BIOGRAPHY: Bathsheba W. (Bigler) Smith; state of Utah

Transcribed by W. David Samuelsen
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EXPIRED COPYRIGHT (1884)

REPRESENTATIVE WOMEN OF DESERET

A BOOK OF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES TO ACCOMPANY THE PICTURE BEARING THE SAME
TITLE.

COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY AUGUSTA JOYCE CROCHERON
BATHSHEBA W. SMITH
WIFE OF APOSTLE GEORGE A. SMITH, OF REVERED MEMORY,
WHO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRESIDENCY OF THE CHURCH OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.

     Bathsheba W. Smith is the daughter of Mark and Susannah Bigler, and was
born at Shirnsten, Harrison Co., West Virginia, on May 3rd, 1822. Her father
was from Pennsylvania, her mother from Maryland. The school facilities in her
vicinity were limited. The county of Harrison was hilly, and the roads of
primitive character; the mode of travel was chiefly on horseback riding, in
which few could excel her.

     In her girlhood she was religiously inclined, loved virtue, honesty
truthfulness and integrity; attended secret prayers, studied to be cheerful,
industrious and happy, and was always opposed to rudeness.

     During her fifteenth year some Latter-Day Saints visited the
neighborhood, she heard them preach and believed what they taught. She knew by
the spirit of the Lord, in answer to her prayer, that Joseph Smith was a
prophet of the Lord, and that the Book of Mormon was a divine record. On the
21st of August, 1837, Bathsheba W. Bigler was baptized into the Church of
Jesus Christ, and the most of her father's family also, about the same time.
They soon felt a desire to gather with the rest of the Saints in Missouri, her
sister, Nancy, and family sold their property, intending to go in the fall,
and Bathsheba was very anxious to go with them. Her father having not yet sold
out his property, she was told she could not go. This caused her to retire
very early, feeling very sorrowful. While weeping, a voice said to her, "Weep
not, you will go this fall." She was comforted and perfectly satisfied, and
the next morning testified to what the voice had said to her

     Soon after, her father sold his home and they all went to Missouri, to
her great joy, but on their arrival there found the State preparing to war
against the Saints. A few nights before they reached Far West, they camped
with a company of eastern Saints, but separated on account of each company
choosing different ferries The company Sister Batheheba and her family were
in, arrived safely at their destination, but the others were overtaken by an
armed mob; seventeen were killed, others- were wounded, and some maimed for
life. In a few days after. their arrival there was a battle between the Saints
and the mob, in which David W. Patten (one of the first Twelve Apostles,) was
wounded, and he was brought to the house where they were stopping. Sister
Bathsheba witnessed his death a few days after, and saw thousands of mobbers
arrayed against the Saints, and heard their dreadful threats and savage yells,
when our Prophet Joseph and his brethren were taken into their camp. The
Prophet, Patriarch and many others were taken to prison; and the Saints had to
leave the. State. In the spring they had the joy of having the prophet and his
brethren restored to them at Quincy, Illinois.

     In the spring of 1840, the family of Sister Bathsheba moved to Nauvoo,
where she had many opportunities of hearing the Prophet Joseph preach, and
tried to profit by his instructions, and also received many testimonies of the
truths which he taught.

     On the 25th of July, 1841, Bathsheba W. Bigler was married to George A.
Smith, the then youngest member of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Don Carlos Smith
(brother of the prophet) officiating. George A. Smith was own cousin to the
Prophet Joseph. When Sister Bathsbeba first became acquainted with George A.
Smith he was the junior member of the First Quorum of Seventies. On the 26th
of June, 1838, he was ordained a mem ber of the High Council of Adam Ondi
Ahman, in Davis County, Missouri. Just about the break of day on the 26th of
April, 1834, while kneeling on the corner stone of the foundation of the
Lord's House at Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri, he was ordained one of
the Twelve Apostles, and from thence started on a mission to Europe, from
which he returned ten days previous to their marriage.

     As the 4th of July, 1842, came on the Sabbath day, they celebrated the
anniversary on Monday the 5th. There was a military display of’ the Nauvoo
Legion, and a sham battle fought. George A. Smith was in the general's staff
in the uniform of a chaplain. Sister Bathsheha watched the proceedings with
great interest. On the 7th of July a son was born to them; they named him
George Albert. Two months after, George A., as the Saints loved to call him,
went on a mission to the Eastern States. On his previous mission (to England,)
he injured his left lung, causing hemmorhage. In the fall of 1843, George A.
and Bathslieba received their endowments and were united under the holy order
of celestial marriage. Sister Bathsheba heard the Prophet Joseph charge the
Twelve with the duty and responsibility of the ordinances of endowments and
sealing, for the living and the dead. Sister Bathsheba met many times with her
husband, Joseph and others who had received their endowments, in an upper room
dedicated for the purpose, and prayed with them repeatedly in those meetings.
In the spring of 1844, Mr. Smith went on another mission, and soon after he
left persecution began in the city of Nauvoo which ended in the martyrdom of
our beloved prophet and patriarch. Mr.. Smith returned about the 1st of
August, and on the 14th a daughter was born, and they named her Bathsheba.

     Having become thoroughly convinced that the doctrine of plurality of
wives was from God, and firmly believing that she should participate with him
in all his blessings, glory and honor, Sister Bathsheba gave to her husband
different wives during the year of his return home. She says of this; "Being
proud of my husband and loving him very much, knowing him to be a man of God,
and having a testimony that what I had done was acceptible to my Father in
heaven, I was as happy as I knew how to be."

     It would be in vain to describe how they traveled through snow, wind and
rain, how roads had to be made, bridges built and rafts constructed, how our
poor animals had to drag on clay after day with scanty food; nor how we
suffered from, poverty, sickness and deaths, but the Lord was with us, His
power was made manifest daily. Quoting from her, "My dear mother died on the
11th of March, 1844, and on the 4th of April I had a son born who lived but
four hours." They arrived in Salt Lake Valley (now city) in October, 1849,
after traveling over sterile deserts and plains, over high mountains and
through deep canyons, ferrying some streams and fording others, but all was
joy now. Sister Bathsheba went to her sister’s house, and 0, how delightful it
did seem to be once more in a comfortable room with a blazing fire on the
hearth, where the mountain's rude blasts nor the desert's wild winds could
imot reach them.

     In March, 1850, Sister Bathsheba moved into their own house. In
December, 1850, George A. Smith was called to go south to found a settlement
in Little Salt Lake Valley, two hundred and fifty miles from home. In 1851, he
returned, having been elected a member of the Legislature from Iron Co. In
1856, he was sent to Washington to ask for the admission of Utah as a State.
In May, 1857, he returned to Utah. In 1858, they went south, bidding farewell
to their home, feeling as they did on leaving Nauvoo; that they should never
see it again, fleeing as they were, before the approaching army.

     However, President Buchanan sent out his Peace Commissioners who brought
his Proclamation, declaring a general amnesty to all offenders. ‘ Peace being
restored, they returned to Salt Lake City in July, having been gone three
months. When they entered the city it was almost sundown; all was quiet, every
door was boarded up. From only two or three chimneys smoke was rising. How
still and lonely, yet the breath of peace wafted over the silent city, and it
was home! They had left a partly finished house, and resuming work upon it, by
October it was finished. Sister Bathsheba says: "It was so comfortable and we
were so happy! We had plenty of room. My son and daughter took great pleasure
in having their associates come and visit them frequently. They would have a
room full of company, and would engage in reading useful books, singing,
playing music, dancing, &c. My son played the flute, flutina and was a good
drummer. My son and daughter were good singers, they made our home joyous with
song and jest." In 1860, this son was sent on a mission to the Moquois
Indians. He was interested in this and apt in learning the language. After
being set apart by the authorities for that mission, he started on the 4th of
September, and had traveled about seven hundred miles, when on the 2nd of
November he was killed by Navajo Indians. On the 3rd of January the daughter
was married.

     In 1873, Sister Bathsheba made a tour with her husband and President
Young and party, to the Colorado and up the Rio Virgen as far as Shonesberg.
In 1872, they made another tour with President Young and party, visiting at
St. George, Virgen City, Long Valley and Kanab. In 1873, went again with her
husband, President Young and company and spent the winter in St. George, going
by way of San Pete and Sevier counties. During this journey Sister Bathsheba
attended several meetings with the sisters, returning home April, 1874. She
has visited the Saints as far south as the junction of the Rio Virgen with the
Colorado, has visited the settlements on the Muddy River, and also the Saints
as far north as Bear Lake and Soda Springs. On their travels they have often
been met by bands of music, and thousands of children bearing banners and
flags; and singing songs of welcome. Sister Batbsheba has enjoyed these tours
very much. She has accompanied many explorations down into deep gulches to see
the water pockets, over beautiful plains in carriages or cars, and over
mountains and deserts.

     In reference to her position in duties of a public and spiritual
character, we find the following: Returning from a tour, February 19th, 1878,
they arrived in Salt Lake City, finding all safe at home. I quote again from
Sister Bathsheba's journal, written in her own hand: " My dear husband was not
well; I thought I could soon nurse him up to health, but my efforts were all
in vain, he expired on the first of September after a long sickness." The
departure was a shock to many. For many months prayers had been offered up
through all parts of the Territory, for the restoration to health of this
great and good man. Seated in his chair, his faithful wife beside him, he
turned from his conversation with President Young and others who constantly
attended him, and leaning upon her devoted heart breathed his last.

     Sister Bathsheba W. Smith belonged to the first Relief Society which was
organized at Nauvoo, and was present when it was organized, the Prophet Joseph
presiding. Officiated as Priestess in t.he Nauvoo Temple. Was Secretary in the
Seventeenth Ward Relief Society, Salt Lake City; had been First Counselor to
President Rachel Grant in the Relief Society of the Thirteenth Ward, Salt Lake
City, for many years. Is a Counselor to M. I. Horne in the General
Retrenchment Association, Fourteenth Ward, and is also Treasurer of the Relief
Society of the Salt Lake Stake. Has officiated in the holy ordinances of the
House of the Lord in Salt Lake City for many years. Is also one of the Board
of Directors in the Deseret Hospital. She says, "I have attended many meetings
of the sisters and had many seasons of rejoicing."

     Sister Bathsheba is often reverently spoken of as "the beloved wife of
George A. Smith." To her, in one sense, this would be the dearest praise that
could be spoken. But yet a loftier, holier, than even the earth-love seems to
hover around her very presence. A little child once said, "When I look at
Sister Bathsheba, I do not see her with her bonnet on, I see her as she will
look when she wears that crown that is waiting for her." Such is the
impression her face, her gentle voice and manner convey. To the record of her
life, and this, I could add nothing.