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This portion of Ralph's journal - one of three that I have - is taken from one dated Jan 20, 1857 but also details parts of 1854 and 1856. Page 1
I now take my pen to rewrite my Journal of my life.
My name is Ralph Smith, son of Thomas Smith and Mary Usher born 24 June 1835, Reckington, in the county of Durham, England. I was brought up in the same county and taught in their schools and instructed by their Sunday School teachers until I was 10 years and six months old.
I was well brought up by dutiful parents, and I got a common education. But thru persecution, when we joined this Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), I was deprived of going any long to school.
I was baptized on 4 Jan. 1846 with mother and brother by priest Henry Campbell who came to that part of the country where we lived with his wife and a young man named Thomas Ord. Campbell labored diligently in my father's house to teach the principals of this Gospel and succeeded in part for my mother was convinced of the truth of it. But mother put off being baptized for a number of weeks, waiting for father to go with her. He did not feel inclined to go but gave mother leave with my brother who was 9-years-old and m yself, so, with the three above named saints, we repaired to waters for baptism and was baptized on the above date and returned home and held a little meeting in my father's house.
Now there was a little branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that part of the country composed of six members in the number: five members and one teacher. We were not confirmed into the Church, and the worst was we had no Elder to attend to that part of the business. So Brother Campbell wrote to the authorities of the Church in Europe, and they sent an elder from Scotland named G. P. Wauf, and he came to this small branch at Woodsidein the County of Durham, and he confirmed into the Church this small branch sometime about the back end of March or the beginning of April.
My father invited him to come and preach in his house, and he would seat his house and get a congregation together. (My father) being master over a large number of men, invited them to come and hear this elder, also his master and the clerks in the office which he had to associate with.
(Father) sent his children all around the neighborhood to invite the people, and a very large congregation came together. Father and G.P. Wauf addressed the and was very much opposed by my father's master William Elliout who asked him for the authority to speak there.
My father jumped up in an instant told him, "I authorize him. I count my castle like every other Englishman," and (Elliout) said "I'll speak to you another time, Smith." So in a few days afterwards, my father was notified to leave his situation (job) for he was an averman under William Elliot, a coal view for Henry Stobart, Esq., coal pits at Etherly in the County of Durham but to return to Father Wauf. He rattled away with his discourse, and a clerk, by the name of Thomas Greener, a Methodist, and some of his colleagues interrupted him much, and he told them, the more they interrupted him,the longer he would speak. And Greener took notes of his sermon, and he spoke until nearly 12 o'clock. Greener and his colleagues stayed and argued with him until 4 o'clock in the morning.
Now something must be done to put down this blasphemous sect so all parties joined together and sent their ambassador to the head proprietor of the place with all the lies they could scrape together to poison his mind. So my father was to lose his position, and all else who who would go to hear those detestable people were to lose their work. So this was their scheme, which had it's desired effect, and to make my father make his wife and two children leave that detestable religion. They would not give him a caricature, so he traveled in vain to seek a situation, for when there was a likelihood for him to get a situation, and his caricature was asked for, he had it not to show. And when he told them who had worked for last and to write for it, they told them that they liked to keep him out of work to punish him. For I, myself, have known the head proprietor Henry Stobart, Esq., to order his carriage to be stopped for him to speak to Smith.
During their conversation, I overheard Stobard say, "If you will only make your wife and two children leave that detestable religion, I will give you a better position than you ever had before." My father's answer was "I will not. I will sooner go and earn my living by hard labor," and he had to do so. And during this time, we suffered much slander and abuse.
The large house which we occupied half of, had been taken from us and foul-mouthed , mean devils came and dwlt there to put us to more inconvenience. And after father had worked some to them in sinking a pit, and it finished, he went where he got some more suitable work, and took me with him.
One day, when we were at work and came home, we found all of our things on the highway, and the rest of the family out of the house by order of the Magistrate Henry Stobart, Esq., and no one dared look upon us with pity lest the above should be their fate. But at length, an old gentleman named Thomas Pickren, sent word to my father to bring his goods up to his house and stop there.
This was when a brother of my father named Sober Watkin Smith stopped, who had marries this old gentleman's daughter Bessie Pickren. And, we hunted all up and down to get someone to take our things there, but all in vain. But when we were wearied, an old publicing sent his horses and carts to remove our goods to the afore-mentioned place. They were put in the stable, and we went and stopped in the house with the old people for some eight or ten days and then moved from this beautiful place Etherly to Bishop Auckland.
At this time, when Elder Wauf came, it was sometime in the latter part of March or the beginning of April 1846, and we were confirmed at the first Sunday afternoon meeting.
Elder Wauf preached a few times in that neighborhood and stayed a few weeks and returned home again. After a short time had elapsed, Brother Campbell and his wife, and the young man's Ord moved. We had to go to West Auckland to Brother Campbell's house to meeting. A distance of three miles, and our little meeting continued without any increase or decrease for one year.
In the year 1847, Brother Campbell removed from Bishop Auckland to Farry Hill which kept five of us together. And a young man named Charles Phelps, an elder came to preach in that field of labor and visited us a few times and preached and was called away. And shortly after Brother Campbell with his wife moved again to Readker, and left us all alone. And in the year 1848, we moved from one side of our work to the other or from Farry Hill to Thrislington, and in a little time after, we had moved to Thrislington.
Elder John Carmickel came to preach in that district, and, while he was preaching at Thormely a distance of five miles from us, he heard about us and came and preached at Thrislington. He stopped at our house, and my brother, Edward, and I went to the Thormely meeting for some time and enjoyed ourselves very much.
My father was very fond of Brother Carmickel's company,but he could not lead father to waters of baptism. Another elder, Jon McCaffery, came and lived at Kellow and raised another branch in the years 1848 ad 1849 which was about three miles from Thrislington. We went to his meetings and mother also being much nearer, and he came to preach at our place. On the first of January 1850 , my father was baptised by Brother John McCaffery. He soon raised a good branch, and my father was appointed to preside over it, and it flourished for more than a year and there were many in the branch. But some departed from the faith and some moved from the place.
My father fell into transgression and desired to be cut off from the church and not to bring disgrace on the church. So he was cut off and the branch was disorganized, and we had to go to Kellow meeting again.
After a little, my father got baptised again, the Priesthood was put on him again, and the branch reorganized. He had to preside over it again and put it to rights. It flourished again for nearly a year.
And the work stopped on account of some failure with the master which caused all the inhabitants to move. The branch was broken up, and we moved to the city of Durham in the latter part of June 1852 where I went to Keepier Colliery to be under overman, and my brother to work there.
My father went to Australia, and on the first of July 1852, and left the family in my charge. We were attached to the Shinkliff branch, and after I had been at the Keepier Colliery three months, I was put in full charge of it and made an overman. And I am sorry to say I neglected my meetings for a long time after we went to Durham. But towards the latter end of the year 1853, I resolved to March up to my duties and live my religion , and on 13 December, I went and renewed my covenant by baptism.
I was rebaptized by Elder John Hughes and confirmed the same night by Elder John Routledge and John Hughes at a small stream near the city of Durham in the Shinkliff branch in the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Conference, England, on 28 Dec. 1853. I was ordained to the office of a priest in Gilesgate Moor, Durham, by the president of the conference, Elder Thomas Squire, and one of the Seventies, Elias Gardner, and the president of the branch John Routledge and John Hughes. I then went forth and magnified the Priesthood the best I knew how, and made myself as useful as possible for I saw where I had lost myself by my negligence. I was an instrument in the hands of the Lord to lead a number into the waters of baptism whose names I will give with their genealogy (Omitted in this copy.)
1 April 1854, I went to the Newcastle-UponTyne Conference held at Sunderland with Elder John Routledge. We attended the council meeting in the Mason Hall. On the first of April 1854, when the conference was going to be held on the second, and during the meeting, it was moved by Pastor C. G. Web Darling, and it was carried unanimous. I was then ordained to the office of an eldber by Pastor C. G. Web and President William Glove, B. C. Merrill, Elias Garnder, and the Chaptain Darling. I was to be useful in the hands of the Lord in winning many souls into His Kingdom if I would prove faithful in my calling.
We stayed over the conference and had a good time with the saints and returned home on the evening of 2 April 1854.
April 8, I was at the council meeting in our branch held at Durham, and there was a field of labor pointed out to me by President John Routledge. It was at Brumside and Carevilea in the County of Durham. I was allowed the privilege of choosing one of the brothers to go along with me. I chose Teacher John Newton who was the first fruits that I baptized. And we agreed for to fulfill the appointment.
April 9, WWE went and visited the place and pitched upon the place where we would stand and notified the people of our coming to preach to them.
April 14, we went and opened Brumside accompanied by some more of the brethren, and we opened our meeting by singing and prayer, and we spoke upon the first principals. Meeting was closed with singing and prayer. The conference was held, and I attended it and enjoyed myself much in the ways of the Lord.
October 8, I went to Carevile with Henry E. Phelps and Priest Nicol Wright who spoke first, and then I preached my farewell discourse to them. And then Brother Phelpls spoke and bore his testimony to the few that were there. The reason why I bore my testimony and preached for the last time was I was about to emigrate to America, or I was about to gather with the Saints in their mountain home.
Sunday morning 15 October, I had to get a proxy, that is to say, I got Elder Mark Fletcher to go and attend my field of labor on account of having some friends seeing us that I might never see more. He went but got a very poor company and closed up the field of labor for a season and told them I was about to emigrate to the valleys.
I will say here that young woman, Mary Moon, to whom I had taught the principals of Mormonism the best I was able but could not convert her to the faith, so my love and correspondence ceased in a measure and since that time I have been courting a young woman named Hannah Dodds (wife number 1) who is in the church and lives in Sunderland.
The first time I saw her was at the October conference at Sunderland, and she said she would like to go to the valleys. I told her I would take her if she would take my offer (of marriage), and she accepted it. I will also say here, the field of labor I was appointed to labor in, I have done the best I could to lay the principals of the Gospel before them both public and private but none of my labors make a show. I ask the Lord to belss them that hear me, and His servants inasmuch as they are earnest in heart before him.
Sunday morning 22 October 1854, I was married to Hannah Dodds by Henry E. Phelps, one of the Seventies of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints according to the laws of the Church with four witnesses present - Mrs. Mary Smith, Edward Smith, Ann Smith and George U. Smith (Ralph's mother and siblings). I attended the meeting at Durham that day.
October 27, we held our council meeting and all financial business that was between them and me was cleared up and other business attended to that the branch demanded from us.
On October 29, I was freed from my field of labor by a vote from the meeting; likewise, a fresh right hand counselor was chosen which freed me more and let me have more time to myself to fix my business up and prepare for emigration. We had a little more time than we expected on account of them not getting the ship ready in time they first expected.
On 19 November 1854, we left for Liverpool. I left with the blessings of the Saints and all my workmmen also my master for he gave me a good caricature and a handsome present for my services under him as an overman. On the evening of the above, we arrived in Liverpool and went to furnished lodgings for a few days until we got things arranged to go on board the ship Clara Wheeler. During the time we were in Liverpool, I visited many splendid halls and edifices.
November 23, we went on board the ship.
Novemver 24, we pulled out of the docks into the river Mercy.
November 27, we set sail and tugged out of the river into the Irish Channel and was at sea until the morning of 29 November when a tremendous heavy gale came on in the height of the 28th and lasted until wew were back in Liverpool. It caused a great fright amongst the passengers so much so that they wanted to go ashore when we got back. Indeed, we were near wrecked on some sandridges. There were many wrecked that morning, but we were safe in the hands of the Lord. We had to stop in Loverpool until 7 December 1854, and we started then for fair.
On the evening of the 6th , we, the Priesthood appointed a fast for all the saints to fast and pray so that we might be going ahead on our journey. So we fasted and in the afternoon of the 7th, we started in great glee, and we had a beautiful voyage across the mighty deep to New Orleans.
We had a large number to die amongst the children and two adults. We landed in New Orleans on 11 January 1855 just being five weeks in crossing. We remained one day in New Orleans and then took the steamboat "Oceana" and went up to St. Louis Missouri. We were ten days in going up to St. Louis. We were received by the saints very kindly and took up to the basement part of the meeting house or hall. We stayed there three days and then moved out to the Gravious Coal Diggins. I stayed there four months and enjoyed myself in the work of the Lord there as much as I ever did on this earth.
Mother and brothers left the Gravious Coal Diggins a little before me and went to the Kingston Coal Mines 240 miles from St. Louis up the Illiniois River. My sister (Ann) was living in St. Louis at Services, and on the 29 May 1855, I left the Gravious and went to St. Louis, stayed there until 30 May and then went up the River Missouri to Atchingson and then out to the Mormon Grove six miles from Atchingson . (We) stayed a few days and then we returned to Atchingson and stayed until the 18 of June 1855. Then we started across the plains with Hoopier and Williams First Merchandise Train. We had a pleasant journey with the exception of a little sickness. And we arrived here on the 6 September 1855.
On the 8 September, my wife (Hannah Dodds) desired her clothes for she wanted to leave me. So I went and opened my chest and let her take her clothes and go for I took her, there would be no happiness for use two for we had lived uncomfortable ever since we went together.
September 11, I wrote to mother and told her what a beautiful place this (Utah) was and encouraged them all I could raise means and come here as soon as they possibly could for this was the place for the Saints and nobody else. Toward the latter end of September, I hired with G. B. Wallace and went and lied with him. I stayed until the back end of October and then went to boarding again and worked first for one and then another until 3 Jan 1856. I then hired with John Sharp and lived with him for times was beginning to get very close upon the poor of this place. I believe it was the hand of the Lord that placed me there, so that I might be provided for.
Jan 12, 1856, I was summoned to appear before the probate court Judge Elias Smith to give my wife Hannah Smith a bill of divorce, which was done on the above date.
March 5, 1856, I was rebaptized by High Priest John Sharp in the 18th Ward of Great Salt Lake City, Utah Territory and was confirmed on 6 March 1856, by Bishop L.D. Young and John Sharp and all blessings and ordinances that I had received in times before were to abide with me with blessings of long life and power to combat with the adversary and power to do much good among the nations of the earth and His people if I would be faithful.
I have heard from mother and brothers and sister which I left back in the states, but no news from father who went to Australia when I was 17 years of age. (Ralph's father Thomas Smith either was killed in an explosion or died from disease while working in Australia.)
July 4, I attended the procession which was a great day in the valleys of the mountains with the Saints and at evening I went to the national ball accompanied by Miss Carrington held in the social hall and enjoyed ourselves very much.
July 13, I visited some of the saints and found them in good health. I had a number of letters last mail, one from father by way of mother dated 18 June 1855, Douglas River Coal Mines, Van Deamens Land, who is in a very poor state of health. One (letter) from mother and brothers and one from sister in the states, and one from England from brother and sister Mattingson at Sunderland in the County of Durham.
July 24, out on parade or training to fit us for military duties. I am working on the canal for the Church at present. Aug 4, I have received a letter from my old lover Mary Moon at Durham, England, but does not join the Church or express a desire to do so, but I have written her a long letter telling her of the truth of the Gospel. Her letter brings a great deal of news also.
September 26, 1856, the two first handcart companies came into the city.
September 28, 1856, I paid $15 for the bill of divorce that was applied for on 12 January 1856.
October 25, I had a piece of m y finger end taken off by Dr. France on account of having a bad crack kin the end of it. It is one of the finger ends that I lost when about 12 years old in Thrislington Coal Pit.
President (Brigham) Young is very sick.
Oct. 25, 1856, I went to ask the President if was willing that I should take a wife, but I could not see him, so I sent a note to him, and he said to go and get married. I then went and asked Joseph Hodgetts if he was willing that I should take his sister to wife (Hannah), and he said "Yes," so he fixed to go to Brother Baites and bring her to him on the morrow afternoon for me to see her and know if she was willing , so we met at the time, and she was willing . We fixed the time for marriage.
Nov. 8, 1856, we the undersigned names Ralph Smith and Hannah Hodgetts were joined together in matrimony by Bishop John Sharp at his house in the 20th ward. She is a young woman that came in with the second handcart company November 16, well in health and spirits and full of interest of the work of the Lord.
The fourth handcart company came in but had suffered greatly, and heard from the others on Thursday last.
Nov. 17, 1856 I saw President Brigham Young and asked him if I might take another wife, and he told me to go and get one, and he would marry us on the Sunday between meetings Nov. 23.
Attended meetings and saw the President and told him the girl I expected to get, was sick, and he said alright.
During the past week, I asked Brother Sanders for his sister Mary Ann and he said he had no objections for me to have her, but she was sick, and I would have to wait a little before I could have her.
Nov. 30, 1856, the last handcart company came into this city, but they need more or less and another fifty teams are called to go from Utah and Toilla counties to go and bring the independent company on from Bridger, who without assistance from this people must perish with their silver and gold and cattle.
I saw my marriage lines and license to Hannah Dodds the other night while looking over some of my papers, so I burnt them December 8, 1856. About 60 teams went back to Bridger to help bring (Willie Handcart Pioneers. Ralph's third wife Emma Girdlestone was in this group) them here.
March 3, 1857, I was rebaptised by Bishop McCray and confirmed the same day.
My wife, Hannah Hodgetts, daughter of John Hodgetts and Mary Smart, born 14 May 1838 at Gate Hill in Dudley Parish, Wostershire, England, was baptized by Elder John Lee, 16 March 1856 in the Dudley branch and was rebaptized 3 March 1857 by Bishop McCray in City Creek and was confirmed the same day.
On Feb. 28, 1857, we finished our work on the canal. I have not stated the date, I restarted to rewrite my journal for the reason that the dates are above the page each day I start, but now I am up to date or present time, and I shall put it down with its date alone.
March 10, 1857, I commenced to work in the quarry to get out rock for the basement story of the Temple.
March 16, I went to the Seventies Council Hall and was ordained to the office of a Seventy by B.F. Benjamin and put in the 7th quorum.
March 25, 1857 returned home from the quarry in the evening and enjoyed the sweet comforts of my home and lovely embrace of my wife.
March 26, 1857: Returned at daybreak to my work in the quarry in Red Butte.
March 28, 1857: Returned home with a severe cold, sick and sore. I received a letter from my sister in St. Louis.
April 5, 1857: I had a young man at my house named Thomas Ord who I had not seen for at least ten years .
April 6, 1857: Attended conference.
April 7, 1857: Stood guard in the city.
April 12, 1857: Attended meeting and went for a walk with my wife and Robert Mattingson, and Miss Emma Girdlestone.
April 13, 1857: Went to work in the quarry.
May 23, 1857: Returned home and found my wife sick. Went back to work and returned on the 30th. Wife a little better. Had two letters from mother and brothers. All well except my youngest brother.
June 27, 1857: A 8 a.m. went on military duties. Was chosen as a sergeant in the 4th Company of ten in the first company of fifty under Major Sharp in Colonel Ross' regiment of infantry.
June 29, 1857: Attended meeting in the social hall that was called for the officers of the Nauvoo Legion. We got orders to get our uniforms dress.
July 3, 1857: Left work and prepared to train and go through the movement for the fourth when Paul Gourley, Captain of our ten, resigned his office and was appointed sergeant in my place by Major Sharp, and I placed as Captain in his stead.
July 4, 1857: At half past six a.m., we meet for the procession at the head waters of Big Cottonwood.
July 20, 1857: Attended meeting in the Bowery two times, ward meeting in the evening, was at the picnic on the 24th (note by person who originally wrote this: the government and its attitude towards this people) (Daily happenings are left out of this sketch for some time)
March 28, 1857, returned home with a severe cold, sick and sore. I received a letter from my sister in St. Louis.
April 5, 1857, I had a young man at my house named Thomas Ord who I had not seen for at least ten years.
April 6, 1857, attended conference.
April 7, 1857, stood guard in the city.
April 12, 1857, attended meeting and went for a walk with my wife and Robert Mattingson, and Miss Emma Girdlestone (his next wife and my great-great-grandmother).
April 13, 1857 went to work in the quarry.
May 23, 1857, returned home and found my wife sick. Went back to work and returned on the 30th, wife a little better, had two letters from mother and brothers, all well except my youngest brother.
June 27, 1857, at 8 a.m. went on military duties. Was chosen as a sergeant in the 4th company of ten in the first company of fifty under Major Sharp in Colonel Ross's regiment of infantry.
June 29, 1857, left work and prepared to train and go through the movement for the fourth when Paul Gourley, captain of our ten resigned his office of the day and at noon it was over and returned home.
July 18, 1857, received an invitation by brother John Sharp from President Brigham Young to go to the picnic party in August. He got a cask for gun powder and caps also a Bowie knife and prepared to go at a minute's notice back east and was instructed by President Young about the government and its attitude towards this people.
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