Job Taylor Smith (1828 - 1913) Profile

Job Taylor Smith (1828 - 1913)

Individual

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Job Taylor Smith

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Historical Department journal history of the Church

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 19, 1849.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 6, 1849.

CR 100 137: Historical Department journal history of the Church, 1830-2008, October 7, 1849.

Historical Department journal history of the Church.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 1, Page 38, Line 1639.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959, Vol. 1, Page 36, Line 1555.

Missionary Department missionary registers, 1860-1959.

Missionary reports, 1831-1900

Missionary reports, 1831-1900.

Job Smith report, October 1854Sketch of the travels and Missionof Elder Job Smith between the years 1849 and 1854. I was appointed by the General Conference heldin the city October 6th 1849 to go on a mission toEngland. On the 18th of October following I left my homein G. S. L. City in company with Elders John TaylorL. Snow, E. Snow, F.D. Richards and about 30 othersto proceed across the plains:  (most of us on our way to Europe.Our journey across the plains considering the late season of theyear at which we started was a very pleasant one, although for thelast 300 miles we had sometimes a foot or more of Snow totravel through. We travelled mostly with mules and wagonsthough some had horses. I travelled in Elder J.M. Grant’s wagonwhich was drawn by two horses. On the twelfth of Novemberabout 50 miles west of Fort Laramie we were assailed byabout 200 Sioux Indians dressed in the warlike style of the CheyenneBand of said tribe which they were. With a quick exertion ingathering the horses and a promptness on the part of the Sear-gent of the guard to give orders and the brethren to obey aa a line of defence was formed in front – and partiallyround – the camp, through which the Lamanites considered itimprudent to break and thus they retreated so as to give usan opportunity to proceed peaceably. By the kindness of the Government Officer atFort Laramie, - Mr. Anderson, we were furbished by witha fresh supply of provisions at the U.S. prices. On arriving at the Missouri River, (December 7th) wefound ice running down the stream sufficient to deterthe Ferry Boat from carrying us over; we therefore hadto wait until the river had become closed up and theice strong enough to allow us to cross over with ourwagons. This was considered a Providence, inasmuch aswhen we were all across the ice recommenced running downthe river. And it was at the instance of prayers thatit stayed for us to cross. We arrived in Kanesville onthe twelfth and tarried there and spent Christmas whichwas very jovially celebrated. I received much kindness frommy acquaintances here who helped me according to theirlimited means to proceed. On the 29th Dec. started in BrRobert Caldwel’s wagon to go to St Louis (who volunteered tocarry us down) in company with Elders Joseph Toronto,Peter O. Hanson and J.W. Young. We passed through all the towns lying on the landroute from Kanesville to St Louis, where we arrivedJanuary 15th 1850. On the first of February I with sevenothers all went on bouard the steamer Buena Vista forNew Orleans; where we arrived on the seventh inst. A collection was made in St Louis and assistance raisedto help the missionaries to their various fields of labour, whichcarried us as far as New Orleans. Here the Saints nobly sacrificeda part of their earnings to send us across the sea. They werebut few in number, but much means was subscribed bythem; and on the 26th of February we shipped on boardthe “Maine,” and after a rough passage of 40 days we ar-rived in Liverpool on the 7th day of April 1850 havingbeen absent from England just 7 years and one month.By appointment of Elder O. Pratt, I was sent to labourunder the Presidency of my Father, Elder Thomas Smith,then president of the Norwich Conference. I was sent byhim to travel and preach among the Saints in the ¬vic vi- cinity of Lowestoft, Suffolk – a small seaport town, andvery pleasant it being on the shores of one of the chief herring-fisheries in England. Not being much accustomed to preachI found it a great trial at first to stem the oppositionand virulence of the purportedly religious people, and others.On week day evenings during the summer I made a practiceof going to some village and preaching in the open air; wherein some instances good attention was paid to my sim-ple testimony by large congregations, and in others morestones received than sentences communicated. In the Townof Bungay I succeeded in raising a small branch of the churchwhich has since become of considerable importance in thatconference. Baptized some 8 or 10 persons. I was from timeto time in Norwich and other branches of the conference, preach-ing and bearing my testimony to the truth, and to the cha-racters of the authorities of the church, which was one ofthe chief points that required defence against the hostileand most bitter acclamations of our opponents, whowere neither few nor calm. October 6th 1850. I attended General Conference whichwas held at Manchester, where I was appointed to go andlabour in the Bedfordshire Conference under the presidencyof Elder John Spiers. On my way to Bedford, I wentto my native place and saw some of my old school-fellows and acquaintances, some of whom I bore testimonyof the truth. The Saints in that country received mewith great kindness, and after visiting round in Worcestershireabout a week, I went per railway to Bedford, where I com-menced my labours with Br. Spiers. I was appointedby him to labour and preach in the vicinity of Cambridge -a most learned place – the chief manufactory of sectarianpriests. Here was a branch of about 70 members, the majorityof whom were sisters. They had a good hall for preachingwhich on Sunday evenings was mostly well filled withrespectable persons. During my stay in Cambridge someone or two and sometimes more baptisms occurred mostweeks – sometimes causing great excitement among theinhabitants, and accounts thereof frequently inserted in the News-papers. During the year 1851 I conmenced tinued to labour under thedirection of Elder S. mostly in Northamptonshire, whither I wasremoved in February from Cambridge. I was placed in chargeof four small branches to which I travelled and visited as oftenas I could conveniently get from one to the other after preachingIn the town of Northampton was a small branch and thefew Saints very poor. They meet in a very large hall, the twofront seats of which were sufficient to hold seat all the Saintsin the branch and mostly all the strangers who attended.But few additions were made to the church. Here happenedwhile I was at that place a most singular instance of evil spirits entering into and possessing a person. One of thebrethren, a priest, had two boys which an evil spirit entered, andmade them as it is called, crazy. Still they were intelligentenough to curse the Elders, and would occasionally appearto have imaginary combats with president H.C. Kimbal andothers with whom they were unacquainted. One of them wouldcurse and swear and abuse his parents and then speakwith tongues, while under the Satanic influence. I was called in to rebuke the evil spirit from one ofthem, a boy of about 12 or 14 years. I soon found that myhumble faith and prayers were inadequate to remove theevil at first trial – so I resolved to stay by him inprayer and fasting until he was returned to soundnessof mind, which occurred in about six hours after firstmaking the resolve. His unwise father contrary to my wishesallowed him shortly after to go out and mix with thewicked rabble of some of the most corrupt neighbourhoodsin England, as, in my opinion a consequence of whichhe was soon as bad as ever. His Father then had him baptizedand every endeavour used for his recovery but he was finallyafter repeated relapses compelled to consign him to thecare of the asylum of that town. The other brother who wasafflicted did not mix with his father’s family or anyone connected with the Saints and the devil ceased to troublehim. The wickedness of this town I balieved to be very greatand honest souls in it very scarce, - and an atmosphereso dense with unbelief and scepticism that even thefew who had embraced the gospel could with greatdifficulty satisfy themselves there was any truth in religionat all. The majority of this population are professed un-believers in the bible and in all revealed religions. By appointment of Elder F.D. Richards I was calledto succeed Elder Spiers in the presidency of the Bedfordshireconference which whe after his departure numbered about650 members. He left Bedford for this Valley on the fourthof January 1852 at to previous to which he resigned to my care every thing pertaining to that conference.and on the first of January I assumed the responsibilityof presiding which felt very onerous in consequence of myyouth and inability. However, I feel thankful to realise that byGod’s blessing I was enabled to discharge the importantduties connected therewith in a manner satisfactory tomy own conscience and to the authorities of the BritishMission. During my presidency over the Bedfordshire Confer-ence, which was a period of 2 years, there were bap-tized near or about 300 persons who were added to thechurch in the various branches of which the conferenceconsisted. There were excommunicated during the sametime to the number of 170. Several new places wereopened, and the gospel introduced into every place whereit seemed possible to send an elder or make an opening.There were generally 5 or 6 travelling Elders engaged with melaboring under my direction in the various parts of theconference. Commencing at our Conference held January 1st1853 we were called to defend a doctrine both new andobnoxious to the pious people of that country, viz, theplurality of wives. It was thought that the same wouldhave a tendency to shake the faith of many of the Saintsand that many would consequently apostatize. But bythe aid of the good spirit, and the testimony of Elders newlyarrived from the Valley, the doctrine was recommended tothe intelligence of every good Saint, and with an exceptionof some three or four, who were previously only waiting foran excuse to leave the church, none apostatized, butmany received their faith strengthened by reading andreflecting upon that revelation which introduced the Pat-riarchal Order to the world. In November following I received a communicationfrom Pres. S.W. Richards informing me that I wouldbe released from my labours and permitted to re-turn to Deseret on the first of January 1854. ElderJames Pace was appointed my successorr. During the time of my presidency, considerablemeans was raised – indeed according to the extremepoverty of the people much was raised, for the “TempleFund” also the “Perpetual Emigrating Fund,” “ConferenceFund” and for the liquidation of debts accruing throughthe delinquency of Conference Book agents who thenrobbed the church and then left it. January 23rd 1854 Set sail on ship Windermere forNew Orleans in company with about 450 Saints mostlybound for this Valley, under the care of Elder Daniel Carns.We had a very rough passage, and were sixty days fromport to port; landed April 23rd. There occurred much sick-ness on board, including 35 cases of small=pox, 6 of whichproved fatal, besides some other causes. I was personally blessedto escape this malady although constantly required tobe mixed up with the sick praying for them and admin-istering to them in the name of the Lord. April 27th took passage per steam boat “Grand Tower” forSt Louis – arrived there April 5th. Staiyed in St Louis 2 weeksand visited my friends, - April 20th started per steam-boat “Sonora” for Kansas where we arrived on the 24th.On arriving at Kansas Im found the camp of Saints – whowere preparing to under the direction of Elder Wm Empeyto cross the plains during the summer, – many of them suf-fering and dying whi with the cholera, or a maladysimilar. Many of those who p crossed the sea with me andwho proceeded up the river without staying in St Louis asI did, were dead! There were many deaths occurring daily.Nearly one month was spent in making preparations forthe land journey, during which time more or less deathoccurred all the time. I had with me a gentle man thathad furnished me with the necessary means to come homewith; and here I had to mourn his loss, as well as ofothers whose memory will live with me to the grave.His name was Augustine Joseph Harker.June 1st I was placed in charge of a certain portion of theSaints there encamped, to form a company to travel togetherto the Valley, and Elder Empey instructed us to start as soonas possible. I accordingly chose a camping ground about fourmiles west of Westport Mo. and to it those who had fittedthemselves out with wagons and teams removed and were organisedinto tens with captains &amp;c and June 17th we started and travelled 5 miles, and during theweek made 30 miles. The company consisted of 45 wagons for the conveyance of217 souls including much luggage. 12 deaths occurred on the way.    Arrived in G.S.L. City Sept 23rd 1854, having been away fromhome four years, eleven months and three days.

Transcript for Missionary reports, 1831-1900, MS 6104, Church History Library

Nauvoo Restoration Inc., comp., Nauvoo Seventies list

Nauvoo Restoration Inc., comp., Nauvoo Seventies list, Vol. 3.

Nauvoo Restoration Inc., comp., Nauvoo Seventies list.

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., NTER, 977.343/N1 K29c

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., NTER, 977.343/N1 K29c, Page 147.

Temple Records Index Bureau, comp., NTER, 977.343/N1 K29c.

Deseret Evening News

Funeral of Job Smith

"Funeral of Job Smith", Deseret Evening News, January 6, 1913.

Impressive Funeral Of Job Smith, Pioneer

"Impressive Funeral Of Job Smith, Pioneer", Deseret Evening News, January 8, 1913.

Job Smith, Veteran, Goes To His Reward

"Job Smith, Veteran, Goes To His Reward", Deseret Evening News, January 4, 1913.

Deseret Evening News.

Empey, William to Brigham Young

Empey, William to Brigham Young, June 23, 1854.

<center xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Camp one mile from Kansas</center>



Prest Brigham Young



Dear Bro



Knowing that you ever have a deep and abiding interest in the gathering of the Saints I wish to give you a brief acct. of the General Emigration this season



The Danish Company under the presidency of H[ans]. P[eter]. Olsen rolled out on the plains a few days ago, but in consequence of heavy rains &amp; being heavy laden, they are remaining at Big Blue a few miles out on the Prairie unable to proceed further. The President of the company has returned with a note from Elder Orson Pratt stating that I must supply them with what oxen the[y] wan t I take security upon their teams for the [-], which has been done.



A company of fifty wagons under the Presidency of Elder Job Smith started out—last—Saturday



Dr. Darwin Richardson will start with thirty two wagons early in the morning W[illiam] F[urlsbury] Carter will start one day behind him with a company of about 32 wagons I may possibly add to these companies before they start The latter two companies are P[erpetual] E[emigrating] Fund.



The companies have been detained three weeks longer than necessary for the want of wagons—



In consequence of the immense emigration to California &amp; Salt Lake every thing is very high this season.



Oxen range from 75 to $110.00 from [for] yoke and cows from 25 to $40.00 per head. The price of wagons in St. Louis is $67.00 and the freightage to Kansas ranges from 6 to $12.00 per wagon. The cause of this variation is the various stages of the river.



On acct of the high prices of cattle &amp;c this season the Independents have been proportionally made to depend upon the P E Fund for means to complet their outfits the [- -] the third having far overshot their expectations. Many of them have expressed that they would much rather have come out by the fund as it would have relieved them of much anxiety of mind



By communication from Elder Orson Pratt for Elder Daniel Cairns we are informed that a council was held in St. Louis to examine the state of the Emigration generally, in which it was decided that more should receive their outfit at St. Louis after the 25th inst on acct. of the late arrival of the companies and some having not yet arrived.



There has been considerable mortality among the Saints this season about 200 have died belonging to the aforesaid companies Elder William Taylor has arrived at Kansas with part of another company the [-] of which are coming up the river.—



Elder Daniel Cairns who is here assisting me will take the latter over the plains as soon as we can get them organized—



In great rush I subscribe myself your [-] William Empey per Charles Evans

Transcript for Empey, William to Brigham Young, 23 June 1854, in Brigham Young, Office Files 1832-1878, box 23, fd. 12

Empey, William to Brigham Young.

Improvement Era

An Experience on the Plains

Job Smith, "An Experience on the Plains", Improvement Era, August 1908, Page 755.

<xhtml:p xmlns:its="http://www.w3.org/2005/11/its" xmlns:xhtml="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">It might interest the readers of the Era to learn of a rather novel experience which myself and others had about the 6th and 8th of August, 1854. I was captain of a train of forty wagons bringing English emigrants from Kansas City to Salt Lake City. At the date named, we took our noon halt a few miles east of Laramie, halting near the road. Between the road and the Platte river, at a distance of several hundred yards from the road, was a very large encampment of Indians, said to be two or three thousand strong who were quite friendly. From the road we could see a large bowery, roofed and walled up with branches of green trees, in which evidently there was "something doing." Out of curiosity myself and Elder Martel walked over, and, meeting with no opposition, stood in the doorway where we were surprised to see inside the bowery a very strange sight, and to hear strange music. What was said to be a sacrifice was being offered, and a ghost or other kind of dance was being performed. Looking straight in from the doorway was an Indian, standing a few yards away, naked, except the usual "clout." Around him were four posts, about four or five feet apart, each set in the ground and secured in place at the top, forming the four corners of a square, the Indian in the middle. Securely tied into the Indian's skin, back of each shoulder and upper arm, back of each hip and front of thigh, were strong buckskin strings, (eight altogether) each string passed upwards nearly tight to one of the posts and was securely tied to it; thus each post received two strings, so that the Indian could not move without pulling on the strings. This was called the sacrifice. Beyond him a few feet were a half circle of other Indians standing, also naked, a dozen or so-each one, also the sacrifice, having a flute or whistle in his hands. To the left, in a corner, was a tanned Buffalo skin stretched tight by two pegs driven into the ground. Beside it sat an Indian to beat time with a small club. As he struck the drum, each Indian in the half circle, together with the sacrifice, would jump, and simultaneously blow their whistles, which was timed by the drum about one second apart. This, kept up a half minute or more, would then cease for perhaps another half minute. Then start again. We were informed that this exercise had been already continued twenty-four hours without intermission, and was intended to be continued until the "sacrifice" should become so exhausted as to fall down and tear every string out of his body. The other whistlers were there for his encouragement. After fully satisfying our curiosity, we returned to our camp and moved along on our journey. Following us some hours afterward was another train of emigrants, which made camp for the night, not very far from the locality aforesaid. One of their cows becoming lame was left behind to rest, with a view of retuning for her later when she had become able. But in the meantime, an Indian from the big camp, finding the cow alone, killed her and took the meat to the Indian camp. The emigrant, on going back after the cow, not finding her, went straight to the Fort and complained of the Indians for stealing his cow, hereupon the commander at the Fort ordered out a posse of twenty men to go and make claim for the cow. What specific orders were given to the officer in command of the posse is not known, but the story goes that there was a log shanty in the vicinity where whiskey was dispensed to soldiers, traders, or emigrants; and the "command," on their way to the Indian camp, paid this place a fraternal visit and became unusually braced up for a contest about the cow. Instead of being satisfied with pay for the cow, which the Indian offered, the claim was made for the Indian to be given up to the military for punishment for stealing the cow. To this the Indians objected and refused positively to give the man up. A row followed; the officer either himself fired or commanded one of his men to do so, which he did, killing it is said on of the chiefs; whereupon the Indians, maddened with revenge, poured a shower of arrows at the poor soldiers, killing seventeen of them on the spot. The Indians then pulled up their encampment and moved across the river. The news of this horrible affair reached my company the next forenoon, as we were climbing a long hill on our way, the messenger warning us to prepare for defense, as the Indians were mad. There was, however, but one thing for us to do, and that was to make as good haste as possible to a camping place and be prepared for what might happen. Very provokingly, on our way before reaching a camp ground, one of our wagons broke down, and a stay was necessary to repair the wagon and protect, if necessary, the inmates. However, we got safely to camp and spent a very nervously watchful night. Next morning we were agreeably surprised by being informed by another messenger that the Indians were peaceable, but that the safest plan was to make the best possible time, in making distance between us and possible danger. Before the last messenger arrived, however, we were somewhat frightened by seeing large volumes of smoke arise from the eastward which inclined us to think the Indians were destroying the fort by fire, and would thus be liable to follow us for vengeance. But no damage to emigrants was reported, only the lose of a sore-footed cow.Sugar House, Utah.</xhtml:p>

Transcript for Smith, Job, "An Experience on the Plains," Improvement Era, Aug. 1908, 755-58

Improvement Era.

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849, June 1848.

MS 14290: Camp of Israel schedules and reports, 1845-1849.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886, Vol. 1, Page 279.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886, Vol. 1, Page 309.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886, Vol. 1, Page 389.

Perpetual Emigrating Fund Company financial accounts, 1849-1886.

Salt Lake Herald-Republican

Job Taylor Smith, Pioneer Citizen, Ends Long Career

"Job Taylor Smith, Pioneer Citizen, Ends Long Career", Salt Lake Herald-Republican, January 4, 1913, Page 1.

Funeral Services for Job T. Smith Tuesday

"Funeral Services for Job T. Smith Tuesday", Salt Lake Herald-Republican, January 6, 1913, Page 5.

Salt Lake Herald-Republican.

Smith, Job, Autobiography, [ca. 1902], 41-42

Smith, Job, Autobiography, [ca. 1902], 41-42.

On June 1st I was appointed by William Empy the emigration agent for that season to take charge of a company soon to start and who were getting their teams and general arrangements in readiness. 
June 7th our organization having been effected with myself as Captain[,] Elder [Thomas C.] Martell (afterwards of Spanish Fork) captain or sargent of the guard, with other brethren as captains of ten (wagons or families) the company consisting of 36 families, we made a start. Our cattle mostly wild with only myself and two others who had ever handled an ox whip in their lives you may guess we had a picnic. We moved a few miles only. Next day tried again. 
Friday, June 9th Bro. [Augustus J.] Harper and myself started out with others to get our teams, and when about 200 yards from camp were both stricken with cholera. We crawled our way back to the wagons and every thing was done for us that friends could devise, but about 5 o'clock in the evening Bro. Harper died, and the disease slowly began to abate and I shortly regained my activity. Some of the younger men dug a grave for our beloved friend and brother, and joining two clothes chests end to end together, the adjoining ends being removed, a sort of coffin was improvised and the body buried with all the attention and detail possible on such an occasion. 
Monday the 18th another victim was claimed by the cholera in the person of my wife's mother, Mrs. [Ann Sheffield] Fowles, as we had no lumber or boxes to be had, some elm bark was taken from some growing trees and placed around the body and the body buried as sacredly and decently as the conditions permitted. These two were the only deaths which occurred in our company. We now soon got our teams under control and commenced to travel in earnest. Loads that proved to be too heavy for their teams were on appeal lightened by leaving such articles or weight and little value as the families could spare.
 The company had subscribed and purchased for me a mule and saddle which gave me an opportunity of riding forward and selecting camping places, searching for good feeding grounds, etc. We made good time every day except Sundays on which day we always rested and once in a while for a general washing day. We also gathered for prayers at night, after which guard was set, every man taking turn half a night. Good order observed and religious services held on Sundays. In this way we made moderately good speed and kept our teams up in good spirits, and soon passed the behind ones which had travelled too fast at first and thus worn out their teams.
 W[illiam]. W[alton]. Burton our company clerk some years later wrote for the Juvenile Instructor relates the following incident which occurred on the journey and which I called to mind when I read it. A brother John Ford fell sick on the way, and badly needed a little brandy. Henry [John] Jarvis who had three wagons loaded with merchandise had brandy, but refused to dispose of any except for cash. Bro. Ford's cash had all been spent for his outfit but offered his watch as security for a pint of brandy. But Jarvis was inexorable and refused. Talking the matter over at night around the camp fire the clerk reported that the captain of the company remarked that Jarvis's brandy would never reach Salt Lake City. Nothing more was afterwards thought about brandy until coming down Emigration Canyon the wagon carrying it overturned the demijohn containing the brandy broken and the brandy spilt into the creek. Near Laramy [Laramie] an episode occurred which is related in the August 1908 number of the Improvement Era, which see.
 Before arriving at Green River we met Elder John Taylor (apostle) who gave us a letter of introduction to Elder Washington Jolly. He with a large drove of Mexican cattle were some distance ahead of us, and asking in our behalf a few pairs of cattle to strengthen our teams as our force was now growing low. In company with Henry Jarvis who owned four of the wagons I rode ahead and overtook Bro. Jolly at Black's Fork. We gathered and yoked up 24 head of Mexican cattle out of his herd, with which we returned to camp at Green River and after distributing them where most needed we started a gain and passing three other companies on our way reached Salt Lake City September 25th, 1854.

Job Taylor Smith

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