The Loss Of 4 Smith Brothers In Nauvoo

[Tacenda]

Has anyone mentioned William?  

[JulieM]

Has anyone mentioned William?

I did above

[HappyJackWagon]

As a side note; I'll bet you hear even less about Joseph's sisters.  Sophronia, Catherine, & Lucy.

[ALarson]

As a side note; I'll bet you hear even less about Joseph's sisters.  Sophronia, Catherine, & Lucy.

I would think that their lives would be interesting to study too (and to find any of their writings if they left any).  All 3 sisters died in Illinois.  Sophronia at age 73 years (she was 2 years older than Joseph); Catherine died at age 88 (she was 7 years younger than Joseph); and Lucy died when she was 61 years old (she was 16 years younger than Joseph).  I know at least some of them were active in the then RLDS church.

 

Totally off topic, but I find it interesting that Lucy Smith (Joseph's Mother) died in the care of Emma (IIRC).  I think she lived with Emma.  

Edited August 19, 2015 by ALarson

[nosmelone]

The Joseph Smith Papers Podcast has multiple podcasts on the whole family that will clear up most all of this for anyone willing to download it. I have spent countless hours listening to all the JSP Podcasts while riding too and from work...they are excellent. Don Carlos is said to have been the best looking Smith. Emma herself attested to that. Just for the record it was Don Carlos's widow who had contracted typhoid fever and was living in California. Porter Rockwell had ran into her and she was the person who he cut his hair for. It was used to make her a wig. He stayed low for a while until it started to grow back. I love that story because it shows Porters love for all the Smith family (by marriage or not).

On the subject of William his fights with Joseph are legendary...once again check them out on the JSP website.

[williamsmith]

The church has clearly been covering up the details of their deaths. One has to wonder why. 

 

That's certainly how anti-mormons look at everything related to the Church.

If you don't talk about something, thinking there's nothing relevant about it concerning the Church or Gospel, then you are "hiding" it and being "dishonest".

 

Anti-mormons falsely confuse "lack of relevance and emphasis" with being the same as "dishonesty" and "covering up" the truth.

Edited August 19, 2015 by williamsmith

[jkwilliams]

That's certainly how anti-mormons look at everything related to the Church.

If you don't talk about something, thinking there's nothing relevant about it concerning the Church or Gospel, then you are "hiding" it and being "dishonest".

 

Anti-mormons falsely confuse "lack of relevance and emphasis" with being the same as "dishonesty" and "covering up" the truth.

 

That's why I said that, because I'm an anti-Mormon, or at least that's one someone told me I am today.

[nosmelone]

I would think that their lives would be interesting to study too (and to find any of their writings if they left any).  All 3 sisters died in Illinois.  Sophronia at age 73 years (she was 2 years older than Joseph); Catherine died at age 88 (she was 7 years younger than Joseph); and Lucy died when she was 61 years old (she was 16 years younger than Joseph).  I know at least some of them were active in the then RLDS church.

 

Totally off topic, but I find it interesting that Lucy Smith (Joseph's Mother) died in the care of Emma (IIRC).  I think she lived with Emma.

I find it interesting that Lucy Smith lived with her as well but apparently they were very close. It is interesting that even after the whole RLDS vs LDS split took place many LDS leaders visited her in Emma's home on a regular basis when ever stopping through about church duties (such as serving missions)and she enjoyed their visits and vice versa.

[ALarson]

The Joseph Smith Papers Podcast has multiple podcasts on the whole family that will clear up most all of this for anyone willing to download it. I have spent countless hours listening to all the JSP Podcasts while riding too and from work...they are excellent. Don Carlos is said to have been the best looking Smith. Emma herself attested to that. Just for the record it was Don Carlos's widow who had contracted typhoid fever and was living in California. Porter Rockwell had ran into her and she was the person who he cut his hair for. It was used to make her a wig. He stayed low for a while until it started to grow back. I love that story because it shows Porters love for all the Smith family (by marriage or not).

On the subject of William his fights with Joseph are legendary...once again check them out on the JSP website.

That's all very interesting, thanks for posting this.  I will look into those podcasts too.

 

Don Carlos's widow was Agnes Moulton Coolbrith and I've been reading more about her today.  Here's some info on her:

AGNES MOULTON COOLBRITH: (Sealed January 6, 1842)

Born July 9, 1808, the third of eight children, Agnes Moulton Coolbrith joined the Church in Boston on June 26, 1832. She traveled to Ohio and although she was eight years older than Don Carlos Smith, brother of the Prophet, they wed on July 30, 1835. Two years later on May 7, they left for Missouri where they stayed until February 1839. By November they were situated in Nauvoo. Two years later on August 7, 1841, Don Carlos passed away. 1

Five months later, Joseph Smith was sealed to Agnes. Brigham Young’s journal for January 6, 1842 records: “I was taken in to the lodge J Smith was Agness” (italics added). 2 The word “was” probably stands for “wed and sealed.” 3

Whether it was for “time only,” “eternity only,” or “time and eternity” is not known. However, if Joseph’s marriage to her was to follow the Old Testament Levirate marriage custom where a man marries his brother’s widow to raise up seed to him, the sealing would have been for either “time only” or “time and eternity.” ...Since there is no evidence of offspring, the type of sealing will probably never be known.

... An 1892 account from Mary Ann West, who lived with Agnes in Nauvoo after Don Carlos’ death, states: “She [Agnes] told me herself she was [married to Joseph Smith]. She said it was the wish of her husband, Don Carlos that she should marry him [Joseph].” 

 

 

http://josephsmithspolygamy.org/history-2/plural-wives-overview/biographies-of-josephs-plural-wives/

 

She was later married to George Albert Smith and then to William Pickett who took her out to California.  

 

Don Carlos and Agnes's youngest daughter was named Josephine Donna Smith, but went by Ina.  She became a famous poet and here's what is written about her:

 

...the girl who grew up to be Ina Coolbrith, California’s first poet laureate, mentor to Jack London and Isadora Duncan, and member of the literary circle that included Mark Twain, Joaquin Miller, John Muir, Ambrose Bierce and Bret Harte. 

 

Edited August 19, 2015 by ALarson

[ALarson]

I find it interesting that Lucy Smith lived with her as well but apparently they were very close. It is interesting that even after the whole RLDS vs LDS split took place many LDS leaders visited her in Emma's home on a regular basis when ever stopping through about church duties (such as serving missions)and she enjoyed their visits and vice versa.

I've read this too.  There are some interesting stories told of those who visited Emma and Lucy in Nauvoo.

 

Lucy died in 1856, so she lived another 12 years after Joseph and Hyrum's death.  

[strappinglad]

Would I be faulted for thinking that , from the last few posts, I had stumbled upon a script from " As the World Turns " ?

[JulieM]

This reminds me of getting into my genealogy. I always thought "oh, how boring" when I heard that word and then I started reading some personal histories and researched my family members from both sides. Each person had a fascinating story to tell and I've loved learning about each one of them. I'd love to hear more about Joseph's family members and their lives. Great thread!

Edited August 20, 2015 by JulieM

[Sevenbak]

 

I found this about Samuel Smith's last days:

 

 

 

Thanks Scott.  I had always understood Samuel's death to be related to the martyrdom, and have even heard him referred to as the third victim of Carthage.   In a related note, Joseph had a dream shortly before his death, where he tells of the three brothers arriving at what could be considered "heaven' at about the same time, Samuel joining Hyrum and Joseph toward the end. This is recorded by WW Phelps.   It's pretty interesting in light of what actually happened.

 

http://sethadamsmith.com/2011/06/22/joseph-smiths-last-dream-the-full-account-as-told-by-w-w-phelps/

 

"In June, 1844, when Joseph Smith went to carthage and delivered himself up to Gov. Ford, I accompanied him, and while on the way thither, he related to me and his brother Hyrum the following dream:

He said: “While I was at Jordan’s in Iowa the other night, I dreamed that myself and my brother Hyrum went on board of a large steamboat, lying in a small bay, near the great ocean. Shortly after we went on board there was an “alarm of fire,” and I discovered that the boat had been anchored some distance from the shore, out in the bay, and that an escape from the fire, in the confusion, appeared hazardous; but, as delay was folly, I and Hyrum jumped overboard, and tried our faith at walking upon the water.

At first we sank in the water nearly to our knees, but as we proceeded we increased in faith, and were soon able to walk upon the water. On looking towards the burning boat in the east, we saw that it was drifting towards the wharf and the town, with a great flame and clouds of smoke; and, as if by whirlwind, the town was taking fire, too, so that the scene of destruction and horror of the frightened inhabitants was terrible.

We proceeded on the bosom of the mighty deep and were soon out of sight of land. The ocean was still; the rays of the sun were bright, and we forgot all the troubles of our Mother Earth. Just at that moment I heard the sound of a human voice, and, turning round, saw my brother Samuel H. approaching towards us from the east. We stopped and he came up. After a moment’s conversation he informed me that he had been lonesome back, and had made up his mind to go with me across the mighty deep.

We all started again, and in a short time were blest with the first sight of a city, whose gold and silver steeples and towers were more beautiful than any I had ever seen or heard of on earth. It stood, as it were, upon the western shore of the mighty deep we were walking on, and its order and glory seemed far beyond the wisdom of man. While we were gazing upon the perfection of the city, a small boat launched off from the port, and, almost as quick as thought, came to us. In an instant they took us on board and saluted us with a welcome, and with music such as is not on earth. The next scene, on landing, was more than I can describe: the greeting of old friends, the music from a thousand towers, and the light of God himself at the return of three of his sons, soothed my soul into a quiet and a joy that I felt as if I was truly in heaven. I gazed upon the splendor; I greeted my friends, I awoke, and lo, it was a dream!

While I meditated upon such a marvelous scene, I fell asleep again, and behold I stood near the shore of the burning boat, and there was a great consternation among the officers, crew and passengers of the flaming craft, as there seemed to be much ammunition or powder on board. The alarm was given that the fire was near the magazine, and in a moment, suddenly, it blew up with a great noise, and sank in deep water with all on board. I then turned to the country east, among the bushy openings, and saw William and Wilson Law endeavoring to escape from the wild beasts of the forest, but two lions rushed out of a thicket and devoured them. I awoke again.”

I will say that Joseph never told this dream again, as he was martyred about two days after. I relate from recollection as nearly as I can.

PHELPS."

[ALarson]

This reminds me of getting into my genealogy. I always thought "oh, how boring" when I heard that word and then I started reading some personal histories and researched my family members from both sides. Each person had a fascinating story to tell and I've loved learning about each one of them. I'd love to hear more about Joseph's family members and their lives. Great thread!

I agree.  I searched around online yesterday and found stories about some of Joseph's family members that I'd never heard or read before.  It seems that we especially didn't hear much about his family after he died (as church history interest followed Brigham Young more and the saints out in Utah once they left Nauvoo). 

 

One piece of useless trivia I read:  Don Carlos and Samual Harrison are the only Smith children who were given a middle name. (there were 7 sons and 3 daughters).

[jkwilliams]

I agree.  I searched around online yesterday and found stories about some of Joseph's family members that I'd never heard or read before.  It seems that we especially didn't hear much about his family after he died (as church history interest followed Brigham Young more and the saints out in Utah once they left Nauvoo). 

 

One piece of useless trivia I read:  Don Carlos and Samual Harrison are the only Smith children who were given a middle name. (there were 7 sons and 3 daughters).

 

Interesting. I think most of Joseph Smith's children had middle names, except Joseph III. He even named one Frederick Granger Williams Smith, after my ancestor. 

[ALarson]

 

I found this about Samuel Smith's last days:

 

 

 

Sorry Scott, somehow I missed your post until I was reading over this thread again just now.  I have not ever read about Samuel's experience while trying to get to his brothers in Carthage. Pretty incredible.  Thanks for posting this (and the link too)!