Ralph Smith's Journal pg 1
I am taking this from the typewritten journal put together by my late cousin Bertha Dalton Smith and her husband Lloyd E. Smith of Shoshone, Idaho. Lloyd was a grandson of Ralph Smith. Lloyd and Bertha typed the journal in 1957. Much thanks to them and their families for sharing the journal. It is definitely a treasure. By way of introduction: Ralph Smith, my great-great-grandfather was a Mormon pioneer who helped settle Logan, Utah. His journal details much of his life following his settlement in Utah. He also practiced polygamy as the Mormons did at the time. My great-great-grandmother and his wife Emma Girdlestonewas his technically his third wife. His first wife, Hannah Dodds, dumped him as soon as they got to Salt Lake. He later Hannah Hodgetts and then about five years later married Emma.
I will let the journal speak for itself.
Special thanks to Utah State for sharing this journal with all of Ralph Smith's posterity and for allowing me to post this on the web.
The journal is kept at the school's library. I will add additional information or grammatical corrections in paranthasis. I have tried to keep the wording as true to what Ralph wrote as possible.
LOGAN CITY CACHE COUNT UTAH
February 9, 1878
I (Ralph Smith) here give a brief synopsis of my father Thomas Watkins Smith who was born October 5, 1812 at Gateshead Lowfell in the County of Durham, England the son of Ralph Smith and Ann Watkins. Commencing at the year 1845 my father held a good situation under Mr. William Elliott coal viewer at Etherly Collierys County, Durham, England belonged to Henry Herbart Esq.
At this place my father was Overman and Under Viewer and had a great many men under his charge and had being overman upwards of six years at this time and place when a Priest of the Latter Day Saints named Henry Campbell came to Father's house to interview Father in regard to Iron Stone.
(At the time) Witton Iron Works (was) about to be erected, and Mr. Campbell was hunting items in regard to ore for this projected Iron works company. And fter attending to businesses, he (Campbell) then taught the Gospel (Mormon theology) to us and made repeated visits to Father's house but was not able to lead Father to the waters of Baptisim. Yet Mother (Mary Usher smith) and her two eldest children (Ralph and Edward: Anne, Thomas and George Usher were too young to be baptized)) went on January 4, 1846 and were baptized.
When the Elder George P. Waugh came to confirm us on February 1846, Father invited the whole neighbourhood to come and hear this Elder preach. Father opened his house for the Elders to preach the gospel in. And on account of his assisting to spread Mormonisim, he loosed (lost) his situation and stirred the torrent of persecution which was hurled against him.
On January 1, 1850, Father was baptized at Thrislington, Durham, england by Elder John McCaffery and confirmed January 6 and on March 3, 1850 (Father) was ordained an Elder by Elder John McCaffery and appointed President over the Thrislington Branch and laboured zealously to spread the Gospel throughout that neighborhood.
July 1st, 1852, my Father went to Australia with two nephews (I believe were Ralph's wife Mary Usher's sister's sons by the surname Irwin) who sought him to go with him and the work being very slack where we resided, the traveling Elders advised or counciled Father to go and help to raise means to emigrate his family and meet them at Salt Lake Valley which he did to a great extent.
But the last news we received from him (was that) he was very ill or sick and about to goto the Hobert Town Hospital 170 miles from the place he was living at in Tasmania where had habeen in that county laying a rail. and the last word we had from Father he expressed his faith in the gospel and desired us to be faithfuland pray for him in his troubles which may our Heavenly Father oversee for all our goods is my prayer.
LOGAN CITY UTAH JANUARY 4, 1876
At this date having being a member of the Church of jesus Christ of latter Day Saints (Mormons) for thirty years. I desire to give a brief sketch from my Journal at the commencement of this book. And in my weak way have tried to fill every office of trust called to perform.
Holding both Priesthoods (Arronic and Melkezadic) and acting from Deacon to Priest - last named office ordained December 28, 1853 -and appointed a field of labor to which I gave much attention and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I led twelve persons to go and be baptized under my hands in the short space of three months.
April 1st 1854, (I) was ordained an Elder in the Church of jesus Christ of Latterday Saints by C.G. Webbat the Newcastle Upon Tyne Conference held at Sunderland County Of Durham, England.
The President of the Branch where I resided at Durham appointed me a new field of labor at Brumside and Cairville, April 9th (and) notified the inhabitants of those places that I was coming to preach the Gospel to them. (He) made appointments to preach April 14 which was faithfully attended too.
April 15th went to my old field of labor and baptized one more person and assisted to confirm her a member in the church April 16, 1854.
May 10th, I had got two young men ready for Baptisim near home, and Brother Mark Fletcher, a traveling Elder, came to our house and desired me to let him Baptize them. On account of opposition and persecution, they did not come forward to be confirmed members in the church at this time. We had a Mr. Theobald lecturing against Mormonism and two apostates joined in with him - their names (were) Joseph Neeesham and John Hughes.
I continued my duties as an elder and filled my appointments but was not able to lead any more to Baptisim while I stayed in England. But I have the satisfaction of knowing that I did my duty in bearing testimony to the truth of the Gospel and teaching its principles wherever I had the opportunity.
Likewise with Mother (Mary Usher Smith) kept our house a home for the traveling ministry so that the principles of the Gospel might be taught that those what would could obey but fwe would listen to the servants of God. (Note: About October. 22, 1854, Ralph married Hannah (?)his first wife who dumped him as soon as they got to Salt Lake City, Utah. Poor Ralph.)
November 19, 1854, myself and wife and Mother with the rest of the family left our home - I may say I had been married four weeks - and arrived at Liverpool Nov 23, 1854 and went aboard the ship, Nov. 27. (We) set sail Nov. 29th (and) were back in the river Merey on account of a heavy gail. (We) had to stay on account of contrary winds.
On December 6th, we the Saints appointed a fast for twenty-four hours to call upon our heavenly Father to prosper us on our journey. On December 7th, the wind changed, and we were again tuged out to sea. (We) landed in New Orleans on the 11th of January 1865 and arrived at Great Salt lake City, Utah, September, 6, 185.
Mother, brothers (Edward, George Usher and Thomas) and sister (Ann) having stayed in the United States (he means the main U.S. territories; Utah was not yet a state)until they could get an outfit.
I drove a team in a merchant train to get myself and wife here on account of not having wisom enough to use our means aright to come so long a journey on leaving my situation to come to this country, my master gave me twenty pounds, a good recommend or character. On arriving here, my wife left me.
(I looked for work) that I desired to work at (but) the chances were slim except to go with the U.S.Surveyors. Not very much chance at that until the next spring would come. So I determined to take hold of anything that presented itself that I thought I could do and keep where I could attend the meetings for the testimony of the truth was with me and the things that I had passed through were of God.
His over ruling hand had been over me for good knowing the blessing were in the Church for I had been healed from sickness and had administered to others. (I had seen them) healed (and) had been able to speak in tongues and heard them interpreted. (I had been) able to interpret tongues by the power of God myself and had enjoyed the Holy Spirit. (I had) sought the Lord's blessing to be with me for which I can truly testify it was being over me.
JANUARY 3, 1856
(I) went to live with John Sharp and hired to him for six months past through the scarcity and suffered not. Laboring on the canel and in the quarries and wherever desired to work.
I was appointed an acting teacher in the 18th ward (A Mormon ward is similar to a Catholic parish) of Salt lake City, November 8, 1856.
(journal continued here)
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February 9, 1878
I (Ralph Smith) here give a brief synopsis of my father Thomas Watkins Smith who was born October 5, 1812 at Gateshead Lowfell in the County of Durham, England the son of Ralph Smith and Ann Watkins. Commencing at the year 1845 my father held a good situation under Mr. William Elliott coal viewer at Etherly Collierys County, Durham, England belonged to Henry Herbart Esq.
At this place my father was Overman and Under Viewer and had a great many men under his charge and had being overman upwards of six years at this time and place when a Priest of the Latter Day Saints named Henry Campbell came to Father's house to interview Father in regard to Iron Stone.
(At the time) Witton Iron Works (was) about to be erected, and Mr. Campbell was hunting items in regard to ore for this projected Iron works company. And fter attending to businesses, he (Campbell) then taught the Gospel (Mormon theology) to us and made repeated visits to Father's house but was not able to lead Father to the waters of Baptisim. Yet Mother (Mary Usher smith) and her two eldest children (Ralph and Edward: Anne, Thomas and George Usher were too young to be baptized)) went on January 4, 1846 and were baptized.
When the Elder George P. Waugh came to confirm us on February 1846, Father invited the whole neighbourhood to come and hear this Elder preach. Father opened his house for the Elders to preach the gospel in. And on account of his assisting to spread Mormonisim, he loosed (lost) his situation and stirred the torrent of persecution which was hurled against him.
On January 1, 1850, Father was baptized at Thrislington, Durham, england by Elder John McCaffery and confirmed January 6 and on March 3, 1850 (Father) was ordained an Elder by Elder John McCaffery and appointed President over the Thrislington Branch and laboured zealously to spread the Gospel throughout that neighborhood.
July 1st, 1852, my Father went to Australia with two nephews (I believe were Ralph's wife Mary Usher's sister's sons by the surname Irwin) who sought him to go with him and the work being very slack where we resided, the traveling Elders advised or counciled Father to go and help to raise means to emigrate his family and meet them at Salt Lake Valley which he did to a great extent.
But the last news we received from him (was that) he was very ill or sick and about to goto the Hobert Town Hospital 170 miles from the place he was living at in Tasmania where had habeen in that county laying a rail. and the last word we had from Father he expressed his faith in the gospel and desired us to be faithfuland pray for him in his troubles which may our Heavenly Father oversee for all our goods is my prayer.
LOGAN CITY UTAH JANUARY 4, 1876
At this date having being a member of the Church of jesus Christ of latter Day Saints (Mormons) for thirty years. I desire to give a brief sketch from my Journal at the commencement of this book. And in my weak way have tried to fill every office of trust called to perform.
Holding both Priesthoods (Arronic and Melkezadic) and acting from Deacon to Priest - last named office ordained December 28, 1853 -and appointed a field of labor to which I gave much attention and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I led twelve persons to go and be baptized under my hands in the short space of three months.
April 1st 1854, (I) was ordained an Elder in the Church of jesus Christ of Latterday Saints by C.G. Webbat the Newcastle Upon Tyne Conference held at Sunderland County Of Durham, England.
The President of the Branch where I resided at Durham appointed me a new field of labor at Brumside and Cairville, April 9th (and) notified the inhabitants of those places that I was coming to preach the Gospel to them. (He) made appointments to preach April 14 which was faithfully attended too.
April 15th went to my old field of labor and baptized one more person and assisted to confirm her a member in the church April 16, 1854.
May 10th, I had got two young men ready for Baptisim near home, and Brother Mark Fletcher, a traveling Elder, came to our house and desired me to let him Baptize them. On account of opposition and persecution, they did not come forward to be confirmed members in the church at this time. We had a Mr. Theobald lecturing against Mormonism and two apostates joined in with him - their names (were) Joseph Neeesham and John Hughes.
I continued my duties as an elder and filled my appointments but was not able to lead any more to Baptisim while I stayed in England. But I have the satisfaction of knowing that I did my duty in bearing testimony to the truth of the Gospel and teaching its principles wherever I had the opportunity.
Likewise with Mother (Mary Usher Smith) kept our house a home for the traveling ministry so that the principles of the Gospel might be taught that those what would could obey but fwe would listen to the servants of God. (Note: About October. 22, 1854, Ralph married Hannah (?)his first wife who dumped him as soon as they got to Salt Lake City, Utah. Poor Ralph.)
November 19, 1854, myself and wife and Mother with the rest of the family left our home - I may say I had been married four weeks - and arrived at Liverpool Nov 23, 1854 and went aboard the ship, Nov. 27. (We) set sail Nov. 29th (and) were back in the river Merey on account of a heavy gail. (We) had to stay on account of contrary winds.
On December 6th, we the Saints appointed a fast for twenty-four hours to call upon our heavenly Father to prosper us on our journey. On December 7th, the wind changed, and we were again tuged out to sea. (We) landed in New Orleans on the 11th of January 1865 and arrived at Great Salt lake City, Utah, September, 6, 185.
Mother, brothers (Edward, George Usher and Thomas) and sister (Ann) having stayed in the United States (he means the main U.S. territories; Utah was not yet a state)until they could get an outfit.
I drove a team in a merchant train to get myself and wife here on account of not having wisom enough to use our means aright to come so long a journey on leaving my situation to come to this country, my master gave me twenty pounds, a good recommend or character. On arriving here, my wife left me.
(I looked for work) that I desired to work at (but) the chances were slim except to go with the U.S.Surveyors. Not very much chance at that until the next spring would come. So I determined to take hold of anything that presented itself that I thought I could do and keep where I could attend the meetings for the testimony of the truth was with me and the things that I had passed through were of God.
His over ruling hand had been over me for good knowing the blessing were in the Church for I had been healed from sickness and had administered to others. (I had seen them) healed (and) had been able to speak in tongues and heard them interpreted. (I had been) able to interpret tongues by the power of God myself and had enjoyed the Holy Spirit. (I had) sought the Lord's blessing to be with me for which I can truly testify it was being over me.
JANUARY 3, 1856
(I) went to live with John Sharp and hired to him for six months past through the scarcity and suffered not. Laboring on the canel and in the quarries and wherever desired to work.
I was appointed an acting teacher in the 18th ward (A Mormon ward is similar to a Catholic parish) of Salt lake City, November 8, 1856.
(journal continued here)
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