By Michael Kennedy and Gracia Jones
The Joseph Smith Jr. Family Organization has worked hard during this past year making contacts, collecting photos, histories and building forgotten family relationships.
Three sons of Joseph Jr., have living posterity:
Joseph Smith III – Many good contacts have been made and some genealogical data gathered, but at this time there is no specific organizational contact established for this family line. It is hoped that in the coming year someone of this family will step forward and participate in the Joseph Smith, Jr. Family Organization and represent their family line.
Alexander Hale – Alexander’s posterity is the most numerous of all of Joseph & Emma’s children. Gracia Jones and her husband, Ivor, have spent most of the year with all of these descendants, except Fred A’s line. Gracia and Ivor made personal contact with 32 families in Australia and one in Oregon; collecting of many histories, photos, and ongoing correspondence both by mail and email means. The Wright’s held a reunion in Tuncurry, NSW, in October, which was well attended. They have a close-knit association between themselves with good outreach to their entire family. They keep us current with events and data as it transpires. Vida Smith (Yates) was visited via Ruth Derk, correspondence still ongoing.
Gracia has plans to visit more of this line during the 2001 year. Emma Belle Smith Kennedy has ongoing correspondence with Jean Hancock. Eva Grace Smith Madison family was contacted through Judy Madison; here too, Gracia will visit this family later this year. Don Alvin Smith family was contacted through Genie Graham, daughter of Carlos, and Beth Selle, daughter of Beatrice Griffin. Very comprehensive genealogical data/photos and history gathered this year ― very excellent organizational prospects. Joseph George Smith’s family was met with granddaughters living in Independence ― plans to visit other members of this family in Washington/Oregon this year. Arthur Marion Smith’s family contact has been made with all of his living children, several of his grandchildren and great grandchildren ― Joseph F. Smith, and his daughter Kim Davis have done a wonderful job of gathering and preserving histories, photos, and stories. Kim Davis, in Branson, assisted by the Hughes Brothers and the Osmonds, who provided place, food, and program for the event, spearheaded a wonderful reunion last fall. Coral Smith Horner and two major mini-reunions were held for descendants this past year. One in Montana, attended by around 30, and one in Washington State, attended also by about 30.
David Hyrum Smith – At this time we have leads but no personal contacts with anyone in this family. Anyone who can assist in establishing a contact please notify us.
Interest is growing for more frequent family gatherings Joseph and Emma have approximately 1000 living descendants. The Joseph Smith Jr. Family organization would like all of Joseph and Emma’s posterity meet in small mini-reunions within their community or nearby communities and become reacquainted with their rich heritage. If you have interest in doing this please visit our web site at www.josephsmithsr.com.
This web site is maturing and provides the research we gather to all descendents of Joseph and Lucy Mack. See if you are there.