Interim Content

Smith, Samuel Harrison

Biography

13 Mar. 1808–30 July 1844. Farmer, logger, scribe, builder, tavern operator. Born at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811; to Norwich, Windsor Co., 1813; and to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816–Jan. 1817. Member of Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, early 1820s. Moved to Manchester, Ontario Co., 1825. Baptized by Oliver Cowdery, May 1829, at Harmony (later in Oakland), Susquehanna Co., Pennsylvania. One of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, June 1829. Among six original members of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 Apr. 1830. Ordained an elder, 9 June 1830, at Fayette, Seneca Co., New York. Began mission to New York, 30 June 1830. Appointed to preach in Ohio, Dec. 1830. With Orson Pratt, journeyed from New York to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio; arrived, 27 Feb. 1831. Ordained a high priest by Lyman Wight, 4 June 1831. Served mission to Missouri with Reynolds Cahoon, 1831. Served mission to eastern U.S. with Orson Hyde, 1832. Attended organizational meeting of School of the Prophets, 22–23 Jan. 1833, in Kirtland. Appointed member of first Kirtland high council, 17 Feb. 1834. Married first Mary Bailey, 13 Aug. 1834, at Kirtland. Committee member and general agent for Literary Firm in Kirtland, 1835. Stockholder in Kirtland Safety Society. Appointed president of Kirtland high council, 2 Oct. 1837. Moved to Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, where he lived briefly before moving to Marrowbone, Daviess Co., Missouri, 1838. Participated in skirmish at Crooked River, near Ray Co., Missouri, 25 Oct. 1838. Among first Latter-day Saints to seek refuge at Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, 1838. Hired to farm for George Miller near Macomb, McDonough Co., Illinois, Mar. 1839. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, 1841. Wife died, Jan. 1841. Appointed a bishop at Nauvoo, 1841. Nauvoo city alderman, 1841–1842. Appointed guard in Nauvoo Legion, Mar. 1841. Married second Levira Clark, 30 May 1841, in Scott Co., Illinois. Appointed a regent of University of Nauvoo. Moved to Plymouth, Hancock Co., Jan. 1842. Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge. Member of Nauvoo City Council, 1842–1843. Died at Nauvoo.

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