.

June 18, 1884: More endowments for the dead.

June 23, 1884: Gave names for Mother to be baptized for, and my wife, Mary Ann Rutledge, for the renewal of her covenants, which were attended to on the 24th.

June 25-27, 1884: More endowments.

July 3-4, 1884: go to Temple for Grandfather smith and Great-Grandfather Edward smith.

July 8, 1884: The folks go to the temple and get baptized for a large number of dead. i stay home with little boys, hoeing cane and watering wheat.

July 9-11, 1884: go to Temple and attend to some of my uncles and assist son. Brother Joly's wives, sister-in-law Mary Ann hewett for their folks. My sister Ann and her husband E. E. Warren came from St. George.

June 18, 1884: hail storm damages wheat and cane and breaks one window in its fury and violence.

Sunday, June 24, 1884: Attended funeral sservices held all through the territory in respect for John H. Gibbs and william Berry, missionaries killed in Tennessee.

September 10, 1884: Go to Temple with Mother and brothers, Edward, George and their wives, Sister Ann, my wife Susannah, son Fredrick and Mary Ann Hewett. Work for dead, then sealed to FAther and Mother. Fred proxy for Father. At times doing more Temple work.

February 22, 1885: My wife Mary Ann Rutledge Jolley gave birth to twins, a girl and a boy, named Letta Lorena and Michael Leroy Smith. Blessed May 3, 1885.

May 21, 1885: Brother William J. Smith came to our bench home. Gave us all a Patriarchal blessing. Brother Jolly comes to stay with us. The Deputies are after him in Idaho.

September 1885: Became a member of the Temple class lectures and attend regularly.

Sept. 22, 1885: Our little daughter Letta Lorena died of Colera Infantum. Buried on Sept 24, 1885 near my wife Hannah, in our burial lot. I at times go to the Temple to work for our dead, though many threats are continuously made by our enemies to stop us.

March 9-11, 1886: Receive a railroad pass and go to Pocatello, Idaho. Take a contract to build a sewer ditch. Work very hard with many men until July 10. Go home. On July 13, 1886, our first payment comes to Logan, utah for us.

August 1886: U.S. officers looking for polygamists.

March 14, 1887: Deputy Westone and others take me and my wives Susannah Jolley Smith and Mary Ann Rutledge Jolley Smith to Logan. Placed under bonds and told to appear in Ogden in June. Very ill for some time. Commenced to build a stone house for my wife Mary Ann Rutledge Jolley Smith. Sone-in-law Emer Crockett assisting, also a Brother Christensen and Caspensen. But in June it's to Ogden had to go so my son Thomas Hodgetts Smith hitched up a team on a light conveyance and took me down. As I much desired company to take my trial. Had all week to stay, but my case was postponed until November term, which helped me to get my family much better cared for. Wood from the canyon, and many things essential for their comfort.

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