Show GEORGE A SMITH the anniversary of the birth ot of the late president george A smith was wae pleasantly observed by a family assemblage sem blage at the residence of his son SOD elder john henry smith last evening president smith was born in the tate state of new york june 26 1817 and died in this city september 1 1876 1875 in the less leas than three score years allot allotted tei to him in life he carved out for himself a notable career among the people with whom hi his a lot W was an cas t and especially does utah bear the impress of his energy ability and wisdom he was one of her pioneers in the fullest sense not only was waa he a member of the noble band which entered these valleys in july 1847 but before and subsequent to that time he had bad shown to a marked degree his bis great capacity as a leader among the people in pioneering the way across the desert and in exploring opening up and establish ing settlements in a now new country in the journey to utah in 1847 he be walked 1700 miles much of the distance with rawhide soles on his big shoes he was six weeks without broad bread though be had bad twenty fi five ve pounds of flout flour looked locked up in his trunk unknown to others this reserve of flour floor he be distributed by cupfuls to the he sick nick of the company several of whom owed the preservation of their lives live to this action he devoted great attention to the sick and the poor when in winter quarters iowa the people suffered buffered beatly from disease through lack of vegetable diet he urged the cul tiva tion of the potato as a remedy and under his bis advice the small quantity of seed that could be obtained was planted the yield being marvelously heavy he was familiarly called the potato saint y l and on his arrival in the great salt bait La lake keval val ley he planted the first potatoes put into utah soil under adverse circumstances and great hardships be explored central and southern utah establishing colonies at several points and was recognized as the father of the southern out bern settlements the city of bt at george washington county being named in his honor he was waa one or of the foremost advocates and support supporter erg of home industry and of commer commercial efra relations among the people that would tend to make them self sustaining by developing natural resources resource that the territory ever has had As a senator of the provisional state of deseret he i presented the first bill printed for c the consideration of the legislators 11 in this region one for the organization of the judiciary and also presented bill in relation to the construction of transcontinental railway hi career in public affairs closed only with hi demise and presents an example of unexcelled devotion and integrity whatever brother george A oil did he did well 1 As a preacher president smith was wa exceedingly popular his sermons 1 were short and be was seldom known to speak longer than half an hour but 1 his remarks were fraught with wisdom and good practical advice and bristled with anecdotes and reminiscence reminisce noea of the most interesting and instructive character he bad a remarkably pow 1 erful memory which was put to able service there are many thousands in utah I 1 even among the younger men find and women who have a clear personal recollection of president smith and I 1 recall his memory with feelings of strong affection he was one of the great men of utah whose efforts always were put forth for purity and love and truth and as such his memo ry goes down to succeeding generations the good that he be did lives after him to benefit and blew bless the people |