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Smith, Bathsheba W. Bigler, 1822-1910

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1822 - 1910

Parallel Names

  • Bigler, Bathsheba W., 1822-1910
  • Smith, Bathsheba W., 1822-1910

Biography

Bathsheba W. Smith (1855-1910) was the fourth general president of the Relief Socieites of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a leader in the western United States woman's suffrage movement.

Bathsheba W. Smith was born on May 3, 1822, in Shinnsten, Harrison County, West Virginia to Mark Bigler and Susannah Ogden. She was baptized on August 21, 1837, into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with most of her father's family. She moved for Missouri right at the time the State was preparing for war against the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints. Bathsheba witnessed first-hand the persecutions in Missouri. In the spring of 1840, her family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. She married George A. Smith, one of the twelve apostles, on July 25, 1841. Together they had four children. In 1849, she and her family arrived in the Salt Lake valley. Her family was called to settle Little Salt Lake Valley, two hundred fifty miles from Salt Lake City. Her son was killed during his mission to the Moqui Indians in 1860. Her husband died in 1876. She served in the Temple after his death. She became the General Relief Society President in 1901. She went on to be a member of the Board of Directors of Deseret Hospital and a leader in the western United States woman's suffrage movement. She passed away on September 20, 1910, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Citation:
Bathsheba W. Smith papers, 1855-1910 (Bathsheba W. Smith; b. May 3, 1822, in Shinnsten, Harrison County, West Virginia to Mark Bigler and Susannah Ogden; baptized on August 21, 1837, into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with most of her father's family; moved for Missouri right at the time the State was preparing for war against the Church of Jesus of Christ of Latter-day Saints; m. George A. Smith, one of the twelve apostles, on July 25, 1841; In 1849, she and her family arrived in the Salt Lake valley; family was called to settle Little Salt Lake Valley, two hundred fifty miles from Salt Lake City; Her son was killed during his mission to the Moqui Indians in 1860; Her husband died in 1876; served in the Temple after his death; d. September 20, 1910, in Salt Lake City, Utah) FamilySearch, April 12, 2024 (witnessed first-hand the persecutions in Missouri; In the spring of 1840, her family moved to Nauvoo, Illinois; four children) Wikipedia, April 12, 2024 (General Relief Society President in 1901; member of the Board of Directors of Deseret Hospital; leader in the western United States woman's suffrage movement)

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Bathsheba W. Bigler papers

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230351170]
Identifier: MSS 5869
Abstract

Photographs, articles, letters, receipts, a patriarchal blessing, and other personal papers of Bathsheba W. Bigler, 1855-1910.

Dates: 1855-1910

Remembering Winter Quarters/Council Bluffs writings of the Mormon pioneers at the Missouri River

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230329606]
Identifier: MSS SC 2964
Scope and Contents Compilation by Karen and Paul Larsen, of excerpts from diaries and reminiscences of Latter-day Saints who resided in the Winter Quarters/Council Bluffs area between about 1846 and 1852. Includes writings of Job Taylor Smith, Eliza Maria Patridge Lyman, Helen Mar Kimball Whitney, Aroet Lucius Hale, Anna Clark Hale, Jane Snyder Richards, Joseph Fielding, Bathsheba Wilson Bigler Smith, Lucy Meserve Smith, Richard Ballantyne, Sarah Studevant Leavitt, Alfred Boaz Lambson, Allen Joseph Stout,...
Dates: 1998

Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith autobiography

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230336791]
Identifier: MSS 920
Scope and Contents

Photocopy of a 260-page handwritten autobiography. Smith includes copies of correspondence and patriarchal blessings in her account. She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1837, lived with the Mormons in Missouri and Illinois, married George Albert Smith in 1841, allowed him to take additional wives, came to Utah in 1849, and served as president of the Relief Society.

Dates: 1844-1906

Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith letters

 Item
Identifier: Vault MSS 111
Scope and Contents

Collection includes a handwritten and signed letter dated June 15, 1904 in which Smith congratulates Jacob G. Bigler and his wife on their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Emmeline B. Wells was a scribe for the letter. Also included is a postcard from Smith to Bigler. Materials are dated 1900-1910.

Dates: 1900-1910

Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith Relief Society message

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197230352830]
Identifier: MSS 7408
Abstract

The document in this collection, written by Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith, is a Relief Society message discussing the Latter-day Saint organizations for women and the role of women in their homes.

Dates: 1903 April 30

Additional filters:

Subject
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 3
Letters 3
Relief Society 3
Autobiographies 2
Articles 1