Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family Organization

By Eldred and Hortense Smith

The Hyrum Smith Family Association was organized and activated on Dec 29, 1980 mainly for the purpose of raising funds to purchase the Hyrum Smith home in Kirtland, Ohio to save it from destruction. The project was successful and the home was purchased.

The board consists of representatives of each of Hyrum’s children as follows:

CHILD	REPRESENTATIVE
Lavina Smith Walker	Rex Campbell (now deceased)
John Smith	Eldred G. Smith
Jerusha Smith	Earl H. Peirce
Sarah Smith	Rae Jean Davis
Joseph F. Smith	Joseph Patrick (now deceased)
Martha Ann Smith Harris	Carole King

The passing of these two stalwart family and board members, Rex Campbell and Joseph Patrick, saddens us. We express sincere gratitude for their services.

It has been proposed by the board that there be two representatives of each child on the board. It is therefore, requested that the families make Recommendations for not only filling the vacancies but to add an additional board member for each family. These suggestions may be submitted to Eldred G. Smith, who is the President of the board. His address is 2942 Devonshire Circle, SLC, UT 84108; (801)582-9610.

We have been engaged in some significant activities:

1. An effort, which began as far back as l939, to memorialize, with a monument in the Kirtland cemetery, the burial spots for Hyrum’s wife, Jerusha Barden Smith; Mary (the little daughter of Hyrum and Jerusha); as well as Mary Duty Smith (the grandmother of Hyrum, Joseph and the other children), will finally have it’s day as arrangements are now reaching finality.

2. A work is underway to publish a biography of Jerusha.

3. A wonderful achievement has been the restoring of the surface and lettering on the large granite monument to Hyrum Smith that stands in the Salt Lake City cemetery. It now looks like new with the lettering very readable

4. The wonderful memorial celebration of Hyrum’s 200th birthday last year, as reported in the last newsletter, was a high point. The many thousands, who participated and grew to love their progenitor even more, enjoy its memory and the video (still available).

5. The family association participated in the placing of the heroic statue of Hyrum Smith in the City Center of Hyrum, Utah-which bears his name.

6. In Hyrum’s memory the association placed a bust statue of him in the home in Kirtland, Ohio.

7. We have launched our www.HyrumSmith.Com website with the help of Jared Glade. It is accessible either directly or as a link from the Foundation website or the Joseph F. Smith website (www.josephfsmith.org), as they are also accessible from ours. Please visit us.

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.

By Marge Porter

Research continues as time rushes on to locate the descendants of Catherine Smith Salisbury, daughter of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. At the present time there is no family organization or unified family unit for Catherine. Early history books of the LDS and RLDS churches provide short glimpses of a select few episodes of her life and struggles with the early persecution of the members of the church generally. Combining these stories, a beautiful history of this courageous mother, daughter, and sister will be compiled. Contacts must be made to accomplish this effort. Those descendants of this noble ancestor may contact the family representative for Catherine: Marjorie Porter, 2360 West Old Highway Rd., Morgan, UT 84050. Phone: 801-876-3265 or e-mail marge@catherinesmith.org.

What is happening in my branch of the Smith Family? There are many branches to this family that are actively growing because there are members of that branch who are doing things. Some do a lot, some do a little but serve as a catalyst for others participation. There is a committee that meets nearly monthly to correlate these branch organization activities and information. Some key members on this correlation
committee are missing. The plan calls for one member for each child of Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. Other large and active branches especially at their grandchild level may also have a representative. Currently there is a need for either a branch member or other person willing to represent or help with the following branches: William Smith; Lucy Smith Miliken; Lovina Smith Walker; Catherine Smith Salisbury. Please contact the branch representative or crfrogley@josephsmithsr.org / 801-588-8421. Here is the state of each branch organization. Please get involved.

The Family Organization Coordinating Committee meets each month to review status, progress, and research on each of the lines from the Children of Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith.

Representatives include:

HYRUM- LIVING
-Lovina: Roger Anderson 435-846-3301 …………..4,484
-John Wilburta Moore 801-595-8131 ………….. ukwn
-Joseph F. Mary Donoho 801-546-4707 …………15,000
-Jerusha Ben Donoho 801-546-4707 …………. ukwn
-Sarah LaRene Gaunt 801-572-0169 ………….. ukwn
-Martha Ann Carole King 435-876-3273 …………..2,530
JOSEPH Jr- Michael Kennedy801-756-1091 …………….800
SAMUEL Robert Smith 801-489-7589 ……………..450
WILLIAM Michael Nebeker 801-942-5053 ………….. ukwn
CATHERINE Marjorie Porter 801-876-3265 ………….. ukwn
LUCY ……………………………… ukwn

Since this is continual work in progress we will update this data frequently with the invitation to please help by registering all known family members with your own family organization or through one of the committee.

This is just a last note to remind all to please send your annual dues. Our newsletter and research to find all the living descendents depend on you. All family members that we know receive the newsletter because we are family. Please become a dues paying member so that we can continue the work to find and unite the family. The Board of Trustees has recommended and approved a modest increase in our dues. Family Biographies will be finished and sent to all dues payers as we all renew. These are special personal sketches prepared by our Foundation historian, Mark McConkie. If you aren’t certain when you last paid the $15.00, NOTE THE MAILING LABEL for the date of your last payment. Please use the enclosed envelope and card. If you know of living Smiths descendants that don’t receive the newsletter please send their addresses by copying the card and sending them to the return address on the newsletter or emailing to c.frogley@m.cc.utah.edu.

Thank you.

There are many Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family organizations with desires and wishes but without the resources to carry them out. As with this great celebration, the Foundation stands ready and anxious to serve by facilitating, consulting, and lending resources to find and unite the family as per our mission statement on the website at www.JosephSmithSr.org.

Your $25 donation helps
• Maintain the Nauvoo family cemetery
• Maintain and update our family database (www.josephsmithsr.org)
• Encourage and publicize grandfather reunions and other news
• Explore projects that teach about our ancestors.

Click on the following link to make your donation online: http://www.josephsmithsr.org/node/34

Grandma Emma’s Birthday

The Joseph Smith Jr. family will be gathering for their fourth time this July 7th and ending on Emma Hale Smith’s birthday the 10th of July. Over 200 family members are expected to arrive in Independence, Missouri, many from as far away as Australia where almost 1/3 of Alexander’s posterity live. There are so many fun games and activities planned for the children that a van has to drive the contents for the games to Independence from Salt Lake.

Thursday night is registration, pizza, lots of visiting, and the film at the LDS visitor’s center “Prophet of the Restoration.” Friday morning we will hear from our Australian families and then everyone has the choice throughout the day of sitting back and visiting or choosing from several activities: LDS Visitor’s Center, Independence Walking Tour, Community of Christ Temple and Museum tour, The Temple Lot, Jessie James Museum, Harry S. Truman Museum and Library, or family fun activities. In the middle of the day we will be laying a special marker for Joseph and Emma’s granddaughter Alice Fredericka, the only child of Frederick G. Williams and Anna Marie Jones Smith. Friday ends with a Luau, a variety of family talent and a spotlight on David Hyrum’s family.

Saturday we go to Liberty where Joseph was imprisoned for 6 months, and will then visit the construction of the building of the temple in Kansas City. We have special guests Andy Ehat and Matthew Brown on the buses to share why Joseph had Temples built. We will return midday for everyone to build up an appetite with the Stick Pull championships, tug of war and other games. That evening we will have special presentations and a birthday cake celebrating Grandma Emma’s birthday along with special gifts to the children and to every family that is there.

We end with a Sunday morning devotional and lots of hugs and farewells.
For more information, please see www.josephsmithjr.com.