December 7th 1865:

President Young made a call for cash to send East to purchase wire to put up a Telegraph line which was responded to and a line built in 1866.

April 25th 1866: 

Bros. Moses Thatcher started to Europe on a Mission and our teams for the poor started. Fifteen teams from Logan. During the summer, the second ward school house was covered in and put to  use. Also a Sunday School was organized by William H. Sherman.

May 27th 1866:

I baptized my son Thomas (Hodgetts Smith) with eight other young persons. Two weeks later, I baptized Father Haybold.

September 2nd 1866:

Our teams returned home with the saints.

November 6th 1866:

I had a son born named Joseph G. (Girdlestone Smith).

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February 5th 1867: 

The Logan Canon wagon Road Company was organized.

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March 7th 1867:

Emma G. (Girdlestone) Smith blessed by W.G. Cole. Joseph G. (Girdlestone Smith) blessed by W.H. Shearman.

March 30th 1867:

I had sealed to me for time and eternity, Susannah Jolley by Apostle George Q. Cannon.

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August 4th 1867:

A prayer circle was organized in an upper room of H. Thatcher’s (home). E.T. Benson, President.

May 18th 1868: 

A Female Relief Society was organized. Sister Mary Ann Maughan, President.

June 2nd 1868:

My son Ralph Hodgetts Smith was baptized by Peter Maughan and confirmed by Thomas H. Smith. Mary Jane Girdlestone Ridges (her father was Joseph Ridges) was baptized by Peter Maughan and confirmed by Neils Mickelson.

August 22 1868: 

President Young organized a School of the Prophets in Logan – E.T. Benson, President, and Peter

Maughan Vice President, George L. Farrell, Secretary, and John B. Thatcher treasurer.

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August 23, 1868:

I had a son born, named Albert G. (Girdlestone Smith).

September 6th 1868: Bishop William B. Preston and Moses Thatcher returned from their missions to Europe. This same month, Moses Thatcher was elected superintendent of Sunday Schools for Cach County.

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Went to work on the U.P.R.R (railroad). Did well, came home to Christmas. Went to Salt Lake City to trade.

January 1869:

Paid my tithing and received a member in the School of the Prophets.

March 4th 1869:

Attended fast meeting. Blessed my youngest child Albert (Girdlestone Smith).

May 1st 1869: 

The Logan Cooperative Mercantile Institution was started.

September 3rd 1869:

President Ezra T Benson died very suddenly at Ogden, and on the 5th was buried at Logan with great respect. After the death of President E.T. Benson, Brother Peter Maugan was acting President over this Stake of Zion.

October 11th 1869:

My child Albert (Girdlestone Smith) died aged one year, one month, 20 days. (He may have died from cancer.

October 18th 1869:

President Maughan called me to assist and oversee the

work on Logan Canon  Road and stayed until he said enough.

November 22nd 1869: I took Mother (Mary Usher Smith) to the city to get her endowments and had her sealed to Father by Apostle George Q. Cannon, I acting as proxy.

March 26th 1870:

My son Thomas Hodgetts was ordained to the office of a Deacon by Thomas R. McNeil at the First Ward School House, Logan City.

April 7th 1870:

I baptized five young persons and my daughter Mary Ann Hodgetts. She was confirmed by Thomas McNeil.

May 29th 1870:

My son Ralph Hodgetts was ordained to the office of Deacon by Brigham Skiner at Logan Hall, Logan City.

April 17th 1870:

I had a son born named Edward G. (Girdlestone Smith) who was blessed July 7 by B.M. Lewis.

July 4th 1870:

In company with Bro. B. Cluff, we went to the Gars District up Paradise Canon according to the desire of President Maughan. Spent one week hunting for lead with little success for a company of 15 members.

Returned for two weeks, found several veins. Left our tools and never went

back. Enough time lost without any success recompense. Called again in the  fall season of the year by President Peter Maughan to take the hands and repair the Logan Canon Road. Got poisoned with the Ivy and had  hard time. Attended by Father Brownell.

In December 14th:

Went to Evenston Coal mines and worked all winter and got money to pay for my land and to buy a new wagon.

January 5th 1871:

President Young told the bishops to stop receiving any more tithing at present.

March 11th 1871:

Word came from the Presidency to receive tithing again.

Early in April 2:

I had another fine young horse died , this been the third in

three years.

April 19th 1871:

The Cow Pasture Company was organized.

April 24th 1871:

President Peter Maughan died and was buried on the 26th

with great respect. After the death of President Peter Maughan, Bishop

William B. Preston was acting Presiding bishop for Cache Valley Stake of Zion.

August 23, 1871: 

A company was organized to build a railroad form Ogden to Soda Springs, the ground was broken at Brigham City on the 26th. At this date, I with my son Thomas Hodgetts and our new wagon commenced to work with the engineers party for the UNRR and stayed with them until the 20th of December and the snow fell two feet deep and stopped the works.

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