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)

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