Smith, John L. (John Lyman), 1828-1898
Dates
- Existence: 1828 - 1898
Biographical history
John Lyman Smith (1828-1898) was an American politician, and an early pioneer and missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
John Lyman Smith was born November 17, 1828, in Potsdam, New York, to parents Clarissa Lyman and John Smith. His father was the brother of Joseph Smith Sr., making John Lyman Smith the cousin of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kirtland in 1836, at the age of eight, by his father. John Lyman Smith joined the migration of the early saints as he moved with his family to Kirtland, Ohio; Missouri; Nauvoo, Illinois; and later, to the Salt Lake Valley with the Daniel Spencer/ Perrigrine Sessions Company. He served two missions in Switzerland and Italy. Smith married Augusta Bowen Cleveland on July 9, 1845, in Nauvoo, Illinois. They had eight children. In 1853, John L. was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature, and two years later, he was admitted to the bar of the territorial Supreme Court. He took a second wife, Mary Adelia Haight, in March of 1853. John worked in the Church Historian's office and was the secretary of the Legislative council in 1858. In 1866, he was elected as Justice of the Peace in the Fillmore Precinct, Millard County. He was appointed secretary of the School of Prophets and set apart as a member of the stake high council in 1869. Smith became a Justice of the Peace again in Beaver County in 1871, and in 1873 he was ordained a patriarch by Brigham Young and George A. Smith. In 1876, he began collecting tithes and offerings from the members in Washington, Kane and Iron Counties in order to finish the St. George Temple. Smith supported his family throughout his life mainly by carpentry, furniture making, farming, and practicing some law. He passed away on February 21, 1898, in St. George, Utah.
Citation:
Familysearch, via WWW, November 12, 2020 (John Lyman Smith was born November 17, 1828, in Potsdam, New York, to parents Clarissa Lyman and John Smith; Father was the brother of Joseph Smith Sr., making John Lyman Smith the cousin of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kirtland in 1836, at the age of eight, by his father. Joined the migration of the early saints as he moved with his family to Kirtland, Ohio; Missouri; Nauvoo, Illinois; and later, to the Salt Lake Valley with the Daniel Spencer/ Perrigrine Sessions Company; Served two missions in Switzerland and Italy; married Augusta Bowen Cleveland on July 9, 1845, in Nauvoo, Illinois. They had eight children. In 1853, John L. was elected to the Utah Territorial Legislature, and two years later, admitted to the bar of the territorial Supreme Court. Took a second wife, Mary Adelia Haight, in March of 1853; Worked in the Church Historian's office and was the secretary of the Legislative council in 1858. In 1866, he was elected as Justice of the Peace in the Fillmore Precinct, Millard County. Appointed secretary of the School of Prophets and set apart as a member of the stake high council in 1869. Became a Justice of the Peace again in Beaver County in 1871, and in 1873 he was ordained a patriarch by Brigham Young and George A. Smith. In 1876, began collecting tithes and offerings from the members in Washington, Kane and Iron Counties in order to finish the St. George Temple. Supported his family throughout his life mainly by carpentry, furniture making, farming, and practicing law. Passed away on February 21, 1898, in St. George, Utah.Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:
John L. Smith journals, 1846-1895
Includes journals and photocopies of journals created by John L. Smith, from 1846 to 1895. Journals discuss early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, personal history, and the missionary service of John L. Smith in Switzerland, Italy, and England. Also includes letters and photocopies of letters.
John L. Smith personal and family papers, 1792-1950
Contains priesthood blessing transcripts, legal documents, articles, letters, and other Smith family papers, dated 1792 to 1950.
Augusta Bowen Cleveland Smith papers
Handwritten correspondence, patriarchal blessings, poems, songs, and miscellaneous items. The bulk of the collection are letters between Smith and family members. The materials relate to family matters. Also included are letters from the Mormon apostle, George Albert Smith, to John L.Smith that deal with George's Mormon Church-related activities.
John L. Smith and Iona Thompson papers
Letters, poetry, legal documents, and miscellaneous items. The materials relate to sections of southern Utah primarily in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.
John L. Smith diary
Handwritten diary by John L. Smith while living in St. George, Utah. Smith records his daily activities, which included temple work at the Mormon St. George Temple, guarding the temple, and attending meetings of the Mormon Church.
John L. Smith papers
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- Collection 4
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- Diaries 3
- Latter Day Saints -- Utah -- History 3
- Social Life and Customs 3
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- Germany -- History 2
- Home and Family 2
- Italy -- History 2
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Europe -- History 2
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- Italy -- History 2
- Latter Day Saint churches -- Missions -- Switzerland -- History 2
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- Legal instruments 2
- Mormon Church -- Missions -- Swiss and Italian 2
- Mormon Church -- Missions -- Swiss, Italian, and German 2
- Photocopies 2
- Switzerland -- History 2
- Beaver (Utah) -- History 1
- Biographies 1
- Blessing 1
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 1
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- Latter Day Saint women -- Idaho -- Correspondence 1
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- Patriarchal blessings (Latter Day Saint churches) -- History 1
- Patriarchal blessings (Mormon Church) 1
- Poetry 1
- Saint George (Utah) -- History 1
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