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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume VI, Issue XI Page 21 September 15, 2002 MIDWIFE cont. from page 20 to his death. Possibly, rock dust from chiseling and pounding rock over the years damaged his lungs. The Smith’s oldest daughter married, in 1863, Benjamin Bowen. They were called on a mission to Toquerville, Utah, to settle the Dixie country. They took Julia’s youngest brother John with them. He was seven years old. After ten years, Julia divorced Benjamin Bowen and sent word to Huntsville for help to return back home. Julia’s brother Thomas came with a team and covered wagon to help her move. On the way, John, who was seventeen then, was driving a small team with a light rig to help also. They made camp one night, and the next morning, when Thomas was coming out of the wagon with his gun in hand, he stepped down from the wagon, and the hammer of the gun struck the tongue of the wagon and it discharged, striking Thomas in the arm. Young John removed the bullet. Thomas was placed in the light rig and rushed home. Grandma Smith knew her son’s condition was something she couldn’t handle, so he was taken to a doctor in Ogden. The doctor advised Thomas that his arm should be amputated, and if this were not done, he would have only one chance in a hundred to survive. Thomas refused to have the doctor do this, and in a few days he died on July 7, 1876. What a tragedy for Grandma Smith and her family to lose this fine young man at the age of twenty-eight. Upon her return to Huntsville, Julia, was a great help to her mother in keeping house and making a record of the births in her mother’s midwife book. The life story of Grandma Smith reads like a thrilling novel. She not only delivered babies, but was called on to set broken arms and legs, sew up wounds, and take care of patients who were bedfast. Her fee for delivering a baby was three dollars, which included tending the new arrival and mother for ten days. Sometimes she was paid in cash, sometimes in vegetables, or chickens or a calf, and very often nothing, since many families were barely surviving in those early years. She always tried to be cheerful, and to bring a smile and sunshine into a sick room. Bishop Francis A. Hammond’s wife was Mary Jane Dilworth, the first schoolteacher in Utah in 1847 at age 16. When she was on her deathbed, Grandma Smith stayed day and night for two weeks and nursed her for fifty cents a day until Mary Jane’s death June 6, 1877. Grandma Smith was so enthusiastic about her profession that she trained her daughter Elizabeth Jane Smith Hislop, in the art of her profession. She took Jane along to call on her patients so she could get first hand knowledge of all the different situations that was encountered in midwifery. Jane was a willing pupil, and learned very rapidly. In a short time, she was able to relieve her mother of some of her patients. This effort that Grandma Smith made to have her daughter continue the service she had rendered to the people of Ogden Valley for so many years, is another plus for this talented, wonderful person. Jane took up where her mother left off, con- To our valued customers, I apologize for the sudden closure of our Eden store. I greatly appreciate all of your loyalty and patronage, and really enjoyed getting to know all of you. The Ogden Valley is a beautiful and wonderful place, and I hope to return and serve you in the future. Sincerely, Richard B. Scott 801-745-HOLE(4653) 4920 E. 2550 N. EDEN Across from Valley Junction Inn Unveiling and dedication of the "Grandma Smith" memorial on June 24, 1938. Daughters of the Valley Day hosted the event, paying tribute to Mary who served the early pioneer families of Huntsville as doctor, midwife, and nurse. Alma L. Peterson offered the dedicatory prayer. Notice the size of the spruce trees in the background, the same ones that tower around the perimeter of the Huntsville Town Park today. tinuing to deliver babies and care for the sick for many years. When Grandma Smith was on her deathbed, Bishop David McKay came to see her. She told him of a custom in England, that when a person died that belonged to the church, the bell would toll while the casket was being carried into the church, and out. She expressed that she would like to have that custom performed, if it was not out of place in this country, and her wish was granted at her funeral. She also asked to be buried in the same grave as her husband. His grave was opened up, and her remains were placed with his, as she had requested. At her request a bouquet of ripe wheat was placed on her casket symbolizing that wheat had lived its time out, but by planting it in the ground it would rise again, which was her belief, that she would rise on the morning of the first resurrection. On December 15, 1895, Mary Heathman Smith passed away. This remarkable, energetic person brought fifteen hundred babies into the world and took the place of doctor and surgeon for the people of Ogden Valley for thirty years. |