Sister of George Albert Smith: Nancy Claribell born Jan. 22, 1886 (1)
-- Jun 25, 1886 (Friday)
[Grandfather of George Albert Smith] Lorin Farr, of Ogden, was arrested on a five-count indictment, charging him with u.c. [Unlawful Cohabitation, I.E. living with a polygamous wife], and placed under bonds. (2)
-- Tuesday, Nov 23, 1886
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Ogden
[At trial of Lorin Farr, [[grandfather]], for unlawful cohabitation.]
The forenoon was spent in examining Witnesses. Nancy and Anne were on the stand. I went to the Court in Afternoon. Several more witnesses were examined. S. R. Thurman, P. H. Emmerson and Kimball were father Farr's attorneys. (3)
-- Nov 25, 1886 (Thursday)
[Grandfather of George Albert Smith] After a lengthy trial in the First District Court, at Ogden, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty in the case of Lorin Farr, charged with u.c. [Unlawful Cohabitation, I.E. living with a polygamous wife] (2)
-- Jan 17, 1887
Report on campaign against religious liberty of the Saints-- This letter from Presidents Taylor and Cannon was written to acquaint the President of the British Mission with affairs at home including the passage by the U. S. House of Representatives of the Edmunds-Tucker bill which was an even more stringent measure than the Edmunds Act of 1882 under which the Church and its members had been suffering for five years. The letter was written with the expectation that the Edmunds-Tucker bill would pass both houses of Congress and become law. According to Roberts (CHC 6:116-148) the bill passed Congress in February, 1887 and then became law on March 3, 1887 without the signature of the President of the United States ...
We presume that you keep advised concerning the general news, therefore it is not necessary for us to dwell at length upon what you can obtain from the papers. The acquittal of Brother Lorin Farr [grandfather] for whose trial great preparations were made at Ogden, made the judge angry and, from all accounts, aroused the extreme ire of Prosecuting Attorney Dickson, who was not present himself at the trial. The judge is considered a great improvement on his predecessor, Powers, and all the brethren speak kindly of his rulings and the course he has taken: but in Brother Farr's case he seemed desirous to secure his conviction, probably because of his prominence and the effect which it might have upon the practice of plural marriage among our people. Dickson has not been so successful, however, in other cases at Ogden. He was compelled to acquit Brother Francis A. Brown, who has been in prison once, and he hoped to entrap him again on the ground that the presumption was he was gu
ilty of unlawful cohabitation because he had refused at his former conviction to make any promises. The prosecution now appear to be willing to admit that the presumption is not enough, and that they must show by proof some sort of cohabitation before a conviction can be had. ... (4)
-- december 24, 1887
half sister: Lucy born Dec. 24, 1887, d. Aug. 24, 1900 (1)
-- Tuesday, Dec. 27, 1887
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Snowflake
Bro. John Oakley gave me a Patriarchal blessing and I blest him and President Jesse N. Smith. (3)
-- Saturday, Feb. 4, 1888
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] ... Yesterday I received my pay of $25.00 as director of the Gass Co. My son George took the check and Coop W. & M. Co. $24.50 I owed them. I handed H. J. Grant $300.00 to have credited on my account. (3)
-- Sunday, Apr 22, 1888
[Apostle John Henry Smith [father] Diary] Snowflake, Arizona
I attended the Sabooth School and in connection with several other of the brethren spoke a few words.
We took our supper with Bro. Jesse N. Smith and Bro. L. H. Hatch gave me the following:
A Blessing by Lorenzo H. Hatch, Patriarch upon the head of John Henry Smith, son of George [A.] and Sara L. Ann Libbey Smith, born in Carbunca, Pottowatamie Co. Iowa Sept. 18, 1848.
Beloved Brother, John Henry Smith. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and by the authority of the holy Priesthood, agreeable to your request, I place my hands upon thy head and seal upon thee a patriarchal blessing. Behold I say unto you, be of good cheer for you have been preserved as a chosen instrument and as a promised child to raise up the name of thy father and mother. Thy father obtained promises concerning thee. Thou has been impelled to go forward by the inspiration of the Lord thy God. As Jeremiah was ordained to be a prophet unto the nations so it has fallen to thy lot to in like manner lift up thy voice both long and loud and to spare not. It is thy calling to administer in behalf of millions as a great Apostle and to stand coequal with the chiefest of thy brethren. Your testimony is recorded on high. Your ministry while abroad is a witness that will bring thousands to judgment. Your words from henceforth shall be as in former times directed by the unerri
ng
Counsel of the spirit of prophecy and revelation. Your enemies shall be appalled before you. You shall be shielded and preserved to give Counsel and direction and to view the things of the eternal world, and to explain all points of doctrine and to discern what is in the hearts of the children of men. All your gifts have been foreordained and for this reason you have been shielded from the hand of the destroyer. The plans of the enemy have been frustrated and your life has been spared, thus saith the Lord your God, that you might continue to travel from nation to nation. They that you bless shall be blessed, and they that defy the Lord by your word they shall be cursed, and their generations shall cease from among men. Behold I say unto you, tongue cannot discribe nor pen record the glories that await you for your calling and election shall be made sure. The Angels of God are on your right and left, they have journeyed with you, by land and by sea. I the Lord your God wh
o
speaketh by revelation will continue to hear your prayers, and your wives and your children shall be preserved as in the hollow of his hand. Behold you are an heir of every blessing that has or can be conferred upon one of the sons of men. For as Jacob so you have prevailed with the Lord thy God.
You have comforted the poor, the prayers of the widow and the fatherless are recorded in your favor and of your increase there shall be no end. Whatsoever you desire shall be granted unto you for you will be guided as in times past. You shall never want for money to perform the good in thine heart and you shall remember your brethren who are co-laborers in this great work. You shall comfort the aged and bless them, and your blessings shall be recorded in heaven, for this ministry has been conferred upon thee to bind on earth and it shall be bound in heaven. Rejoice therefore, for behold these words are the words of the Lord thy God. Though the heavens shall pass away, these words shall not fail. I seal all these blessings with your former blessings by the authority of my patriarchal Calling and in the name of your Redeemer, even so, Amen. (3)
Footnotes:
1 - Frank Ellwood Esshom, "Pioneers and prominent men of Utah" (1913)
2 - Jenson, Andrew, Church Chronology
3 - White, Jean Bickmore, Church, State, and Politics: The Diaries of John Henry Smith, Signature Books in association with Smith Research Associates, Salt Lake City, 1990, http://bit.ly/johnhenrysmith
4 - Clark, James R., Messages of the First Presidency (6 volumes)
LDS History Chronology: George Albert Smith
Mormon History Timeline: The life of George Albert Smith
http://lds-church-history.blogspot.com/
