SMITH, Mary Jane b. 17 Jun 1853 Provo, Utah, Utah, United States d. 5 Jan 1917 Spring Glen, Carbon, Utah, United States

1853 - 1917 (63 years)

Name	SMITH, Mary Jane
Birth	17 Jun 1853	Provo, Utah, Utah, United States
Gender	Female
WAC	16 Jun 1880	SGEOR
_TAG	Reviewed on FS
Death	5 Jan 1917	Spring Glen, Carbon, Utah, United States
Burial	7 Jan 1917	Spring Glen, Carbon, Utah, United States
Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
Person ID	I51344	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

Father	SMITH, Silas Schellinger , b. 6 Jun 1822, Stockholm, St. Lawrence, New York, United States Stockholm, St. Lawrence, New York, United Statesd. 11 Jun 1892, Meadow, Millard, Utah Territory, United States (Age 70 years)
Mother	ORTON, Elizabeth , b. 1 Jun 1826, Lebanon, Clinton, Illinois, United States Lebanon, Clinton, Illinois, United Statesd. 27 Nov 1902, Meadow, Millard, Utah, United States (Age 76 years)
Marriage	9 Feb 1844	Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois, United States [1]
Family ID	F20662	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family	ROWLEY, John Thompson , b. 7 Nov 1847, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotlandd. 31 Jan 1925, Spring Glen, Carbon, Utah, United States (Age 77 years)
Marriage	23 Jun 1880	St. George, Washington, Utah, United States
Family ID	F25700	Group Sheet \| Family Chart
Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

Photos At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

Notes

A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MARY JANE SMITH ROWLEY
Most of the events described in this sketch were taken from a history written by Mary Jane’s daughter, Mary Ann Rowley Jones, however through research discovered more details surrounding some of the events of Mary Jane’s life, and these are included in this history, She was a wonderful person and lived a good and noble life.
Mary Jane was born in Provo Utah on 17, June 1853 to Silas Smith and Elizabeth Orton. We know little about her early years, we realize that it-is hard to compile a history when there are no more people living who knew the subject and therefore we hope this history will meet thru approval of Mary Jane’s descendants. %he family was devoted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, being taught the principles of the Gospel of Salvation and exaltation,
Silas Smith filled an honorable mission in Hawaii, he returned home well, and enriched in the Gospel. There also must have been much love in their home as Mary Jane was a loving person. She was taught the home making skills that were necessary for her to keep a sparkling clean home for her husband and family. Even in the harshness of pioneer living Mary Jan's mother kept her wooden floors spotless. They had received so much scrubbing that the knots in the boards were very prominent, and the wood had bleached almost white with the lye.
We are not sure when the family settled in Meadow, but we know that they were there before 1869 because Silas and Elizabeth Orton 'imifen"'§ last child was born in Meadow on 8, October 1869.
Mary Jane was the fourth child born to Silas and Elizabeth In order of their birth, her brothers and sisters were,Silas Marion,17,April 1845, Julia Elizabeth,29,Julyl848, Frederick Asahel,24,January 1850, Mary Jane,17,June 1853,Henry,20,October,1858, Franklin,29 December 1862, Vienna,16 June 1864 and Martha Eliza,8 October 1869.
Mary Jane Smith became the second wife of John Thompson Rowley in polygamy on 23 June 1880. To this union were born 7 children, John Henry, 10 February 1882, David Smith, 28 August 1883, Silas, 23 October 1885, Mary Ann, 5 December 1887, Franklin Irvin, JANUARY 1890, Ephraim,14 October 1893, He died on the same day he was born, and George Albert, born 27 November 1894. The five older children were born in Meadow.
The first years of Mary Jane’s marriage were somewhat trying. John Thompson was unable to provide her with a home of her own for awhile and she lived with her family. John Thompson would spend about a week or so with each family, when he came to visit Mary Jane, they would sleep out in the orchard
Under the apple trees because the home was not big enough for two families, after awhile John Thompson was able to secure a home for her and her growing family. This home was just a short distance from the Smith's home and they were very good to Mary Jane and her children, especially during the years her husband had to be in hiding.
John Thompson did his best to provide for both his families, but found it a difficult task. After Congress passed a law against plural marriage things became even worse, much of his time was spent in trying to keep away from United States Marshals that had been sent to Utah to arrest those men who still lived polygamy. lt was a very difficult time. He would get home to see his two families as often as he could, but that was not very often. Both families suffered from lack of provisions. It was fortunate for him both that their father's lived close by and were able to help them.
About the time of the Manifesto, Jane Paul Rowley decided to move with her family to Shelly, Idaho, and this eased the tension somewhat for the second family, but the Marshals were still after John Thompson. Finally on May 1891 Jane Paul Rowley filed for a divorce from her husband. This action was taken in the First Judicial District Court of Utah County and made it possible for John Thompson Rowley and Mary Jane Smith to be married legally. Although they had been sealed in the St. George temple in 1880, in the eyes of the law they were not legally married.
John Thompson worked for days making a ring out of a five dollar gold piece. When he had it finished he and Mary Jane went to the Court house in Millard County and were legally married. This took place in Fillmore, Millard County on 29 August 1891.
The summer or fall of 1892, they left Southern Utah and went to Carbon County, Here he manufactured charcoal and shipped by railroad to Salt Lake City and other places to be used in smelters.
As soon as he was settled and had a home ready for them John Thompson sent for his family. They arrived in Price on Thanksgiving Day. Mary Jane and her children traveled part of the way by stage coach and part of the way by train, they spent Thanksgiving Day with Elizabeth Ann Rowley Lyman, and they had dinner with her and her family.
When they got to the home he had prepared for them, Mary Jane cried, she was so glad to have a home of her own, it had only one room with a large fire place and a rock in front of the fireplace, but it was home! The house was built of natural lumber with smaller pieces of boards up the cracks. There was lots of wood to burn. Spring soon came and with it were flowers, birds and beautiful weather. The family was very happy, there were lots of wild animals, rabbits and ducks and fish in the nearby river.
Mary Jane used the fireplace to cook on for awhile before she got a stove, but she made good bread and meals for her family in spite of no stove.
They were active in the Church in Spring Glen and participated in all the social gatherings and fine times the community had together. Mary Jane was a good cook and furnished mush good food for these gatherings. She would often roast a leg of mutton or a big ham and the trimmings for their parties.
John Thompson Fowley became prosperous and was a good provider for his family. He raised good gardens and had livestock and took care of them. He also owned charcoal kilns and he soon opened his own store, selling dry goods, groceries, etc.
Mary Jane was a very patient and loving woman and was willing to help anyone who needed help. One day some people stayed over night with them,they often had people stay so their horses could rest before going on. This day Mary Jane was preparing their breakfast and sent her daughter Mary Ann out to the chicken coop for eggs. Mary Ann ran to the coop and found every chicken dead on the floor,there were about sixty of them. A bobcat or links cat had cut their throats and killed e very chicken. The men folks went after it, but it got away. Things like this were some of the hazards that the settlers had to deal with.
John Thompson built another home for his family about a fourth of a mile away and over the river from the first one. They moved into their new house and enjoyed it very much. They had lived their for some time, when one summer there was an abundance of rain, It rained and became so damp that nearly every family that lived near the river came down with chills and fever. The Rowley family became very ill also. Mary Ann was the only one who remained well, and she had to care for her family. The effects of the chills and fever stayed with John Thompson for a long time.
Finally they moved up to Spring Glen where it was drier and lived for awhile in one of the rooms in the home of Heber J.Stow-ell. John then bought some ground from Mr.Stowell and arranged to move his house and corrals and chicken coop, onto the higher ground. It was late in the fall and the children had started school before they finally got the house moved, but it was much nicer.
Mary Jane’s sister Martha was living on a farm north of Helper when her two children became very ill with diphtheria. Mary Jane went up to stay with them and help her with the sick children, one of the children died.
While Mary Jane was with her sister, John’s son Hugh came to see them and needed a place to stay, at first John T. was a little worried that Hugh had come to cause trouble, but he said he could stay for a little while. When Mary Jane got home, she said of course he could stay. She was very kind and sweet to Hugh and treated him as if he were her own son, They would not allow Hugh to pay board, but he managed to pay his way in the things he did for the family. He he-tped with the chores, cut wood and anything else he could find to do. He was well mannered and the family enjoyed having him there.

At the time Mary Jane came home from her sister’s home, she herself was ill, she had heart trouble and her daughter Mary Ann was indeed a big help to her. It wasn't long after she came home that John T.decided to go to California to try his luck at prospecting for gold in Death Valley.
Mary Jane got worse every day and she was in great pain in her hip. It did not get better and there was no way to get in touch with John Thompson. Mary Jane became bedfast and had to be helped up and down and you could hear her scream for blocks with the pain. Finally her son John Henry went to Price after Dr.Fisk. He began going almost every day and Mary Ann kept hot poltices on her Mother's hip. Then one day the Dr. came out and after looking at Mary Jane, he said to Mary Ann, You and I are going to operate on your Mother”, He told Mary Ann to take; the instruments into the kitchen and boil them and also,: to wash your own hands good:
When she came back with the instruments the doctor had everything ready, and he put the ether mask on Mary Jane’s face and gave the ether can to Mary Ann and told her to pour more on as he told her to. It seemed to Mary Ann like the whole earth was going through her, When Doctor Fisk stomped his foot and screamed!!
"Mary don’t you dare faint! I have got to have your help!" The faint left her and she did as the Doctor said and the operation was successful. Later John Thompson came home and Mary Jane got well.
Mary Jan's mother Elizabeth Orton Smith came to Spring Glen from Meadow and she became guite ill. She was in bed a lot, but she could get up by herself. Mary Ann was with her grandmother just as it was coming daylight on 27 November 1902. It was Thanksgiving Day and also Mary Jane's son’s birthday. Mary Jane told her daughter to stay right there with her grandmother so she could get a fire going and get breakfast.
Just as Mary Jane left the room, Grandma Smith raised up and wanted a drink, Mary Ann was giving her a drink and Grandma died in her arms. Mary Jane came in just as her mother passed away and said,” Mary Ann, did you see the Angels" Mary Ann did! Mary Jane knew who they were, they were people whom she and her mother had known and who had already passed away.
Mary Jane's mother, Elizabeth Orton Smith had been promised the following in her Patriarchal blessing!
"Your last days will be your best days, and before you depart this life, you will have this testimony that not one of your sons and daughters will be lost, and when the end comes you shall die the death of the righteous and your end shall be glorious...
Mary Jane was privileged to see that her Mother's blessing was literally fulfilled and her end was glorious for there were Angels there at her passing and Mary Jane saw them!
Mary Jane’s husband was ordained as Bishop of the Spring Glen Ward on 15 January 1906, and served in that position for many years. While serving in that position he was able to call his sons on missions and they filled them honorably.
One year they raised a lot of turkeys and chickens and they incubated them in the cellar. When fall came John Thompson went to Salt Lake City and got orders for them for the holidays. On Thanksgiving they had to clean, pick and pack the fowls in barrels ready to send. It was a big Job. Mary Jane was not very well and there was the store to be run, the house to be kept and the chickens and the turkeys to be prepared. Mary Jane insisted that her daughter, Mary Ann, take care of the store and the house and she tried to take care of the chickens and turkeys. She was not well, and it was too much dampness for her and she contracted Bright's disease. She was never in good health after that.
Mary Jane Rowley passed away on 15 January 1917 in Spring Glen Carbon County Utah.
Mary Jane Smith Rowley had lived a good and noble life and remained devoted to the Church. She was a loving and sweet lady and gave much of herself to others. She will long be remembered and much loved by those who knew her and for those who didn't know her, she will be a joy to meet at some future time! May her descendants likewise remain true and prepare themselves to meet her.
In 15 January 1917, John Thompson Rowley lost his wife, Mary Jane Smith Rowley, in death. She had been ill for some time and had suffered very much. None the less it was a great loss to him and he grieved much at her passing. John Thompson Rowley passed away on the 31 January 1925 in Spring Glen, Carbon County Utah.

History Department
A continuation of the Mary Jane Smith Rowley ancestry history,gathered and compiled by Luella Jones Dwonard, Historian.
My father Samuel Smith,Esq. was born January 26th 1714,my grandfathei Mr. Samuel Smith was the son of Mr, Robert Smith who came from old England.
Taken from history of the church volume 1 pages 235-6 and 7
At this point I think it proper that a letter wtiten by Asael Smith/ Grandfather of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jun.( first great grandfather of Mary Jane Smith Rowley ) should be introduced. A copy of the letter was obtained by George A Smith,the subject of the foregoing biagraphical note, while on a visit to Topsfield,in 1872. The original was in the hands of a son of Mr, Jacob Town,then the town clerk of Topsfield,and who while unwilling to part with the original/ because written to and recieved by his father, permitted President George A. Smith to copy it.
On the outside of the letter,besides the superscription,Mr.Jacob Town, Topsfield,Commonwea1th of Massachusetts,is this recieved Sept.14,1796,from Asael Smith,from which it appears,when compared with the date under which it was written,the letter was one month on the journey from Tunbridge Vermont to Topsfield a distance of 150 miles,and was probably carried by a private conveyance.
The letter is produced here for two reasons; First for it's own in-trinisic :interest as a ^literary relic of one of the Prophets ancestors from the stock from which the Prophet decended,and of the American Revelutionary Period: Second as showing the character of the stock from which the Prophet decended. This letter exibits in Asael Smith a noble independence of character with a childlike humility before God,together with unbounded character, united with a childlike humility and unbounded faith and trust in the wisdom of providence and his over ruling hand in the affairs of nations. Loyal ty to his country and faith in the stability of the government under the overruling hand in the affairs of nations. The letter will go far towards refuting the slanders which untruthful writers have been pleased to circulate conserning the character of that race from which the Prophet decended.
Asael Smiths letter to Mr.Jacob Town
Respected Sir
Having a favorable opportunity,altho on very short notice,! with joy and gratitude,embrace it,returning herewith my most hearty thanks for your respect shown in your favor of the 30th of November,by Mr.Willis,which I view as a singular specimen of friendship,which has very little to be practiced by any of my friends in Topsfield,altho often requested.
My family are all,through the doodness of the Devine Benediction,in a tolerable good state of health,and desire to be remembered to you and to all inquiring friends.
I have set me up anew house since Mr. Willis was here and expect to ;:-^c-v remove into it next Spring, and begin again on an entire new farm and my son Joseph will live on the old farm( if this that has been about four years occupied can be called old ) and carry it on at the halves/which half,I hop^ will nearly furnish my family with food, Whilst I with my £our youngest .'sons
shall endeavor to bring to another farm Etc.
As to other news,I have nothing as I know of,worth noticing,except that c:
grain has taken a sudden rise amongst us,about one-third.
As to the Jacobin party,they are not very numerous here,or if they are they are pretty still; there are some in this state, viz, in Berxnington who like other children crying for a rattle,have blared- For my part,I am so willing to trust the government of the world in the hands of the Supreme Ruler of Universal Nature,that I do not at present wish to try to wrest it out of his hands,and I have so much confidence in his abilities to teach our Senators wisdom,that I do not think it worthwhile for me to interpose,from the little stock of knowledge he has favored me with, in the affair,either one way or the other. He has conducted us through a glorious Revolution and has brought us into the promised land of peace and liberty and I think he is about to bring all the world into the same Beatitude in his own time and way; which altho his ways may appear never so inconsistant to our blind reason,yet may be perfectly of the mountain without hands,spoken of by Daniel,and has smitten the image upon his feet,by which the iron,the clay,the brass,the silver and the gold(viz),all the monarchial and ecclesias--tical tyranny will be broken to pieces and become as chaff of the summer threshing floor,the wind shall carry them all away,that there shall be no place found for them.
Give my best regards to your parents and tell them that I have taken up with the eleventh commandment that the negro taught to the minister,which was thus ; The Minister asked the Negro how many commandments there were '? His answer was "Eleben Sir", Aye," replied the other, "What is the eleventh?" That is one I never heard of. "The elebenth commandment Sir,"is mind your own business."
So I choose to do and give myself but little concern about what passes in the political world.
Give my best regards to Dr. Meriam,Mr. Willis,Joseph Dorman and Mr.Cree, and tell Mr.Cree I thank him for his respects and hope he will accept mine. Write to me as often and as large as you can and oblige your sincere friend and well wisher. Signed .
Asael Smith
The following appears on the back of the first page of the letter, being evidently the nature of a postscript-Mr. Jacob Town Jr.
Give my hearty thanks to Mr.Charles Rogers for his respects shown < writing me a few lines, and tell him that I should a wrote to him now, I had ! retime,But now waive it for the present,as I have considerable part of what I intended to write to you.
If I should live and do well,I expect to come to Topsfield myself next winter,which,if I do,I shall come and pay you a visit. Farewell,tell Mr. Joseph Cree that if he will come here and set up his trade, I will warr^;;v ent him., as much work as he can do and good pay.
On the margin of the second page of the letter appears the
following( I expect my son Joseph will be married in a few days.
D
History of the church, volume 1.1 pages 442 and 3 Joseph Smith writing
My cousin Elias Smith, ( a brother to Silas Smith,the father of Mary Jane
Smith Rowley) arrived from St. Lawrence County,New York,with the information that his father and family and Uncle Silas and family were on their way to Kirtland.and that my grandmother Mary Duty Smith,wife of Asael Smith was at Fairport.
May 17,1836,1 went in company with my brother Hyrum,in a carriage to Fair-port/and brought my grandmother Mary Smith,aged ninety three years,she had not been baptized on account of the opposition of Jesse Smith,her eldest son who has always been an enemy to the work. She had come five hundred miles to see her children,and knew all of us she had ever seen.She was much pleased to being introduced to her great grandchildren,and expressed much pleasure and gratification on seeing me.
My grandfather ,Asael Smith long ago predicted that there< would be a prophet raised up in his family,and my grandmother was full satisfied that it was fulilled in me. My grandfather Asael died in East Stockholm. St. Lawrence county,New York,after having recieved the Book of Mormon, and read it nearly through;and he declared that I was the very prophet that he had long known would come into his family.
On the 18,1836,my Uncle Silas Smith and family arrived from the East. My father three of his brothers,and their mother met for the first time for many years. It was a happy day for we had long prayed to see our grandmother and Uncles in the church.
On May 27,1836,after a few days visit with her children,which she enjoyed extremely well,my grandmother fell asleep with out sickness,pain or regret. She breathed her last about sunset,and was buried in the buriel ground near the Temple. After a funeral address had been delivered by Sidney Rigdon. She had buried one daughter Sarah,two sons ,Stephen,and Samuel and her husband who died October 30,1830,and left five sons and three daughter still living. At the death of my grandmother,who had kept a record,there was one hundred and ten children;grandchildren and great grandchildren. My Uncle Stephen and Aunt Sarah,were buried side by side in the buriel grounds in Royalton Winsor County Vermont. Stephen died July 25th,1802,age seventeen years,three months and eleven days.
She died firm in the faith of the gospel, although she had never yeilded ^x-. obedience to any of its ordinances. History of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Lucy Smith.
The following taken from Joseph Smith an American Prophet
by John Henry Evans page 22
Asael Smith son of the second Samuel, was born in 1744.he died in 1830, when he was eighty six years old. He was one of five children by a first wife, After his marriage to Mary Duty,Asael lived for some years in Windham, New Hampshire,the home of his wife's family.His name appears on the tax lists of Derry Field,now Manchester ; which is the southern part of Windham. On the death of his father he returned to Topsfield to settle the Estate,later he moved to Tunbridge/Vermont with his family
Physically,Asael Smith was said to have been a powerfully built man, capable of handling two men of average size with little difficulty. There must have been some muscular prowess,too,on the Duty family side,for according to Dr.Alfred Poore,in his history of the Visitation,Mary's sister Eunice could take up a barrel of cider and drink out of the bung.
Among his neighbors Asael was sometimes referred to as Crooked Neck Smith
this was because he walked with his head a little to one side.Early in life it is explained,that his neck was burned,and in consequence,the cords on that side had shrunk somewhat.
He was very positive in his views and his ways of expressing them.
Although he himself did not belong to any religious organization, ( the Smiths as a rule,did not take kindly to the churches,he never the less allowed some of his children to be baptized into the Congregational Society. By nature he was religious,however with a leaning to Universalism,a faith which was being effectively preached in New England town by John Murray,an English Divine,just before and after the Revolution. Asael's reasons for keeping aloof from the churches,as he himself gives them,and as they are quoted in the Topsfield Record, is that he could not reconcile the teachings of the denomin?--
ations with scripture and reasontwo witnesses by which he tested everything
reilgious.
Any honest calling he says to his family in a letter(at one time he thoughl he would pass on )Any honest calling will honor you,if you will honor that. It is better to be a rich cobbler than a poor merchant-Never trouble nor
trust friends unless their is a necessitygive your children if possible
a good educationImake no doubt that you will hear divers opinions concern
ing me,both before and after I shall sleep in silence,but do not be troubled
by that,I did what in my circumstances seemed best for me for the present,
however the extent had not,in some points answered my expectations,! yet I
have learned to measure things by another rule than events,and satisfy myself
in thisthat I did all for the best as I thought.
This is the man cercerning who a petulant critic of the Mormon Prophet says^with more smartness than truth,"His views were as crooked as his neck; and a 1931 Copyist,varies this pert remark by substituting the word,religion for views.
Of an alltogether differen temperament was Asael Smiths son Joseph,father of the Prophet,Joseph Smith Senior,who was born on the old homestead in Topsfield.in 1771. At twent one years of age we find him with his father in Tunbridge,Vermont,clearing land for a farm. Just why Asael moved there with
his family,is not knownunless it was because the country was virgin and
because he wished to provide opportunity for his senen sons and five daughters
Asahel Smith of Topsfield,with some account of the Smith Family,
Asael son of Samuel,was born in Topsfield,March 7,1744,his mother died shortly after his birth,and he was left in the care of his father's second wife,Prescilla. The greater part of his early life was spent in Topsfield, February 12,1767,he married Mary Duty,of Windham,New Hamshire,and took up his residence in that place about the year 1772. From there he moved to Dunbarton and from there he went to Derryfield,now the city of Manchester.
During the Revolution he followed the example of his worthy father and cast his lot on the side of the Patriots, serving in the American army during the war. After the death of his father in 1785, Asael returned to Topsfield again to make his home on the paternal estate. He lived in the old home about one mile north of town,where a number of his children were born,notably Joseph father of the Mormon Prophet. It is doubtful if Asael would have again left the place had he not aroused the prejudices of his neighbors. He was a man of very liberal views,with thoughts in advance of his time,He was noted foi having opinions of his own,which he would not yeild to bigotry nor opposition. Some of his children were baptized in the Congregational Church at Topsfield But in his own religious views he was some what of a Universalist,and held to the truths that in America,all men should have free and equal reliqious
liberty.lt is commonly reported in the family that he brought the ill-will of his neighbors upon his head because of his too liberal religious views It is well known that he was open and explicit and always expressed his hoest opinions whether they .were 'in -accord with prevailing views or not
It has been said of him that one of his shoulders was higher than the other but this is a mistake.He was not deformed in any way,But while a small child hi: neck was severely burned,which caused the cords to contract,making his neck stiff;and from this he recieved the undignified nick name of Crook-neck Smith, a term applied to him by his apossers. Neemiah Cleaveland in his address,delivered at the two-hundreth anniverssary of the incorporation of Topsfield speaking of Asael,said he was so free on religious subjects that some regarded '. his sentiments as more distorted than his neck,But fortunately some of his writings in which he expressed his views have been handed down to us,and although his religious opinions were not always in accord with public opinion or belief,yet he was honest in his convictions and held aloof from all denominations simply because he could not reconcile their teachings with the scriptures and his reason. In the Spring of 1971 he removed from Topsfield never to return,and again took up his abode,temporarily in the Granite State,afterwards miving to Tunbridge in Vermont.
Asael was some what gifted with the pen and did concidera.ble writing in his day. He was affable in manner,possessing a quaint and genial humor and a fund of ancedotes.While living in Topsfield he thus expressed to the Selectmmen the amount and nature of his taxable property.
I have two poles,tho one is poor,
I have three cows,and want five more, I have no horse.but fifteen sheep,
No more than these this year I keep, Steers,that's two years old,one pair,
Two calves I«have, all over hair, Three heffers,three years old,I own,
One heffer calf,that's poorly grown, My land is acres eighty two
Which search the record yuo'll find true, And this is all I have in store,
I'll thank you if you'll tax no more.
Asael Smith
The following is an address to his family which is here produced in full.
A few words of advice I leave to you,my dear wife and children,whom I expect ere long to leave;
My dear selfs,
I know not what liesure I shall have at the hour of my death to speak to you,and as you all know that I am not free in speach,especially when sick or sad;and therefore do speak my heart to you,and wish you to hear my speaking to you as long as y.ou live ( when my tongue shall be mouldered 1 to dust in the silent tomb) in this my writing I divide among you all.
And first to you my daar wife, I do with all the strength and power that is in me,thank you for your kindness and faithfulness to me,beseeching God who is the husband of the widow,to take care of you and not leave you nor forsake you,or never suffer you to leave nor forsake him,nor his ways. Put your whole trust solely in him,he never did nor never will forsake any that trusted in him. One thing,how .ever I would add,if you should marry again, remember what I have undergone by a stepmother, and do not p*,*-^™ „«.,_
husband from his own children or kindred,lest you draw on him and on yourself a great sin. So I do resign you into the everlasting arms of the Great Husband of Husbands, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And now my dear children let me pour out my heart to you and speak first to you of immortality to your souls. Trifle not in this point; The soul is immortal; You have to deal with an infinite Majesty; You go upon life and death therefore in this point be serious. Do all to God in a serious manner,when you think of him. Pray to him,or in any way make your addresses to His Great '.' Maiesty,be in good earnest. Trifle not with his name nor his attributes,nor call him to witness to anything but is absolute truth,nor then,But when sound reason on serious concideration requires it. And as to Religion,! would not ' ' i wish to point out any particular form to you, But first I wish you to search the scriptures and consult sound reason and see if they (which I take to be two witnesses that stand by the God of the whole earth) are not sufficent to evince to you that Religion is a necessary theme. Then I wish you to study the nature of Religion,and see whether it consists in outward forms,rites and ordinances,save yourselves,or whether there is a necessity of your having help from any other hand than your own. If you find that you stand in need of a Savior, Christ saith, Look unto me and be ye saved,all ye ends of the earth. Then look unto him,and if you find from scripture and sound reason that Christ hath come into the world to save sinners,then examine what it was that caused him to leave the center of consumate happiness to suffer as he did-- Whether it was to save mankind because they were sinners and could not save themselves Or whether he came to save mankind because they had repented of their sins, so as to be forgiven on the score of their repentance. If you find that he came to save sinners merely because they were such,then try if there is any other so great that he can not save him ; But mind that you admit no others as evidences but the two that God hath appointed mainly, Scripture and Sound Reason.And if these two witness that you are one whit better by nature than the worst heathen in the darkest corner of the deserts of Arabia,then conclude that God hath been partial towards you and hath furnished you with a better nature than others;and that consequently he is not just to all mankind,But if these two witnesses testify to you that God is just to all and his tender mercies are over all his works then believe them ,and if you can believe that Christ came to save sinners and not the Righteous Pharisees,or self righteous; That sinners must be saved by the righteousness of Christ alone,with out mixing any of their own righteousness with' his,than you will see that he can as well save all as any.
And there is no respect of persons with God,who will have mankind to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth,viz ; That there is one God and one Mediator between God and men,the man Jesus Christ,who gave himself a ransome for all,to be testified in due time'. And when you believe this you will enter into his rest,and when you enter into his rest you will know what that rest is,and not before,and having gotten this evidence that God is true7 be still adding to your evidence and enjoy your present assurance. Do all to a'll to your God as to your father, for his love is ten thousand times greater towards.you than 'ever any earthly father's could be to his offspring.
In the next place strive for those graces,which most concern your places and conditions and strive most against those failing which most threaten you. But above everything avoid a melancholly disposition,that is a humor that admits of any temptation and is capable of any impression and distemper;shun as death
this humor which will work you to all unthankfulness tgaindt God,unlovingness to men and unnaturalness to yourselves and one another.
7
Do not talk and make a noise to get the name of forward men,But do the thing and do it in a way that is fair and honest,which you can live and die by and rise and reign by;therefore my children,do more than you talk of,in point of religion ; Satisfy ypur own consciences in what you do ; all men you shall never you shall never satisfy,nay,some will not be satisfied though they become convinced.
As for your callingany honest calling will honor you,if you honor that*
It is better to be a rich cobbler than a poor merchant; A rich farmer than a poor preacher,Never be discouraged though sometimes your schemas should not succeed according to your wishes.
Persevere in the way of well doing and you may hope for success. Formyself ( who never had your parts nor helps ),I never found anything too hard for me in my calling,But discouragement and unbelief. If I was discouraged and did not believe I could do a thing,! never could; therefore,whenyou think anything is too hard for you,do not undertake it.
As to your company-Abandon all infectious,self serving companions;when once you found them false,trust them no more.Sort with such that are able to do or recieve good.Soloman gives you the best counsel in many places.Read the " Proverbs and remember him in this.Forsake not an old friend;be friendly and faithful to your friends.Never trouble nor trust friends unless there is a necessity,and lastly be long in closing with friends and loath to lose them upon experiance of them.
As to your marriages--! do not hink it worthwhile to say much about them. I believe that God created the persons for each other and that nature will find its own.
But for your childrenMake it your chiefest work,to bring them up in
the ways of virtue that they may be useful in their generation. Give them if possible a good education; If nature hath made no difference do you make none in your affections,continances nor portions ,-partiality ' this way begets envy, hatred,strife,and contention.
And as for yourselves within yourselves--My desire hath been to carry an even hand towards you all And I have labored to reduce you as near as I could^ all circumstances considered, to an equality,-and therefore my last request and charge is,that you will live together in an' undivided 'bond of love. You are many of you,and if you join together as one man,you need not want anything. What counsel what comfort,what money,what friends may you not help youreselves unto. If you will all as one contribute your aids.
Wherefore my dear children,! pray,beseech,and adjure you all by all the relations and dearness that hath ever been betwixt us and by the heart-rending pangs of a dying father, whose soul hath been ever bound in the bundle of life with yours,that you know one another. Visit as you may each one another; : ! Counsel, relieve succer,-help and admonish one another; and while your mother lives meet her if possible once every year. When she is dead pitch on some other place,if it may be your elder brothers house;or if you cannot meet,send to and hear from each other yearly and oftener if you can;and when you have :••'..*-('. .•* neither father nor mother left be so many fathers and mothers to each other, so you shall understand the blessings mentioned in the 133 Psalm.
As to your estates Be not troubled that you are below your kindred; Get
more wisdom,humility and virtue,and you are above them,only do this; Deal with your hearts to make them less; begin low,join together and help one another, Rest upon the promises which are many and precious this way. Love mercy,and have mercy on yourselves and on one another,and I know, I know,I say and I am confident in it, that if you will trust God in his own way,he will make comfortable provisions for you. Make no more objections,But trust him
Fr»-._- I:ho n./iH-1 i .,. :.- ,. ,
For the public,Bless God that you live in a land of liberty and bear yourselves dutifully and conscionably towards the authority under which you live. See Gods providence in the appointment of the Federal Constitution and hold union and order precious jewels. And for the Church of Christ; neither set her above her husband nor below her children;give her that honor,obedience and respect that is her due.And if you will be my children and heirs of my comfort in my dying age,be neither anothers nor factions of any party or faction or novelty;It is true that this is not a rising way,but it is a free,fair,comfortable way for a man to follow his own Judgement without wavering to either hand. I make no doubt but you will hear divers opinions concerning me,both before and after I shall sleep in silence,but do not be troubled at that . I did what in my circumstances seemed best for me for the present;however that event in some points answered my expectations;yet I have learned to measure things by another rule than events and satisfy myself in this that I did all for the best .as I thought,and if I had not so much foresight as some others I can not help it.
Sure Am I,my Savior Christ,is perfect,and never will fail in one circumstance. To him I commit your souls,bodies,estates,names characters,lives, deaths,and all,and myself waiting when he shall change my vile body and make it like his own most glorious body. And I wish to leave you everything I have in this world but my faults,and them I take with me to the grave,there to be burried in everlasting oblivion;But leaving my virtues,if ever 1 had any to revive and live in you,Amen; so come Lord Jesus; come quickly Amen.
The above was written April 10,1799,and left for my dearly beloved wife and children to review after my decease.
The original copy of this article,which is in a well preserved condition, is now in the possession of the Smith family. It was read and well understood by Asael's family many years before his death and no doubt had a great influence over them in their actions for good.
Asael was devotedly attached to his wife,his life-long companion,who survived him. The latter years of his life were spent at the home of his soh Silas in Stockholm St. Lawrence County, New York where he died October 31st 1830,over 8G years of age. In stature he was tall,his body was well proportioned and powerful and he was capable of handling with ease two ordina: men.
The children of Asael and Mary were;
Jesse,born April 20,1760,in Topsfield. When his father's family i moved to the west,Jesse remained in Vermont. He married Hanna Peabody and had the following children.
Benjamin,born May 2,1793 Eliza,born March 9,1795 Ira born January 30,1797 Harry born April 1,1799 Harriet born April 8,1801 Stephen born May 2,1003 Mary born May 4,1805 Catherine born July 13,1807 Royal born July 2,1809 Sarah born December 16,1812
Priscilla,born in Topsfield,October 20,1769 married John C. Waller August 14,1796,their children.
Calvin C. born June 6,1797
Pollv born October 16,1799 died June 20,1800
9
Marshall S.born March 18,1801
Royal H.born November 29,1802
Dudley C.born September 29,1804
Bushrod born October 18,1806
Silas born January 1,1809
Sally P. born October 31,1810
John H.born September 9,1812,died November 5,1812
Joseph born in Topsfield July 12,1771,he moved with his father to Tun-bridge, Orange County Vermont,in 1791,and assisted in clearing a large farm of a heavy growth of timber.In the year of 1816,Joseph moved to the state of New York and settled in Manchester,Ontario County. While the family was living in New York,the Church of Jesus Christ of Lattler Day Saints was organized with six members on April 6,1830,and Joseph Smith Junior was chosen as its President. This young man who was at this time but 24 years of age, is generally spoken of as founder of Mormonism.But the Latter Day Saints or members of the Church of Jesus Christ look upon him as an instrument in the hands of God in restoring to Earth the pure doctrines of Am ient Christianity and to them he is a prophet in the fullest sense of the word,as Isiah,Jere-miah,Daniel etc.were to Ancient Israel.His testimony is that through the power of God he was enabled to translate from golden plates,which were buried in the earth about 420 A.D.,A history of the Ancient inhabitants of America. This record is now known as the Book of Mormon;by the same power and authorit; the church of Jesus was organized with the same officers,gifts,and blessings which characterized the Church in the days of the Apostles.
Joseph Smith Senior was the first to accept the testimony of his son and in the year 1833,he was called to the office of Presiding Patriarch of the church. He died in Nauvoo Hancock County,Illinois,September 14 1840 of consumption which was brought on through exposure during the mobbings and persecutions of his people. The Prophet and his brother Hyrum ( the latter succeeding his father as Patriarch ),when under the protection of Goveror Ford of Illinois,and while waiting trial on the charge of treason,were murdered in Carthage jail,June 27,1844,by a mob disguised with painted faces For what reason these men were charged wih treason has never been made clear unless according to the ruling of Judge Austin A. King,they believed that the Kingdom of God would enentually be set upon earth and break in pieces all other nations,hence they were guilty of treason. The church of Christ today numbers 300,000 souls.
Joseph (3) married Lucy Mack,daughter of Solomon and Lydia Mack,January 24 1796, Their children were
Alvin born February 11,1798, died November 19,1824
Hyrum born February 9,1800 died June 27,1844
Sophronia born May 16,1803
Joseph ( Mormon Prophet) born December 23,1805, died June 27,1844
Samuel Harrison,born March 13,1808 died July 30,1844
Ephraim,born March 13,1810,died March 24,1810
William,born March 13,1811
Catherine born July 8,1812
Don Carlos born March 25,1816 died August 7,1841
Lucy born born July 18,1821
Asael the father of Silas Smith,who was the father of Mary Jane Smith • Rawlay) born May 21,1773,in Windham Rockingham County, New Hamshire married Elizabeth Shellenger,March 21,1802. In 1809,he settled in Stockholm,St.

Mary Jane Smith was the 2nd and 1st and only plural wife of my great grand father John Thomson Rowley.
His first wife was Jane Paul, Mary Jane was a faithful member of the L.D.S. church. It was difficult times for the church and the practice of polygamy. Because it was illegal by the U.S. government. But even with the persecution of the church. Mary Jane raised 7 children.

Sources
[S285] Steven Webster, Book of Remembrance (Steven Webster), (Genealogy including pedigree and family group sheets for Steven Webster), 2 Feb 2009 (Reliability: 2).