Ralph Smith's Journal pg 4
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Sunday, July 3rd, we had made a Bowery for meeting purposes. Bishop Peter Maughan came to see us. Had a meeting called. (Peter)read a letter he had received from President (Brigham) Young. Appointed John P. Wright, John Nelson and Israel J. Clark a committee to give out land.
John P. Wright (was) to receive Tithing Butter etc (at the time Mormons paid their tithing or free will offerings in the form of produce rather than cash as they do now)and forward to Maughan's Fort to be forwarded to Salt Lake City. Called on Brother I.J. Clark to organize the brothern into cmoopanies for self defence which was attended to the same evening.
July 10th at a meeting a council was called by the brethern and the High Priests chose Brother dilley for their president. And the Seventies desired myself to preside over them for the time being.
It was moved and sustained that the High Priests hold meetings on one Sunday afternoon and the seventies the following.
Brother Israel J. Clark moved that the Logan Precint Stakes be stuck (?) which they sustained. (They) alsomoved that I be clerk for Logan and write a sketch of our travels in Cache Valley. And that we open the Canyon North of Logan. Some rules were adopted for the Canyon July 27th.
Lots to build a fort on were drawn for. Sabbath meetings were held regular for some length of time in the bowery. The appointed committee presiding on the fore part of the day: the High priests in the after part and Seventies the next Sabbath afternoon (were) enjoying themselves much as a people.
September 6th, 1859, my Mother (Mary Usher) and three brothers (Edward, George Usher and Thomas Jr.) came here having crossed the plains that season (and) all were in good health. My sister (Ann Smith Warren) stayed in Salt Lake city.
Oct. 30th, three o'clock p.m. , President Peter Maughan came to Logan. (He) called a Seventies meeting according to President Joseph Young's request (and) organized the Seventies Mass Quorum for this side of Cache valley. Israel J. Clark for President, Ebenezer Lenders and A.T. Caldwell(were called to be) his counselors. Ralph Smith clerk.
November 6th, the Sacrament(communion)was administered for the first time in Logan. And at the same meeting the brethern agreed to start and build a school house.
November 13th, attended an outdoor meeting at Maughan's fort when the place was renamed by Orson Hyde, E.T. (Ezra Taft) Benson and all present. William Maughan appointed bishop of Wellsville.
November 14th, 1859, Orson Hyde, E.T. Benson and Lorenzo Snow of the Twelve Apostles and President Peter Maughan organized Logan Ward. (They) appointed and ordained and set apart william b. Preston (as) Bishop. (They) also ordained Thomas e. Ricks, Ebenezer Landers, John E. Jones and John Nelson as members of the High Council.
Peter Maughan was sustained as President of Cache Valley then six settlement. After the meeting, General West, of Ogden (Utah), organized the Militia of the Valley. Appointed Israel J. Clark Major for this side of the Valley, and Ralph Smith his adjutant. And set us to work enrolling all able to bear arms in at Loganand the north settlements. We sent in our report to Colonel West.
November 28th, we commenced to build the log school house.
December 8, 1859, Bishop Preston, called six teachers to visit the Saints as ward teachers. Brother Joel; Ricks their presiding teacher. Thomas E. Ricks, John B. Tatcher, John E. Jones, Morgan Evans, John Nelson and Ebenezer Landers.
We held our first meeting in the log school house, and a Decon's Qurum was called. Brother Henry Ballard appointed President over it.
January 5, 1860 we held our first Fast Meeting and brought in our offerings for the poor.
January 10, 1860, our second son, Ralph Hodgetts Smith was born. Born the first white male child in Logan.
January 23, the first day of school in Logan was started in our school house. Edward W. Smith (Ralph's brother) teacher.
January 22, Brother I.J. Clark, myself and others went to Providance and preached in the forepart of the day. In the after part, (we) held a Seventies revival meeting.
January 25th, I cut my left knee very severely while cutting timber in Green Canyon which caused me to lay on my bed until the third of march. Some of the time it seemed that Imust die after the inflamation set in my leg and fever in my body. but thanks to my Heavenly Father for bringing me through. And the kindness of my brothern and especially Father Brownell who was so kind in his administrations. Likewise my dear wife (Hannah Hodgetts) and mother (Mary Usher Smith) and brothers (Edward, George and Thomas Jr.)
March 11, able to attend meeting by the aid of crutches.
March 13th, Jesse W. Fox surveyed the Logan City Plot. bishop william b. Preston gave out the City Lots and much land to new Settlers that flocked here.
March 25th 1860, E.T. Benson (was the progenitor of the Prophet Ezra Taft Benson) came to Logan to settle as President of this valley. the people turned out en mass and fenced in his city lot. I dug a well for him.
March 27th, we commenced to dig the first water ditche on the hill side known as the Logan and Hyde Park Canal.
April 2nd, we built Peter maughan a log house on his lot and shortly after, he moved here from Wellsville as Presiding Bishop of Cache Valley.
April 3rd, attended meetings an enjoyed myself. Can walk without crutches or a stick.
April 5th, attended Fast Meeting (where Mormons go without eating two meals and apply the money toward helping feed the poor and needy) accompanied by my wife (Hannah Hodgetts). I blessed my secon son Ralph Hodgetts Smith.
April 29th 1860, the first Minute Men's company was organized. Thomas E. Ricks, captain.
May 15th, Brothers Henry Ballard and Jams Harmison measured off the first field fence from Logan to hyde Park. It was finished during the summer. Likewise West Field (was) fenced.
May 18th, we finished our side Hill dit5ch and get the water into town.
June 14th, E.T. Benson was elected Colonel of Cache Valley Militia.
July 24th, the Indians rushed into Logan much excited because we had taken one of their number as a prisoner for their killing some brothern at smithfiled. But the citizens of Logan was all in readiness for them and it all eased off without any trouble.
Oct. 6th at Salt Lake city, attended General Conference. (The Mormons hold their semi-annual conferences twice a year: once in April and the other in October)
1860 passed away. (I) paid my tithing, also back areas of tithing. (I) took two city lots on the head of my farm and moved my house or cabin and stock yards, Logan having spread to quite a town.
February 10th, 1861, the first call was made for teams and teamsters to go to the Missouri river after the Emigration Saints.
April 10th, the teams started out of Logan five in number.
April 14th, Logan City was divided into four wards with Presidents (ministers now called bishops)over each ward.
B.M. Lewis President over the First Ward
Henry Balled President over the Second Ward
John B. Thatcher President over the Third Ward
Thomas H. Smith over the Fourth Ward.
In September, Bishop Preston called myself and Brother Edward to make four thousand adobies which were made. Also called on the Brothers Adams who responded to his call. And swen Carlson and John e. Jones for tithing office.
September. 27, 1861, an Agricultural Fair was held in Logan. Seth M. Blair President (of what I don't know).
October 1st, 1861, the timber was commenced to be got for Hogan Hall.
October 25, 1861, at Salt Lake City with my wife. Received our Endowments and sealed together for time and eternity by President Daniel H. Wells. (Ralph and Hannah were married a second time this time under their church law which made them husband and wife for an eternity.)
February 16th 1862, the Hall was so far completed as to be dedicated and used for meeting purposes.
March 1862, the Logan Canyon WAgon road was commenced to be worked.
June 15th 1862, a cloud burst and washed out Logan and Green Canyon Roads.
December 13th 1862, Miss Emma Girdlestone (my great-great-grandmother) was sealed to me for time and eternity by Apostle Wilford Woodruff at Salt Lake City.
January 28, 1863, Colonel conner passed through Logan with 450 soldiers and on the 29th went on the north side of Bear river north of FRanklin and attacked the Indians in their group for about fours. (He and his soldiers) killed about 200 Indians and took 150 ponies. It was much needed for us as a people or some other intervention of our Heavenly Father for they (the Indians) had been a great annoyance to us as a people in causing us to stand guard over our stock and our out settlements.
April 19, 1843, bishop william B. Preston started back on the plains after the emigration as Captain of Cache Valley Company of 50 teams, 11 from Logan. During this month, Joseph Hodgetts, my wife Hannah's brother and wife left Logan for California. (Joseph) was very careful to leave his standing good in the church.
Sept 13, Captain Preston and company got home again.
In august of this year, went to the North to Virginia city Idaho Territory. Sold my load of provisions. Worked a spell, returned home near Christmas.
Late in December went to Salt Lake city with my wife Hannah. Did our trading and returned home.
February 5th, 1864, Hannah Hodgetts Smithj, my wife was confined of a daughter (Hannah Hodgetts Smith), her fourth child. After the birth of the child, she took the childbirth fever and died on the ninth day the child being eight days and a few hours old february 13th 1864. Aged 25 years, eight months, 30 days (she) having been a faithful and affectionate wife and loving mother for seven years, three months, five days. (She was) to await a Glorious Resurrection having being a martyr as it were with all her child bearing more or less.
Sept 19, 1863, I (and Emma) had a son born when from home named Frederick G. (the G. stood for Girdlestone).
Ralph Smith and Hannah Hodgetts were married at Salt Lake city November 8th, 1856 by Bishop John sharp at his house october 25th 1861. Had our endowments and sealed together by President D.H. Wells.
Ralph Smith son of Thomas Smith and Mary Usher born June 24th 1835, in rockington county of Durham england
Hannah Hodgetts daughter of John Hodgetts and Mary Ann Smart born May 14th, 1838 in Kate's Hill, Dudley Worestershire, England, died Feb. 13, 1864.
(Children of Ralph and Hannah)
Thomas Hodgetts Smith, born January 10th, 1858, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ralph Hodgetts Smith, born January 10, 1860, Logan City, Utah.
Mary Ann Hodgetts Smith, born January 31, Logan City, Utah.
Hannah Hodgetts Smith, born February 5, 1864 Logan City, Utah, died Feb. 21, 1865 in Logan, Utah.
February 26th, 1864, President E.T. Benson started on his mission to the Sandwich Islands.
April 16th 1864, bishop william S. Preston was called again as Captain of 50 teams from Cache box elder and Weber conties for the emigration and started out with six teams from Logan.
In the later part of June, Brother E.T. Benson got home from the Sandwich Islands.
September 19th, Captain Preston and company got home again.
During this year we hd two children blessed:Hannah and Frederick. I was rebaptized July 3rd by James Harmison. In the later part of the year, we had a good deal of sickness amongst the little ones especially little Hannah.
Likewise I had the foundation of my house laid and the walls built up to the square off adobies.
January 1, 1865, settled my Tithing and went and out timber and slide logs for Logan Tabernacle of which a vast amout off was got.
After the Tabernacle company had got what they desired, I with my Brother George went up the same slide (and) got what finished the back apartments of my house.
Feb. 21st, my little child (Hannah) died which was sick more than five months. Likewise, all the rest had passed through quite a sickness.
During early spring, the Logan and richmond Canal was commenced and by the first of June had it completed to Hyde Park. But great care was necessary to keep the water from tearing out the hillside to which labor Brothers Maughan and Preston desired at my hand.
May 18th, 1865, Bishop William B. Preston and others from Logan started on a mission to Europe. Three weeks previous to this date, we had moved into the back apartments of our new house and on this same date, I had a daughter (Emma Girdlestone Smith jr.) born unto me.
May the 18th, this season had ten acers of small grain taken by crickets and grass hoppers. Part of it planted the second time. But with the same result. Also three acres badly frostbitting in August.
August 4th, a brigade was organized for Cache Valley, and E.T. Benson was appointed General. Thomas E. Ricks, william maughan and Alvin Crockett were appointed Colonels with a full quota of staff officers and majors and company pretty much filled out.
Also during this month, John B. Thatcher, George Watson and Ralph Smith were apopinted trustees of the Second Ward School district. The walls of the school house were reared the same fall.
December 2nd, 1865 a City Police of 100 menwas organized to guard the city and be on the look out. I among the number.
December 7th 1865, President (Brigham) Young made a call for cash to send east to purchase wire to put up a telegraph line which was responded to and line built in 1866.
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