Joseph West Smith

The following Biography of Joseph West Smith was found on Ancestry.com and was contributed by Robert Morris Heywood on June 12, 2013, and shared by J.M. Berrett on December 16, 2013:

For one individual to possess all the characteristics and accomplishments attributed to Joseph West Smith in testimonials from his family, friends and acquaintances is remarkable indeed. It is no wonder that he commanded the respect and admiration of all who knew him. His lifelong habit of always being engaged in a productive activity plus his great desire for excellence helped him to surmount the challenges of having very little formal education, raising his large family and helping to build a new community in a barren land.

Born in Minersville, Utah on September 6, 1859, Joseph, the oldest son of Jesse N. Smith, seemed destined to bear great responsibilities. By the age of 12 he was doing a man's work. At age 20 he and his new bride found themselves in the undeveloped area of northern Arizona that was later to become the town of Snowflake. Twenty years later Joseph had built and furnished two large comfortable homes, had 13 children and was financially secure to the extent that he could accept a two-year mission call to the British Isles.

His greatest disappointment in life came with the failure of The Bank of Northern Arizona in 1923 but here again his strength of character and evidence of priorities surfaced. Before its failure he was the second largest sheep man in the country. Afterwards, he was the smallest. He gave all his personal assets except the homes of his two wives to appease the depositors and his reputation for absolute honesty remained unblemished.

At age 64 when many men feel their productive years are over, he began again financially. In the next fifteen years he established a chicken business, the Cash Stores Company, built four rental homes and served eleven years as a temple ordinance worker. Besides all these accomplishments to provide for his own temporal and spiritual welfare he was constantly involved in a great deal of church service including the calling of Snowflake Stake Patriarch.

His nephew, Silas L Fish wrote: "He (Joseph) was always the gentleman and the exemplar, whether he was serving as farmer, as school teacher, as mail contractor, as merchant, as banker, as neighbor, as handy man and servant of all, or church worker. He was an exceptional entertainer same touch to his readings. All he could do he learned how without a teacher. His life effort can do for one's development."

No one else could give the so many things well, and is a lesson on what self- Surely the truism 'Struggle Brings Strength' is evident in the fruits of his labors. He was admired for his industry, frugality, his keen intellect, his love for his fellowman, his perseverance, wise counsel, his cleanliness (inside and out), his culture, patience, generosity, dignity, punctuality, his spirituality and faith in a living God. Joseph West Smith was a noble son of God.

Father and the Little Colorado: As told to me by my mother. One spring while father had the mill contract, the melting snows sent the Little Colorado on the rampage. It washed out the bridge at Holbrook. For three days the mail did not cross. Father was fined $30.00 each day for the failure. On the fourth day he saddled his strongest horse and with the pouch in his arms forced the horse to swim the flooding river. This he did daily until the stream could be crossed with the buckboard.

Father and the Ford. By the time automobiles came to our family, father was too old to learn driving easily. This was complicated by two factors: Father insisted, "All of you boys tell me differently." Who could learn under such instructions? To make matters worse father's car was a three-speed Overland with a stick shift. By the time he had mastered that to some degree, he acquired a Ford that was only a two speed and a foot controlled the gears. Neutral was between low and high on the same pedal. Father drove the Model T successfully from the barn past the garden but as the road neared the granary it turned right to the gate. Just before making the turn the road crossed the garden ditch. The driver wanted to go slow through the ditch so he put it neutral, so he thought. He pushed the pedal too far and the Ford was in low. In low gear the car picked up speed so fast father did not get it turned toward the gate, instead he headed for the wood pile. We had unloaded wood in such a way that the wood sloped from the ground to the top of the fence. I called out, "Give her the gun father and you can go over the fence." The engine killed before he scaled the fence but not before all four wheels were off the ground. Father was visibly shook up. He calmly crawled out of the car, surveyed the scene and said to me, "Henry, if you will get this thing down off the wood pile and through the gate I think I can go to Taylor all right." But a short time later a phone call came from the bank, father asked me to come drive them to Taylor. He said, "Aunt Nellie declines to go any farther with me as driver."

Tribute to Uncle Joseph. I well remember the love and sincere regard my parents had for Uncle Joseph, Aunt Nellie and Aunt Della. Mother was a member of the Snowflake Stake Relief Society Board when Aunt Nellie served as President. Because of Mother's frailness and several young children, most of the Board mettings were held at our house. This consideration by Aunt Nellie and the other Stake Officers was gratefully received.

Mother always spoke of Aunt Nellie with deepest respect, love and real admiration. As far back as I can remember Aunt Nellie was held up as a pattern of excellence. Her efficiency as a homemaker and Stake executive met with Mother's constant approval and praise. One of Mother's tributes which still rings in my ears was this, "Nellie M. Smith is too big and wise to speak ill of anyone. She simply will not stoop to idle gossip." As I grew older I became aware how right and just was Mother's estimation of our dear Aunt Nellie. When she passed away our family felt the loneliness which her death had brought. For the well remembered ideals which she always exemplified, we shall forever be grateful.

Aunt Della was always so charming, humble and witty. I thought she must be the smartest woman in the world because she wrote such lovely poems. As a member of the Beehive Group, I remember singing a song composed especially for us by Aunt Della Smith. When I graduated from the 8th grade I was asked to give the "Class Prophecy." That was an overwhelming undertaking for a little gal like me. On Mother's suggestion I went to Aunt Della for help. She stopped her washing and sat down to help me. She used such wisdom in giving help and was so cute and clever I can never forget it. I still remember the frequent chuckles as I read my paper. The old social hall in Snowflake was well filled on the night of our graduation and many complimented me on my part. Of course I knew who should have had all the credit for the success of the class prophecy, which I still keep carefully preserved among my treasures. As Stake Relief Society Literary class leader, Sister Addie S. Pace arranged a program honoring Aunt Della as "Poet Laureate of the Snowflake Stake." It was my honor and privilege to give the Joseph City Ward's tribute to my adored and admired Aunt Della.

Uncle Joseph had many boys and girls but he always made me feel like I was a special somebody when he cordially greeted me. No matter when or where, he was never too occupied for my presence to go unnoticed. As a member of the school Board of District No 5, he dutifully made official visits to the school. Because of his intense interest in the cause of excellent scholarship he offered prizes to the various grades for the best in spelling and other subjects. In those days everyone prized even a nickel, so the boy or girl who won Uncle Joseph's silver dollar was rich indeed.

When I was young I suffered a great deal with the toothache. After all the homemade remedies failed to give relief, Father took me by the hand and walked with me to the Bank of Northern Arizona. Uncle Joseph was always there tending to the business of the bank. "She's got the toothache, Joseph, and I guess we'll have to have it taken out," said Father, speaking through the important looking window to his neatly clad brother. The inner door was opened and I was led to a chair by a window. After a terrible and frightening ordeal, the tooth was out, but the promised relief did not come, until several days later. Fortunately, however, all bitterness vanished with the cessation of pain.

When my Father was so seriously ill with a creeping paralysis, it was Uncle Joseph my mother turned to for counsel and advice. He was the one who solicited money from father's friends and associates which made it possible to send him to specialists in Los Angeles for treatment. All through the long siege Uncle Joseph was devoted and thoughtful to our family. Mother never ceased to express her appreciation for his kindness to' us in our need.

Tribute to the Memory of Joseph W. Smith. As my thoughts reflect back in memory of Joseph W. Smith, I immediately recall some of the good qualities of this man that were a blessing to me. When I was a young man twenty years of age, I was called to fill a mission in the Northern States Mission. My father had died when I was thirteen years old, and mother was struggling along with the help of her children, to keep the family together, and give them the advantage of high school education. I was glad for the opportunity of a mission, but the family income was not sufficient to meet the family needs and keep a missionary in the field. I called on Brother Joseph W. Smith, who, as I remember was cashier of The Bank of Northern Arizona, and told him about my financial problem. He advised me that it would not be necessary for me to make a loan, but to go ahead, and write checks as I needed money and the checks would be honored at the bank, while I was gone. He was true to this promise, and I was away on this mission, not two years, but about twenty days short of three years. All this time, even though my account was very much in the red, I never had any complaints or due bills from the bank or from Brother Smith. After I returned home I paid my indebtedness with interest as fast as I could, and that seemed to satisfy, as our friendship was never interrupted. But even though the debt was paid, I still feel indebted to him for his kindness in this respect and friendship shown our family down through the years. It has been my privilege to enjoy the friendship and association, of a number of his sons and daughters, and the goodness of their lives, has been an inspiration and blessing to me. "A tree is know by it's fruits." Joseph W. Smith lived rich in the blessings of the Lord, and now the riches are increasing many folds in the lives of his posterity.

The following information is from public records found on Ancestry.com:

In the 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Beaver City, Utah, dated July 21st, Joseph West Smith was 10 months old, living with his father, Jesse Nathaniel Smith, 24, and his mother, Margaret West Smith, 22, and his older sister, Adelaide Margaret, 3. Margaret was Jesse's plural wife, and his first wife was Margaret's older sister, Emma Seraphina West Smith. Jesse was working as a farmer and the value of his real estate was $200 and his personal estate was valued at $400. Jesse was born in New York, Margaret in Tennessee, and both their children were born in Utah Territory. Jesse Nathaniel Smith was a cousin of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Jesse's father, was the brother of Joseph Smith, Sr.

Not too long after Joseph West Smith was born, his father, Jesse, served a mission for the church in Denmark, and was there from 1860 to 1864, and was President of the Scandinavian Mission from 1862-1864. Jesse may have returned from Europe in 1864 because of the death of his wife, Margaret, when their son Joseph West Smith, was only 5 years old, and his sister, Adelaide Margaret was 7 years old. After the death of his mother, Joseph and his sister were cared for by their aunt Emma, Jesse's first wife and Margaret's sister.

When Jesse returned to Utah, he was the Probate Judge for Iron County in 1866, and was again President of another Scandinavian Mission from 1868-1870. In 1878 Jesse visited the Arizona settlements with Erastus Snow, and was then called to settle in Arizona and became stake president of the Eastern Arizona Stake. He was also probate judge of Apache County in 1880.

On the same census page in 1860 was Margaret and Emma's sister, Sarah E. West Barton, 30, and her husband, William Barton, 40, and their children, Joseph A., 13, Daniel K., 6, Esther I., 4, John H., 2, and Stephen, 2 months old. Listed on the previous page was Margaret, Emma and Sarah's father, Samuel West, 56, his plural wife Christiana, 30, and another plural wife, Mary Williamson West, 60, and Isaac W., 1, who was Samuel and Christiana's son. Samuel Walker West's first wife, Margaret Cooper West, was living in a neighboring town with their children. After the death of Samuel Walker West in 1873, Margaret went to Arizona with her daughter, Nancy Malinda West, born in 1844, who married John Henry Rollins, Sr., in 1860, in Parowan, Utah. Nancy and John were newlyweds living in Beaver, Utah, in the 1860 census, with the family of John Henry Rollins, including his parents, James Henry Rollins and Eveline Walker Rollins and their children.

In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Minersville, Utah, Parowan post office, Joseph, 10, was living with his father, Jesse, 35, and his first wife, Emma Seraphine West Smith, 34, Joseph's aunt. Jesse was still listed as a farmer, with the value of his real estate $800 and his personal estate $250. Living in the home with them were Mary Smith, 74, Jesse's mother, and Jesse and Emma's children, Mary Josephine, 15, Nanna D. who is really named Hannah Daphne, 14, (Joseph's sister - Margaret Adelaide, 13,) Eliza Snow, 11, Nathaniel Jesse, 9, Sarah Elizabeth, 4, Silas Derryfield, 2, and Susan Janet Smith, 1.

In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census I can find no record of Joseph West Smith, but he married his first wife, Nellie Marsden in March of 1879. A few years later, he took a plural wife, Catherine Delphina "Della" Fish, on October 29, 1886. In the 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Della Fish was 15 years old, living in Snowflake, Arizona, with her father, Joseph Fish, 39, her step-mother, Eliza Jane Lewis Fish, 26, brothers Joseph Campbell, 13, John Lazelle, 11, and younger sister, Jessie May, 8. Della's mother, Mary Campbell Steele Fish, passed away when Della was just a young girl in 1874. She had that in common with Joseph, since he lost his mother at the age of only 5 years old.

In December of 1884, Joseph West Smith's father, Jesse, fled to Mexico to avoid arrest for polygamy and was there until 1885, when he returned to Arizona and lived in Snowflake. Letters from the church's presidents Taylor and Cannon instructed the Arizona Mormons to vote Democratic in 1886.

In 1887, Jesse celebrated the birth of his twenty-third daughter and thirty-second child. He was the president of the newly organized Snowflake Stake in 1887, and was involved in business and political activities. During this time, he periodically visited Salt Lake City, and also made a trip to Washington, D.C. to make land purchases in Arizona in 1889. Jesse received instructions to "let the people divide on Republican and Democratic lines if they felt to do so, but generally to vote for men and measures rather than for parties". But by 1890, the Church recommended Mormons become Republicans. Jesse "excused myself personally on the ground of intimate relations with the Democratic leaders and benefits received from them, especially from Governor Zulick, I have been advised to enter into these relations by the late President Taylor, though I preferred the Republican party to the Democratic to judge between the two."

In 1892, Jesse went to Salt Lake City for the laying of the temple capstone, and returned to Arizona to attend the Pinedale forest conference of four Arizona stakes also in 1892. He had conflict with county authorities over taxes on Snowflake and Taylor lands purchased, and he attended the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 1893. He later organized a family savings bank, and later incorporated it as the Bank of Northern Arizona. He was also Chairman of Arizona delegation at Irrigation Congress, in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1895, and he attended female suffrage meetings in 1896. He was in the State Legislature in 1897, and president of an irrigation company in 1902.

In the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Snowflake, Navajo County, Arizona, Joseph, 40, was living with both of his wives, Nella M., 28, and Della F., 35, and their children, including: Margaret, 16, Leonora, 14, Edith, 11, Jesse M., 9, Alice, 6, Roxie, 4, Sariah, 2, Nella's children, and Della's children, Mary, 11, Joseph T., 9, Albert S., 6, Lazelle, 4, Henry A., 2, and Paul Smith, an 80-year old widower, who was listed as a border. Joseph was working as a minister. The record states Joseph had been married 20 years, (so that would have been his marriage to Nella in 1879), and that Nella was the mother of 9 children, 8 of whom were still living, and Della was the mother of 5 children, all of whom who were still living.

On the same census page was Joseph's father, Jesse, living with his wife Emma Seraphine, and another of Jesse's plural wives, Janet Mauretta Johnson, 52. and their children, Margrate F., 17, Ruth, 16, Esther, 12, Elias, 10, Leah, 8. Also in the home was another of Jesse's plural wives, Augusta Outzen, 46, and their children, Bashia, 29, Ashel H., 19, Anna, 16, Rebecka, 13, Rachel, 11, Saphronia, 8, Natalia, 6, Millie, 2. Also in the home was another of his plural wives, Emma Larson, 37, and their children, Hyrum, 17, Caroline, 15, Don C., 13, Lorana, 11, Lehi L, 9, George A., 7, Aikens, 10 months. Also in the home was the widowed daughter, Parcilla (probably Priscilla) Gibbons, 23, born May, 1877, who was Emma Seraphine's daughter.

In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Joseph, 50, was still living in Snowflake, Arizona, with his wife, Nellie, 49, Lenora, 24, Edith, 21, Jesse Marsden, 19, Alice, 16, Roxie, 14, Marie, 8, Lawrence Nelson, 5 and Clarissa, 3. It appears that Sariah, who was 2 in 1900, had passed away and 3 more children had been born during the previous 10 years, Marie, Lawrence and Clarissa. Della was living next door with her children, Mary, 21, Joseph F., 18, Albert, 16, Lazell, 14, Henry A., 12, Ernan H., 8, Della, 5, and Agnes, 3.

Joseph was working as a cashier in a bank, his daughters with Nellie, Lenora and Edith, werer district school teachers, and Jesse M. was a farm laborer on the home farm. Three of Della's sons were also listed as farm laborers including Joseph, Albert and Lazell. The rest of the children were in school. The census record indicates that Joseph and Nellie had been married 30 years, had given birth to 12 children, 10 of whom were still living. Joseph and Della had been married 22 years, and had given birth to 8 children all of whom are living.

In the 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Joseph is 60 years old, still living in Snowflake, with his wife Nellie, 59, and children, Alice, 24, Marie, 18, Lawrence N., 15, and Clarissa, 13. Nellie, or Sarah Ellen Marsden Smith, which was her full name, died at the age of 63 on August 1, 1924, in Snowflake, Arizona.

In the 1930 U.S. Federal Census for Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona, Joseph, 70, was living with his wife Della F., 64, and their daughters Della, 24, and Agnes, 22, on Stapley Avenue in a home they owned valued at $3,900. His occupation was listed as a worker in the Mormon Temple. Their daughter, Della was working as a maid in a private home. Living next door was Emma Smith, 67, living with a woman named Betsy L. Carter, 76, who was listed as her "partner". They were both listed as widows and workers in the Mormon Temple. This Emma Smith was probably Emma Seraphine West Smith's granddaughter, and the daughter of Emma's daughter, Emma Decker Smith, who would have been Joseph's cousin.

Catherine Delfina "Della" Fish Smith passed away at the age of 70 on June 17, 1934, in Snowflake, Arizona. I found no record of Joseph West Smith in the 1940 U.S. Census, but he did not pass away until 1944. Perhaps he was living with one of his children at the time of his death. According to his death certificate, he passed away at 9 a.m. on December 22, 1944, in Marion Rogers home, and his cause of death was stroke, indigestion and old age. His Arizona Death Certificate indicated that his birth date was September 6, 1857, in Minersville, Utah, but the census of 1860 seems to indicate he was born in 1859 not 1857.

The informant on his death certificate was Lenora S. Rogers of Snowflake, Arizona. He was buried in the Snowflake Cemetery on December 24, 1944. His profession was listed as a farmer and business man. His father was listed as Jesse N. Smith, born in Stockton, St. Lawrence County, New York, and his mother was listed as Margarette Fletcher West, born in Benton County, Tennessee. The funeral director was Bruce M. Flake of Snowflake and the registrar was Blanche Flake. At the time of his death he had lived in Snowflake for 64 years, and Arizona for 66 years.

The following obituary is from Find A Grave.com and was clipped from The Arizona Republic Newspaper, dated Saturday, December 23, 1944, Second Edition, Page 13, and was added to the website by Michael Wright on May 19, 2017:

OBITUARY: Joseph Smith, Pioneer of Snowflake, Dies -- Another of Arizona's leading figures in a passing era is gone. Joseph W. Smith, one of the first settlers in the Snowflake district, died about 3 p.m. yesterday in his Snowflake home at the age of 86. He had been in failing health about two years, and his final illness lasted about two weeks. Joseph Smith was outstanding in many phases of Arizona life. Through his long career he was a banker, landowner, politician, civic builder and church leader as well as pioneer.

First Settled in Winslow -- Born in Utah in 1859, Mr. Smith came to Arizona in 1878. His family settled first in Winslow, moving soon afterward to the Snowflake region. As a young man he drove the mail from Holbrook through Snowflake to McNary. The pioneer was president of the Snowflake branch of the Bank of Northern Arizona until the bank ceased operation about the time of World War I.

For many years Mr. Smith was patriarch of the Snowflake stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Long active in Republican politics, he was a member of the Republican State Committee for many years in addition to holding several Navajo County positions.

Mr. Smith retired from business when the Snowflake bank closed and lived in Mesa a few years where he owned property at the time of his death. The Snowflake leader was married to Sarah Ellen Marsden in 1879. Following her death he was married to Della Fish, who died in 1934. Mr. Smith leaves the following children: Mrs. Margaret Larsen, Taylor, Arizona, postmistress; Mrs. Leonora Rogers, with whom he made his home in Snowflake; Mrs. Edith Bushman, Mrs. Roxie Shelley, and Mrs. Clarsissa Kimbrill, Joseph City; Mrs. Alice Kartchner, Heber; Mrs. Marie Heywood, Phoenix: Jesse M. Smith and Lawrence N. Smith, Snowflake, part owners of the Smith-Heywood Trucking Company of Phoenix; Mrs. Mary Monsen and Ernon Smith, Utah; J. Fish Smith, Salt Lake City; Albert Smith and Della Smith, Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lazelle Smith and Henry A. Smith, California; and Mrs. Agnes Knapp, Tucson. He also leaves 74 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren, and several brothers and sisters.

Funeral services are scheduled for 3 p.m. tomorrow in the Snowflake Ward of the Latter Day Saints Church, with Bishop Bruce Blake officiating. Burial will be in Snowflake.

GEDCOM Note

Joseph West Smith Family: Scanned from the glass plate negative of Ellen Smith - Early woman photographer. Haven't identified who is in the photo. Tribute to Nellie M. Durham and Jesse M. Smith. Joseph West Smith and Francis Merrill in Ireland 1901 in British Mission. 12 of the 14 sons of Jesse N. Smith in 1910. The 44 children of Jesse N. Smith and Emma West, Margaret West, Janet Johnson, Augusta Outzen, and Emma Larson. Numbered in order of birth. A picture of Jesse Nathaniel Smith's sons. Marriage approval letter from Joseph W. Smith to his daughter, Mary, 1937 at Mesa, Arizona. This was probably taken in Snowflake, Arizona. 80 year old. Taken 1940. Written December 16, 1890. Guests at a dinner party Nellie M. Smith gave honoring Jesse N. Smith Jr. visiting from Mexico. Photo is from Edith Smith Bushman collection. Back of picture says missionary group. Photo was taken in London in 1900 when Joseph returned from Belfast to work in the London office. Headstone of Joseph West Smith. This tribute was found among papers of Edith Smith Bushman. Joseph W. Smith was her father. This story was written on February 22, 1952.