Aikens Smith

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWC1-SS5
• Initiatory (LDS): 5 Oct 1921, SLAKE

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCX-4KH
• Initiatory (LDS): 10 Mar 1854, EHOUS

Notes:

Jesse Nathaniel Smith was born December 2, 1834 in Stockholm, New York , s on of Silas and Mary Aikens Smith. Jesse was a first cousin to the Pr ophe t Joseph Smith. Jesse arrived at Far West, Missouri just as the Sai nts w ere leaving. He saw the erection of the Nauvoo temple, and the Nau voo ex odus. His father died when he was just three months shy of turnin g five y ears old.

Jesse crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847 with the Morm o n pioneers. He was called to help colonize Parowan in 1851, he acte d a s a scout and surveyor for Church colony sites in southern Utah. He s erve d as city clerk, city councilman, mayor, and city magistrate of Paro wan , district attorney of Iron County, Captain in the militia, a membe r of t he Utah Territorial Legislature, and a member of the Parowan Stak e presid ency—all before he had reached the age of twenty-six .

In 1860, he was called on a mission to Denmark. He later presided over t h e Scandinavian Mission (and was to preside over it a second time stil l la ter in life). Though always faithful in serving the Lord, Jesse N. w as no t without trials. Upon returning from his first service as Missio n Presid ent, when three weeks from home, he wrote, “Bread stuffs were sc arce an d I started for home with a very scanty supply of provisions, n o grain fo r my poor horses, and no money to buy with, however, my hope s were high w ith thoughts of home. I Reached Provo in process of time , but called o n no one for the scarcity was felt in nearly every house .

As I was slowly wending my way through the wide lane southeast of tow n , I met Brother Soren Christoffersen of Manti with several teams. “H e ex pressed the liveliest pleasure at seeing me and said he remembere d a tur n I had done him in collecting and forwarding to him from Denmar k about 2 400 Rdlr. As Brother Sorn thrust his hand in his pocket, vision s of dinne rs for myself and grain for my poor horses, flitted before m y imagination , but alas for the unreality of my dream, he withdrew his h and slowly an d sadly from his pocket, remarking that he had heavy purcha ses to make i n the city of a threshing machine and other farm machinery , and his expen ses would doubtless be heavy but if I ever came to Mant i and would kindl y call on him in his own home he would do something rig ht handsome for me .”
Jesse N. made it home; upon arriving he had little time to mourn the dea t h of his second wife, who had passed while he was in Scandinavia. Short l y after this he met and married his third wife, Janet Mauretta Johnson.

In Snowflake, Jesse was a farmer, stockman, cooperative mercantile and b a nk organizer, a probate judge, and served in the Arizona Territorial Le gi slature. Widely traveled and self-educated, he amassed a large librar y an d became conversant in five languages. He served the Church in Arizo na a s the first president of the Eastern Arizona Stake from 1879 to 1887 , an d as the first president of the Snowflake Stake from 1887 until hi s deat h June 5, 1906. He was also called to be a patriarch .

Jesse N. Smith served in the Arizona legislature. He was a probate judg e . He was the president of the Scandinavian Mission, headquartered in D en mark, two separate times. He was the mayor of Parowan, Utah. His hom e t here has been restored and is open for tours. Jesse was a first cousi n t o Joseph Smith and George Albert Smith, presidents of the LDS church . Je sse served as stake president of the Eastern Arizona Stake in 1878.

-- The Life Summary of Jesse Nathaniel Smith Sr: When Jesse Nathanie l S mith Sr. was born on 2 December 1834, in Stockholm, St. Lawrence, Ne w Yor k, United States, his father, Silas Smith, was 55 and his mother, M ary Ai kens, was 37. Jesse married Emma Seraphine West on 13 May 1852, i n Parowa n, Iron, Utah, United States. Jesse and Emma were the parents o f at leas t 4 sons and 5 daughters. Jesse lived in Snowflake, Apache, Ar izona Terr itory, United States in 1880 and Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, U nited State s in 1900. Jesse registered for military service in 1905. J esse Nathani el Smith Sr. died on 5 June 1906, in Snowflake, Navajo, Ariz ona Territory , United States, at the age of 71, and was buried in R V Mi ke Ramsay Memo rial Cemetery, Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, United States.


-- Arlene Palmer Smith

Jesse married Emma Ellen Larson on 28 Oct 1881 in St. George, Washington, Utah, United States. Emma (daughter of Mons Larson and Elna Olsson Malmstrom) was born on 6 Apr 1863 in West Jordan, Salt Lake, Utah, United States; died on 2 Jun 1943 in Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, United States; was buried on 4 Jun 1943 in RV Mike Ramsay Memorial Cemetery, Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWCX-4KW
• Initiatory (LDS): 28 Oct 1881, SGEOR

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJT-5PZ
• Initiatory (LDS): 3 Mar 1877

Silas married Mary Aikens on 4 Mar 1828 in Stockholm, St. Lawrence, New York, United States. Mary (daughter of Nathaniel Aikens and Mary Polly Tupper) was born on 13 Aug 1797 in Barnard, Windsor, Vermont, United States; died on 27 Apr 1877 in Parowan, Iron, Utah, United States; was buried in Parowan City Cemetery, Iron, Utah, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LDVM-JZF
• Initiatory (LDS): 23 Dec 1845, NAUVO

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWZ8-C9T
• Initiatory (LDS): 12 Apr 1862

Mons married Elna Olsson Malmstrom on 29 Jun 1853 in Hörby, Skåne, Konungariket Sverige. Elna was born on 13 Feb 1826 in Lund, Skåne, Skåne, Konungariket Sverige; was christened on 18 Feb 1826 in Östra Torn, Lund, Skåne, Skåne, Konungariket Sverige; died on 24 Apr 1914 in Glenbar, Graham, Arizona, United States; was buried on 27 Apr 1914 in Glenbar Cemetery, Graham, Arizona, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: KWJ6-M31
• Initiatory (LDS): 12 Apr 1862

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: M9WN-KYG
• Initiatory (LDS): 27 Jun 1879, SGEOR

Notes:

Asael was the paternal grandfather of the Prophet, Joseph Smith. He w a s a man of strongest religious convictions, and yet a man whose broad h um anitarian views were repugnant to many of the sectarians of the day. U po n one occasion, before the Prophet's birth, Asael Smith had a premonit io n that one of his descendants should be a great teacher and leader o f men . To quote his words, as they are remembered and recorded by one wh o kne w and heard him speak: "It has been borne in upon my soul that on e of m y descendants will promulgate a work to revolutionize the world o f religi ous faith."
source: "The Life of Joseph Smith the Prophet" by George Q. Cannon, pa g e 16.

"Asael fought for our liberty in the Revolutionary War. In the summe r o f 1776, he joined a regiment to defend New York's northern frontier . In h is prime of life, Asael Smith gave this counsel to his family, "Bl ess Go d that you live in a land of liberty....See God's providence in th e appoi ntment of the Federal Constitution and hold both Union and Orde r as a pre cious jewel."

Asael left a great legacy to his family and the (LDS) Church. He consist e ntly set an example of honesty and integrity in the face of adversity . Hi s writings reveal a deep faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection . An u nwavering concern for his fellowmen is evidenced in his strong ant i-slave ry beliefs. In the last message to his family, he exhorted them t o "Searc h the scriptures." These are qualities that would serve us wel l to emulat e."

Asael married Mary Elizabeth Duty on 12 Feb 1767 in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts, United States. Mary (daughter of Moses Duty and Mary Palmer) was born on 11 Oct 1743 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; was christened on 16 Oct 1743 in Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; died on 27 May 1836 in Kirtland, Lake, Ohio, United States; was buried on 28 May 1836 in Kirtland, Lake, Ohio, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: 9X2W-BPT
• Initiatory (LDS): 27 Jun 1879, SGEOR

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LLQF-GFD
• Initiatory (LDS): 14 Mar 1939, ARIZO

Nathaniel married Mary Polly Tupper on 27 Dec 1784 in Barnard, Windsor, Vermont, United States. Mary was born on 20 Mar 1765 in Sandwich, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States; died on 19 Jun 1846 in Moira, Franklin, New York, United States; was buried in Moira Community Cemetery, Franklin, New York, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FamilySearch ID: LLQF-GF8
• Initiatory (LDS): 6 Jun 1902, SLAKE