Samuel Harrison Smith
Encyclopedia
Samuel Harrison Smith (13 March 1808 – 30 July 1844) was one of the younger brothers of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement
. Samuel was a leader in his own right and a successful missionary. Smith is commonly regarded as the first Latter Day Saint missionary following the organization of the Church of Christ by his brother Joseph. One of the Eight Witnesses
to the Book of Mormon
's golden plates
, Samuel Smith remained devoted to his brother and his church throughout his life.
to Joseph Smith, Sr.
, and Lucy Mack Smith
, Samuel moved with his family to western New York
by the 1820s. When Smith's father missed a mortgage payment on the family farm
on the outskirts of Manchester Township
, near Palmyra
, a local Quaker named Lemuel Durfee purchased the land and allowed the Smiths to continue to live there in exchange for Samuel's labor at Durfee's store.
, who had become the first baptized Latter Day Saint on May 15, 1829 (Joseph Smith
had been baptized immediately after Cowdery).
At the end of June 1829, Samuel, along with his brother Hyrum
, his father, and several men of the Peter Whitmer, Sr.
family, signed a joint statement declaring their testimony of the golden plates
that Joseph Smith claimed to have translated into the Book of Mormon
. The witnesses stated that "we did handle [the golden plates] with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereo". This "Testimony of the Eight Witnesses" was printed as the final page of the Book of Mormon and is still included in the preface of most current editions.
Smith became one of the first six members of the Church of Christ when it was organized on April 6, 1830.
where he gave John P. Greene
a copy of the Book of Mormon
, which not only led to Greene joining the church but also Greene's brother-in-law Brigham Young
.
In December 1830 Smith went on a mission to Kirtland, Ohio
to follow up on the success of Oliver Cowdery
and Parley P. Pratt
in teaching at that location. Smith later went on a mission with Reynolds Cahoon
in which they traveled to Missouri in 1831. During this mission they taught and baptized William E. McLellin
. This mission also involved some of the first Latter Day Saint missionary work in Indiana, involving preaching at Unionville, Indiana
, Madison, Indiana
and Vienna, Indiana
.
In June 1832 Smith and Orson Hyde
were the first Latter Day Saint missionaries to preach in Connecticut
. Also in June 1832 Smith and Hyde went to Boston. Due to their efforts branches were established in both Boston and New Rowley, Massachusetts. In July 1832, Smith and Hyde went to Providence, Rhode Island
; they baptized two people but due to threats of violence left the state after being there only twelve days. In September 1832, Smith and Hyde were the first Latter Day Saint missionaries to preach in Maine. On this 1832 mission Smith and Hyde also baptized people in Spafford, New York
.
" of the church — at the time the chief judicial and legislative body — was organized on February 17, 1834, Samuel was one of twelve men called to be high councilors. Later that year, Samuel married Mary Bailey, his first wife, with whom he had four children.
In 1835 Smith was made a general agent for the firm in charge of publishing a Latter Day Saint hymnal
and school books for children, thus working closely with Emma Smith and William W. Phelps.
Smith moved with his family to Far West, Missouri
in 1838 and took part in the subsequent Mormon War that took place in northwestern Missouri that year. At the Battle of Crooked River
, Smith fought next to apostle David W. Patten
, who subsequently died from wounds received in the skirmish. As a result of the conflict, the Latter Day Saints were expelled from Missouri and Smith moved with the main body to their new headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois
. Due to his role in the Battle of Crooked River Smith fled Missouri almost immediately, along with Lorenzo D. Young, Benjamin L. Clapp
and Charles C. Rich
.
In 1839 Smith settled in the general vicinity of Macomb, Illinois
.
, were assassinated
in 1844 while held in Carthage Jail
, in Illinois. Samuel, risking attack by a mob, traveled to the jail and retrieved his brothers' bodies. Some church members assumed that Samuel would succeed his brother Joseph as the president of the Latter Day Saint church (see Lineal Succession (Latter Day Saints)). However, Samuel fell ill shortly after their deaths and died just one month later, possibly from internal injuries he suffered while fleeing the mob on horseback on the day his brothers were murdered. The cause of death was attributed to "bilious fever". Eleven years after Samuel's death, the sole remaining Smith brother, William, charged that Brigham Young
had arranged for Samuel to be poisoned to prevent his accession to the presidency. William Smith's charges were not pursued by legal authorities.
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
. Samuel was a leader in his own right and a successful missionary. Smith is commonly regarded as the first Latter Day Saint missionary following the organization of the Church of Christ by his brother Joseph. One of the Eight Witnesses
Eight Witnesses
The Eight Witnesses were one of the two groups of witnesses who signed a statement stating that they had seen the golden plates which Joseph Smith, Jr. said was his source material for the book...
to the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
's golden plates
Golden Plates
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith...
, Samuel Smith remained devoted to his brother and his church throughout his life.
Early life
Born in Tunbridge, VermontTunbridge, Vermont
Tunbridge is a town in Orange County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,309. The town consists of three village centers, all situated on Vermont Route 110 in the valley of the first branch of the White River...
to Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr.
Joseph Smith, Sr. was the father of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Joseph Sr. was also one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, which Mormons believe was translated by Joseph Jr. from the Golden Plates. In 1833 Joseph Sr...
, and Lucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith
Lucy Mack Smith was the mother of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. She is most noted for writing an award-winning memoir: Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith, the Prophet, and His Progenitors for Many Generations. She was an important leader of the movement during...
, Samuel moved with his family to western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
by the 1820s. When Smith's father missed a mortgage payment on the family farm
Smith Family Farm
The Smith Family Farm was the boyhood home of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.The farm—located in the townships of Palmyra, Wayne County and Manchester, Ontario County, New York—includes the Sacred Grove, the Smiths' restored frame home and a reconstructed log home...
on the outskirts of Manchester Township
Manchester, New York
Manchester, New York is both a town and a village located in Ontario County, New York.*Manchester , New York*Manchester , New York...
, near Palmyra
Palmyra (town), New York
Palmyra is a town in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 7,672 at the 2000 census. The town is named after the ancient city Palmyra in Syria....
, a local Quaker named Lemuel Durfee purchased the land and allowed the Smiths to continue to live there in exchange for Samuel's labor at Durfee's store.
Book of Mormon witness and church establishment
On May 25, 1829, Smith became the third person baptized as a Latter Day Saint. Smith was baptized by Oliver CowderyOliver Cowdery
Oliver H. P. Cowdery was, with Joseph Smith, Jr., an important participant in the formative period of the Latter Day Saint movement between 1829 and 1836, becoming one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's golden plates, one of the first Latter Day Saint apostles, and the Second Elder of...
, who had become the first baptized Latter Day Saint on May 15, 1829 (Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith was founder of what later became known as the Latter Day Saint movement or Mormons.Joseph Smith may also refer to:-Latter Day Saints:* Joseph Smith, Sr. , father of Joseph Smith...
had been baptized immediately after Cowdery).
At the end of June 1829, Samuel, along with his brother Hyrum
Hyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith was an American religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement. He was the older brother of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr....
, his father, and several men of the Peter Whitmer, Sr.
Peter Whitmer, Sr.
Peter Whitmer, Sr. was an early member of the Latter Day Saint movement, and father of the movement's second founding family.Peter Whitmer, Sr. was born April 14, 1773 in Pennsylvania and married Mary Elsa Musselman. The Whitmers had eight children together: Christian, Jacob, John, David,...
family, signed a joint statement declaring their testimony of the golden plates
Golden Plates
According to Latter Day Saint belief, the golden plates are the source from which Joseph Smith, Jr. translated the Book of Mormon, a sacred text of the faith...
that Joseph Smith claimed to have translated into the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. The witnesses stated that "we did handle [the golden plates] with our hands; and we also saw the engravings thereo". This "Testimony of the Eight Witnesses" was printed as the final page of the Book of Mormon and is still included in the preface of most current editions.
Smith became one of the first six members of the Church of Christ when it was organized on April 6, 1830.
Latter Day Saint missionary
At the next church conference, Smith was ordained one of the church's earliest elders. Smith was a successful missionary and served a number of missions. His first mission involved going to Mendon, New YorkMendon, New York
Mendon is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States, and an affluent suburb of Rochester, New York. The population was 9,152 at the 2010 census.The Town of Mendon is on the south border of the county...
where he gave John P. Greene
John P. Greene
John Portineus Greene was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement.Greene was born in Herkimer, New York. He was a Methodist minister at Mendon, New York. He was friends with Heber C. Kimball and they claimed to witness "signs in the heavens" on September 22, 1827...
a copy of the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, which not only led to Greene joining the church but also Greene's brother-in-law Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
.
In December 1830 Smith went on a mission to Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
to follow up on the success of Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver H. P. Cowdery was, with Joseph Smith, Jr., an important participant in the formative period of the Latter Day Saint movement between 1829 and 1836, becoming one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon's golden plates, one of the first Latter Day Saint apostles, and the Second Elder of...
and Parley P. Pratt
Parley P. Pratt
Parley Parker Pratt, Sr. was a leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of Quorum of the Twelve Apostles from 1835 until his murder in 1857. He served in the Quorum with his younger brother, Orson Pratt...
in teaching at that location. Smith later went on a mission with Reynolds Cahoon
Reynolds Cahoon
Reynolds Cahoon was an early leader in Latter Day Saint movement and later, in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was one of the inaugural members of the Council of Fifty, organized by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1844....
in which they traveled to Missouri in 1831. During this mission they taught and baptized William E. McLellin
William E. McLellin
William Earl M'Lellin was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement. One of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, M'Lellin later broke with church founder, Joseph Smith, Jr.-Biography:M'Lellin was born in Smith County, Tennessee, a son of Charles M'Lellin...
. This mission also involved some of the first Latter Day Saint missionary work in Indiana, involving preaching at Unionville, Indiana
Unionville, Indiana
Unionville is an unincorporated town in Benton Township, Monroe County, Indiana.The Unionville Post Office is located at 8031 E St. Rd. 45. Across the street is , which was once Unionville High School....
, Madison, Indiana
Madison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
and Vienna, Indiana
Vienna, Indiana
Vienna is an unincorporated town in Vienna Township, Scott County, Indiana.-Geography:Vienna is located at .Was at one time the largest city in Scott County. Having multiple stores, saloons, hotels and a brothel...
.
In June 1832 Smith and Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde
Orson Hyde was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
were the first Latter Day Saint missionaries to preach in Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. Also in June 1832 Smith and Hyde went to Boston. Due to their efforts branches were established in both Boston and New Rowley, Massachusetts. In July 1832, Smith and Hyde went to Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
; they baptized two people but due to threats of violence left the state after being there only twelve days. In September 1832, Smith and Hyde were the first Latter Day Saint missionaries to preach in Maine. On this 1832 mission Smith and Hyde also baptized people in Spafford, New York
Spafford, New York
Spafford is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,661 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Horatio Gates Spafford, a writer and founder of the local library....
.
High council and other church service
When the first "high councilHigh council (Mormonism)
In Mormonism, a high council is one of several different governing bodies that have existed in the church hierarchy on many Latter-day Saint denominations...
" of the church — at the time the chief judicial and legislative body — was organized on February 17, 1834, Samuel was one of twelve men called to be high councilors. Later that year, Samuel married Mary Bailey, his first wife, with whom he had four children.
In 1835 Smith was made a general agent for the firm in charge of publishing a Latter Day Saint hymnal
Collection of Sacred Hymns (Kirtland, Ohio)
A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of the Latter Day Saints. was the first hymnal of the Latter Day Saint movement. It was published in 1835 by the Church of the Latter Day Saints.Emma Smith selected 90 hymn texts for the hymnal...
and school books for children, thus working closely with Emma Smith and William W. Phelps.
Smith moved with his family to Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri
Far West, Missouri, was a Latter Day Saint settlement in Caldwell County, Missouri.-Foundation and early history:The town was founded by Missouri Mormon leaders, W. W. Phelps and John Whitmer in August 1836 shortly before the county's creation. The town was platted originally as a square area,...
in 1838 and took part in the subsequent Mormon War that took place in northwestern Missouri that year. At the Battle of Crooked River
Battle of Crooked River
The Battle of Crooked River was a skirmish between Latter Day Saint forces and Missouri state militia unit from southeast of Elmira, Missouri in Ray County under the command of Samuel Bogart...
, Smith fought next to apostle David W. Patten
David W. Patten
David Wyman Patten was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and an original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles...
, who subsequently died from wounds received in the skirmish. As a result of the conflict, the Latter Day Saints were expelled from Missouri and Smith moved with the main body to their new headquarters in Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
. Due to his role in the Battle of Crooked River Smith fled Missouri almost immediately, along with Lorenzo D. Young, Benjamin L. Clapp
Benjamin L. Clapp
Benjamin Lynn Clapp was an early Mormon leader and member of the First Seven Presidents of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints....
and Charles C. Rich
Charles C. Rich
Charles Coulson Rich was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served as an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....
.
In 1839 Smith settled in the general vicinity of Macomb, Illinois
Macomb, Illinois
Macomb is a city in and the county seat of McDonough County, Illinois, United States. It is situated in western Illinois southwest of Galesburg. The population was 18,588 at the 2000 census. Macomb is the home of Western Illinois University.- Geography :...
.
Family
Smith's wife Mary died in Nauvoo in 1841 and he married Lavira Clark later that year. Smith and Lavira had three children together.Death
Smith's brothers, Joseph and HyrumHyrum Smith
Hyrum Smith was an American religious leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement. He was the older brother of the movement's founder, Joseph Smith, Jr....
, were assassinated
Death of Joseph Smith, Jr.
The death of Joseph Smith, Jr. on June 27, 1844 marked a turning point for the Latter Day Saint movement, of which Smith was the founder and leader. When he was attacked and killed by a mob, Smith was the mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois, and running for President of the United States...
in 1844 while held in Carthage Jail
Carthage Jail
Carthage Jail, located in Carthage, Illinois, was the location of the death of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his brother Hyrum by a mob of approximately 150 men. Friends John Taylor and Willard Richards were also members of the incarcerated party, but were not...
, in Illinois. Samuel, risking attack by a mob, traveled to the jail and retrieved his brothers' bodies. Some church members assumed that Samuel would succeed his brother Joseph as the president of the Latter Day Saint church (see Lineal Succession (Latter Day Saints)). However, Samuel fell ill shortly after their deaths and died just one month later, possibly from internal injuries he suffered while fleeing the mob on horseback on the day his brothers were murdered. The cause of death was attributed to "bilious fever". Eleven years after Samuel's death, the sole remaining Smith brother, William, charged that Brigham Young
Brigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
had arranged for Samuel to be poisoned to prevent his accession to the presidency. William Smith's charges were not pursued by legal authorities.