| Show I USEFUL LIFE OF MAN WHO HO j T HAS BEEN CALLED FROM EARTH Comment in the Affairs of Hi His s Church From Franl Early Manhood He Attained High Place in Its Counsels Counsels Active Active in Business and a Work er for Best Interests of Ad Adopted City and State jJohn Jhn ohn Henry Henl Smith was born at CarI Car- Car I Iowa September IS 18 1818 1848 He lIe the son of ot the lat late President Smith v nd d S Sarah Srah rah Ann Smith His i rents had been driven from froni Illinois nd Missouri with the rest of oC the mcm- mcm ers of the church and it was while hey were at now nov Council Bluffs lutts that their son was born His ather rather the late Pre President George Georg-e A A. mith had accompanied President M Young Young- and anti the tho first company compan I f t pioneers to the Great Salt Lake LakeI I alley ralley the year eRr before and with some 2 J if t f them had also returned to the MisI Mis- Mis I river Upon his arrival there he lie 1 to make preparations for Cor he removal of or liisi tamB family to the new of ot the church but It was wasat ot lot until the summer of 1849 that the I began their journey we westward 1 rpm pm the Missouri river and John enry was just past one year ear of oC age e hen the family arrived In Salt Lake LakeI I Itt ity Here lIeT on June Junc I 12 1851 his other lother died or of consumption and after er er death he lie was as placed under the he care I f. f his hh mothers mother's sister Hannah Maria larIa e rho was also one of his fathers father's wives wl 1 nil nd to her he owed much of oC his lila future j and education tf Owing to the frequent and pro- pro I lODged absences of ot his father from orne om-e. the lad Jad was almost exclusively Binder the tuition of ot his aunt His 4 thors thor's family became widely I T soon after their arrival in Utah I r Hs residing In Salt Lake CIt City and others in Parowan while his wives UC and Hannah were during the summer of ot 1852 removed to Provo In town the lad spent his early life I EUS IS S BOYHOOD DAYS The days of or his boyhood passed In a manner to that thal o of other sons 1 Jf the pioneers and one of ot his first J r was in herding cattle on onI I the Uhe Provo Pro bench and along the bot 1 toms toms' on the shores of ot Utah lake He lie lieI I was Vas a large largo and powerful bo boy and was always considered a genial Denial na good companion by his friends For several years after the first settlement ot of Provo the Indians were exceedingly troublesome and thou though h but a boy 1 John ohn Henry Benr participated in man many ad- ad rr Ventures at one time being shot at L ut nt fortunately escaping without inc in- in c ury lury When hen he lie was fourteen years ears of ot ge he ho had a a. narrow escape from In the Provo river during during- the water high season and remained so 80 Ion a time below the water that thal his rUfe life was vas despaired but hut his remarkable vItalIty stood tood him In good stead and i ihen hen ho lie finally came to the surface J 11 Was as t-oon t resuscitated i c ho lie advanced In years cars he removed tO Salt Lake Lako City and attended 1 the that were then In existence iThe e educational conditions in Utah then ere rere necessarily crude and imperfect 1 id d his education was received ell more J om his experiences In life life- and from f he teachings s of his mother foster 1 ban from books II At the ago ae of ot eighteen hleen ho married Is us first wife Miss MUs Sarah tarah Farr Parr daugh- daugh 9 tr r of tho the Honorable Loren Farr of or and she has ever been a true nd id devoted helpmeet to her husband huband en en years ears later he married Miss lIss Joephine Jo- Jo ephine daughter of ot Klch- Klch as an elder eider in the church Upon his marriage to Miss Farr The e young youn couple removed to Provo John Henry Henr Smith was employed em em- j toyed as a telegrapher While nJ ng there he was chosen as councilor coun coun- elior to Bishop W W. Yo A. A f t the Fourth ward of that town Then the transcontinental railway vas as nearing completion he left Provo nd d entered the service of ot Farr r West and assisted them in ng WO miles mlles of ot line of ot the Central pacific railroad which tho they had con- con to build Upon the completion f ft fc this work Governor Go Leland Stanford Stanord Stanord Stan Stan- ord ford of ot California of offered the young nn an a good position In Sacramento ut t as his father desired him to re- re urn ur to Sail Salt Lake City he declined the frer lIo iio wag as his fathers father's frequent compan- compan on on his travels throughout hout the ter- ter 1 Hory ol and from these journeys journe's he lie derived much of or his acquaintance with the prominent men of oC the community This Tills privilege e also afforded him an op opportunity op- op to acquire an education which could not be obtained from Crom books and liow ow eagerly he ho grasped ItIs it itis itis is shown In the tIle of oC his char charac character e- e etel tel ter and life Ufe At the session of oC the territorial LegIslature Legislature Legislature Leg Leg- o of 1872 John Henr Henry Smith was Smith was as appointed assistant clerk of oC the House of ot Representatives and from Crom this time e dated dAte l the beginning of his career in civil matters In the same year ho he was chosen assistant clerk of or the constitutional constitutional constitutional convention con In May Ia 1874 he lie was called to go o on ona a mission to Europe b by President Brigham Brigham Brig Brig- ham Young Youns He lie left Utah on June 2 29 9 of or that year car and arrived in New ew York on JUl July 4 4 an and l before beCore sailing paid a short visit to his mothers mother's brothers then residents of Now Ne Hampshire lIe He arrived In Liverpool England on July 26 6 and arid reported to his cousin Joseph F. F Smith then president of or the European European Euro Euro- mission B By him he lie was assigned to the dut duty or br a traveling elder eider in the Birmingham conference under the dl di din of ot Elder Richard V. V Morris While en engaged aged on 00 this work h he visited most of or the conferences s of ot Great Britain Brit Brit- am ain and also accompanied President Joseph F F. Smith Elder F. F M. M Lyman and other high officers of ot the mission to Denmark Germany German Switzerland and France After the lapse of ot a a. year he heas heas heas as as called to Utah by tho sickness of ot his father and reached Salt Lake CIt City In time to spend fifteen days at his lathers fathers bedside previous to his death on OlL September 1 t 1875 IS APPOINTED BISHOP He again took up the tho active work of the church In Utah an and l on Novem Novem- her ber er 2 2 1875 was appointed bishop of ot the Seventeenth ward ard for Salt Sail Lake CIl City which position he lie filled with ef efficiency ef- ef nc- nc and zeal for tor five years DurIng During Dur- Dur Ing ng this period he lie was as also employed b by the Utah Central Railway company compan At the general conference of ot the church in October 1880 the first pres pros of oC the church was reorganized and Elders Eldors Francis M. M Lyman and John Henry Smith were call called d to fill till vacancies vacancies va n va- va In the quorum of oC the twelve apostles being ordained on the da day of ot that month In the tho first months of or 1882 when the Tucker polygamy anti bill was before Con Congress ress Apostles John Henry Henn Smith and Moses Thatcher wore vore sent to Washington to assist George Q Cannon the del delegate ate from Utah In preventing pre tho the passage of oC this act but their labors were unsuccessful Upon three subsequent occasions Apostle Smith has visited Washington in the Interest of ot the people of ot Utah In 1802 he ho w went nt to the capital to aid In fn ing the admission of ot Utah as a state and In the ear early part of ot 1900 he ho again visited that cIt city in Iii the endeavor to modify the sentiments of ot the leading men of the country countr and their attitude in rc regard ard to the tho members of or the ch church u Ho lie was again called to go on a mission mission mis mIs- 1 sion Ion to England land b I n by President John Talor Tay Tay- lor br this time Ume October 1882 to act as l f ac enl ot or the European mission While there he lie visited tho the conferences con con- s in Fn England Jand and traveled ex ex- ex eh in France and Ital Italy being absent absent ab ab- ab- ab sent from home a period of or twentynine twenty twenty- nine months Upon his return he found the th whole state In a turmoil due lue to the arrests and prosecutions then lien being beIng- made macic under authority of or tho the Edmunds- Edmunds Tucker act Ho He wa was arrested upon tho the prevailing charge charge charAc unlawful tion but tion-but but was wa discharged on account of ot the lack of ot evidence e I In addition to his duties In tho ho work ot of developing developing the church Apostle Smith took an active part in the po political po- po affairs of oC the he state slate In Fob Feb Juar 1876 C ho lie was sas a member of ot the Salt Lake City council and served ed for Cor six l years cars 0 as a 3 councilman In Inu August u 1881 he was elected a member of or the tho territorial Legislature JOINS REPUBLICAN PARTY Upon the of tho the Peoples People's party and the upon national political lines lie was or one of or the first t tto to a advocate tho principles of tho the Re lie- publican party and ever e since hat had been an active f worker In that part party parly 11 Lie o was of the convention that formed the tue constitution under which Utah was admitted Into tho lie Union as a state stale tier der i Since Smith his devoted call to the thc apO apostleship EIdor El El- El practically all nil ot or his time to lo public duties Except when abs absent nt from the tho country on missions he be trav traveled led almost constantly among the stakes lR of or the tho church attending conferences Instructing and In lug ing the tho members organizing org and setting set set- Un ting In order raer the stakes and anti lIe He visited ever every stake of the church In Utah many of or them Several times umes including those In Old Mexico l and dif ferent states and antI territories of or the United States and Canada He lIe also made a to tour of ot the Southern States mission In 1899 1891 doln doing considerable erable preaching both there and on his way ay Ho was WIlS a n delegate ato to several of or the sessions of ot the Iram Trans Mississippi and Irrigation congress ress and anil upon the tho ad adS ad- ad S of oC tho the la last laMI t one held In Houston Tex April 1900 he lie In company com corn pany Ilan with Pre President Geor George e Q Cannon Cannon Cannon Can Can- non and others made an extensive trip through h Mexico In 1901 at the session of ot tho the Trans Trans- Mississippi 1 Commercial congress held at Cripple Creek Colo Cob Mr Ir Smith wa was elected president of the congress and pr presided over lib III dellb deliberations S So bo closely had hind his time been ben devoted to nubile affairs and arid to th the tho affairs of ot the church that he lie had not lime time timeto to devote ote to an any extensive e personal business R H Tie lie wa was however how how- vcr ever conn connected ted with a number of or tim tho leading beading g Institutions of oi the the tho state as aa an Rn officer and director In tn which positions po- po po positions ho he exhibited tho the same name ability nIl MU tor prist n that marked his hla whole life litE By nature and training he was admirably ad lul- equipped for tor public duties He Ho had a R thorough knowledge of ot human nature natureS and an extensive acquaintance with prominent men not only In Utah but In the whole country countr as wen well The These e qualifications together with his faculty t for tor making and holding friends fitted him admirably for tor the positions and labors that fell teU to him to perform HIS STRAIGHTFORWARD VARD LITE LIFE His Hie easy natural and unassuming manner were ere the outward signs of ot his hie straightforward character and be bespoke bespoke be- be spoke the possession of or courage of the highest type These qualities Impressed impressed im ira- pressed all with whom he came In contact contact con con- tact with his sincerity no matter how opposed the they may have been to his hll views His JUs happy disposition always enabled him him to take tb the most cheerful view of ot conditions no matter how discouraging discouraging dis dis- their aspect lIe Ho was vas quick to discern an and l appreciate the good qualities of oC others was ever eyer thoughtful thought thought- ful tul of ot their welfare and was broadminded broadminded broadminded broad- broad minded In his views He possessed the tho same good qualities of ot heart as of ot mind and was vas liberal almost to a fault D By his continuous upright course In life hUe he established a 3 reputation for Inte Integrity and honesty honest and gained the confidence and esteem of ot all the people people peo pea pie of ot the state As a public speaker President Smith was convincing forceful and eloquent with the eloquence that comes from sincere earnestness in his private ate conversation con he exhibited the same Flame force torce and was always an interesting and entertaining entertaining- talker Perhaps tho the greatest secret of his career and which aided allIed him in so much in his successful I life was was' his hie great Teat magnetism nH the tho ma magnetism mag I of oC pure love for human humanity It His career and life Ife were such as to make it a treasured memory memon to his posterity posterity poster poster- it ity and the church of oC his choice When hen the history of oC the rise and development development develop develop- ment of ot Utah shall be written his name will stand stanl high In the ranks of ot the men who have accomplished great deeds and who have built up a commonwealth commonwealth com corn from Crom a desert John Henr Henry Smith was elevated to S counselor of ot tho first of ot the this church dt Bt it its ItA October denov denoy conference In 1910 and nd had hall held hald that position only a a. little moro more than year ear eor the tho death of or John R. R Winder H ti the spring of 1910 havIng hayIng hav- hav Ing r resulted lh iii tho the vacancy John Henry Smith was president of ot the constitutional convention con which formulated Utah's laws law after Utah had been given ghen statehood Politically he had been an enthusiastic Republican and had continued actively in the In Interest Interest interest In- In terest of ot hl his Party up to five years ago when hien he lie retired from political life lite FAVORED HOME INDUSTRIES Home Industries had always been en encouraged encouraged encouraged en- en by Mr Smith and for tor man many years eurs he had stood in the front rank of ot the movement mo His HII interest In these activities won his renown broadcast He lie had always taken Interest In the tho Trans-Mississippi Trans Commercial congress holding various positions in the or organization organization or- or finally being elevated to the head 11 of oC tho the organization over which I h he h presided durin during II its Ite annual convention conven conven- tion in St St. Paul In 1902 The organization of ot the Irrigation congress cons found Mr 11 Smith one of ot its most active members and In that or organization organization or- or he lie had hind been a member of or Important committees Because of oC his keen Into progressive Q Irrigation InIga- InIga ton tion Its wants and needs his counsel had always been sought and his advice had hinti always been held In highest re respect respect respect re- re b by members of or respective IrrIgation irrigation irrigation tion con congresses In Utah as a a. business man Mr Ir Smith held extensive interests He was a member of the executive o board of ot the Utah Utah-I Utah Idaho aho Sugar |
