SMITH, Thomas Sasson^[1]

1818 - 1890  (72 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	SMITH, Thomas Sasson
  Birth	3 Apr 1818	Junius, Seneca, New York, United States
  Gender	Male
  WAC	28 Jan 1846
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Death	1 Jul 1890	Wilford, Fremont, Idaho, United States
  Burial	5 Jul 1890	Farmington City Cemetery, Farmington, Davis, Utah, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I49602	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Family ID

  F25260

  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	HOLLINGSHEAD, Amanda Ellen ,   b. 27 Jul 1838, Jobs, McDonough, Illinois, United States Jobs, McDonough, Illinois, United Statesd. 21 Sep 1903, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada (Age 65 years)
  Marriage	16 Jul 1857	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
  Children	+ 1. SMITH, Cytha Ellen ,   b. 10 May 1863, Farmington, Davis, Utah, United States Farmington, Davis, Utah, United Statesd. 15 Feb 1947, Burley, Cassia, Idaho, United States (Age 83 years)
  Family ID	F6790	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

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  Time line of the life of ———-Thomas Sasson Smith 1818 - 3 April born in Junius, Seneca, New York 1837 - 13 Feb. - married Polly Clark at Connaugh Astabulq, Ohio Thomas was 19 1838 - 18 June son born - William F. 1840 - 15 may son born - Jeremiah 1843 - 7 Sept. daughter born - Alma Jennet at Bertrand, Borrin Mich. 1844 - 15 June - Thomas S. [26yrs] baptized into Mormon Church 1845 - move to Nauvoo, Handcock, Illinois 1846 - 16 Dec. daughter born - Alvira 1848 - came to Utah 1849 - settled in Farmington, Davis, Utah 1850 - 26 June son Born - Thomas Edwin Thomas sent to Iron Co. Utah to help colonized 1853 - 24 caught born - Polly Estella 1855 - 7 April called to head mission of paints to Salmon River Idaho 5 June daughter born - Florence Adelia at Farmington Utah 8 June settled party on Salmon River 1857 - Brigham Young visited the Salmon River Mission 39 yrs - married Amanda Hollingshead in the Endowment House SLC 25 February - Indian uprising, settlement disbanded - Thomas was wounded, so he returned to Utah.1859 3 Jan. Son born - Jesse Lucius at Farmington Ut. first child of Amanda Ellen 1860 - 8 Oct. son born - Richard Demont at Farmington 1863 - 10 May - daughter born - Cynthia Ellen at Farmington 1865 - 8 Jan Thomas led a party to settle on the Muddy River in Nevada 1866 - Thomas sustained as bishop of settlement 1868 - Thomas returned to Utah because of ill health 1871 - Thomas filled a mission to south Western 1873 - 21 Feb. son born - Jacob Henry at Farmington 1874 - 16 - son born George S. in Farmington 1876 - 14 May - son born Johnathan in Farmington 1860 - 30 Nov. - son born - Albert in Farmington Married Evaline Hinman Porter 1883 - moved to Wilford Fremont Idaho 1884 - 6 Sept sustained as Bishop of Wilford Idaho Ward 1888 - Patriarch of Bannock Stake 1890 - 1 July Died at Wilford Idaho 5 July buried at Farmington, Davis, Utah - by granddaughter Effie Secrist Miller Thomas Sasson Smith was born 3 April 1818 in Junius, Seneca, New York, the oldest child of Abigail DeMont and Jeremiah Smith. Abigail was the daughter of Mary Sasson and Richard DeMont. We do not as yet, have the names of Jeremiah's parents or birth dates. On 13 February 1837, in Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, Thomas Sasson Smith married Folly Clark, who was born 29 September 1817, in Woodbridge, New Haven, Connecticut, a daughter of Alma Downs and William Fowler Clark. Sometime after their marriage Thomas and Polly moved to Bertrand, Berrien, Michigan where three of their seven children were born. The Jeremiah Smith family also moved from Ohio to Michigan - their last child was born there in 1840 - two years later Thomas' father died in Bertrand 23 August 1842. It was here that the Smith family met the missionaries and were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - we read in the Church History Journal that there was a branch of the Church in Bertrand - Thomas Sasson Smith was baptized 15 June 1844. The spirit of gathering with other members of the Church touched the hearts of the Smiths so they left their Michigan home and moved to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois in 1845. Their Prophet and President of the Church had been murdered and it would not be long before they would be driven from their beautiful city. In the dead of winter February 1846 these law-abiding citizens were fleeing from civilization's boundaries at the demands of a state governor to face hostile Indian's, sub-zero weather, privations and suffering beyond description. 'Your cause is just but I can do nothing for you,'wordsspoken by a President of the United States must have rung in the ears of those outcasts for along time. Along with hundreds of other members Thomas and Polly left their comfortable Nauvoo home and many of their belongings, crossed the Mississippi River, rode across the width of Iowa to Kanesville, (now Council Bluffs) where their fourth child was born. The main body of the Church was at Winter Quarters just across the Missouri River in Nebraska - preparing for the move west as soon as the weather permitted - it was a veritable beehive of activities that winter of 1846-47. There was much suffering among them due to exposure, lack of food and the countless hardships they had endured - over 600 died and were buried in that area. In the spring of 1847 the Smiths first-born, nine year old William died - earlier death had claimed their second child 12 days after his birth in 1840. The heavy-hearted parents commenced their tortuous thousand-mile journey across the plains with ox teams drawing the covered wagon loaded with all that remained of their earthly possessions. Of their four precious children two remained to cheer their hearts during that endless trek - they arrived in Salt Lake Valley in the fall of 1848. They settled in Farmington, north of Salt Lake -- Thomas built a home for his family and three more children were bom to them. A short distance from his house was the home of Abigail DeMont Smith, Thomas' widowed mother. Grandfather was active in civic affairs - councilmen to represent Davis County, leader of the choir, member of the Militia and many other activities. At the General Conference of the Church in April 1855 Brigham Young called twenty-seven men to establish a Mormon settlement in Indian country near the Salmon River in Idaho - and Thomas Sasson Smith was appointed to be president of the mission. Their assignment was to learn the language of the Shoshone - teach them how to farm - build a stockade (Fort Lemhi) - and share the Gospel with the Indians. In less than three years they abandoned the mission for various reasons - crop failure year after year - shortage of food - hostile Indians - the tragic death of three missionaries - cattle stolen and Johnston's army coming to Utah. Back in Farmington he resumed his peaceful life with his family. After six years he was again called to preside over a group of colonizers - this time his destination was the Southlands, where he would be facing intense heat, sand storms, flash-floods, and malaria breeding swamps This mission was called the Muddy Mission because they settled along the Muddy River in Nevada their first settlement named St. Thomas for Thomas Sasson (now under Lake Mead) was one of. several that followed. Though small in number the colony accomplished a great deal - they dug irrigation canals, cleared land and planted grain — as soon as it was harvested the ground was planted to cotton, thus two crops could be raised each season. With the coming of more settled there were about 50 families at St. Thomas - with President Smith presiding over the branch. Here as in the Salmon River Mission there was trouble with Indians - they would pull up the wheat, steal horses, mules and cattle, even steal food from Dutch Ovens before it was done. Due to ill health T. Smith was released from his office as President of the Muddy Mission - also released as Bishop of St. Thomas Ward - by 1868 he was able to return to Farmington, but he never fully recovered from the ravages of Malaria. Farmington was a welcome sight to these weary wonderers after the hardships and disappointments of the Muddy. Thomas received a warm welcome from his wife Polly, their children and grandchildren. As soon as his health permitted, he was again doing his part in Church as well as civic affairs. March 24, 1872 Thomas' lovely wife, Polly, died of pneumonia. This stout-hearted little pioneer had given her all in the service of her Church and family. She was buried in the Farmington City Cemetery March 25, 1872. Due to her husband's many church and civic duties which took him away from home so much, a great deal of the care and training of their children became Polly's responsibility. Her children reflected many of her sterling qualities, courage, faith, charity high moral standards and loyal devotion to church, family and neighbors. A few years before he death Polly had the privilege of visiting her father and other relatives in the 'East'. Her mother, Alma Downs Clark had died in 1850, but her father, William Fowler Clark, outlived his wife 26 years. He died July 9, 1876 in Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio. Polly's fifty-five brief years were filled with heartaches, sacrifice and toil, but she also knew the happiness and joy of an honorable family and the blessings of the restored gospel. Retirement was unknown in those pioneering days. Thomas was in, his 66th year when he was called on his last colonizing mission. This time in the Upper Snake River Valley, then called Wilford Flats, a plateau rising above the Snake River in Southern Idaho - the call came in 1883. His second wife Amanda chose to leave a comfortable home and garden to go with her husband. On the 6th of September 1884, Thomas Sasson, now in his sixty-seventh year, was ordained Bishop of the Wilford Ward by Thomas E. Ricks. He served in this capacity until he became Patriarch of the Bannock Stake August 21, 1887 - he officiated in this calling until his death, July 1, 1890 in Wilford. He was buried in Farmington City Cemetery next to his wife, Polly, July 5, 1890. "Aunt Ellen and Uncle Jont did the copying." Thomas Sassin Smith Thomas S. Smith was born in the state of New York, April 3, 1818, and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in June 15, 1844. He moved to Nauvoo in 1845 and shared in the exodus of the Saints from that place tin 1846. He came to Utah in 1848, an located in Farmington, Davis County, in 1849. In 1850, he was sent to Iron County to help found settlements in Southern Utah. On April 76, 1855, hew was tent to Salmon River , Idaho, to take charge of the Indian Mission. The company left Farmington May 15, 1855 with Thomas S. Smith as captain of the colony. They built a for and raised wheat, then on Feb. 25, 1858, the Indians attacked them while they were working. They killed 2 men, Bros. James Miller and James McBride and they rook Andrew Quigley and scalped him. Thomas S. Smith was shot through the arm. Brother Thomas E. Ricks was sent to help them. He went to the Salmon River and rescued the company from the Indians. With difficulties and hardships they reached home in Farmington. In 1865, he was called to go to the south-east part of Nevada to locate settlements o the Muddy. He returned from there in 1868 on account of ill health. (Uncle Fred was born there.) In 1871, he was sent to the South-western States on a Mission. in 1884 he went to Snake River, Idaho and founded the settlement of Wilford; 40 miles northeast of Eagle Rock (Idaho Falls) and was appointed Bishop of the Ward there in 1886. He was ordained a Patriarch in Bannock Stake of Zion in 1888. Thomas Sassin Smith died at his residence in Wilford on July 1 1890. His body arrived in Farmington July 3, 1890 and the funeral services were held in the ward meeting house on July 6, 1890. The first speaker was President Shortliff of Weber Stake who spoke feelingly of the faithfulness and integrity of the deceased. President W. R. Smith and J. W. Hess and Elder Jacob Miller Spoke of the many noble and good qualities possessed by the deceased. A long procession followed the remains to the cemetery where they were laid to rest after a long and active and busy life. Marriage of Thomas Sasson Smith and Polly Clark On February 1837, in Conneaut, Ashtable, Ohio, Thomas Sasson Smith married Polly Clark, who was born 29 September, 1817, in Woodbridge, New Haven, Connecticut, a daughter of William Fowler Clark and Alma Downs. Polly was the only member of her father’s family to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It must have required a great deal of faith and courage to leave her loved ones and comfortable home, where every advantage of that time was available to her, if she would give up the unpopular religion she had espoused. Polly never wavered in her testimony and devotion, but remained faithful to her Church to the end of her days. Some time after their marriage in Conneaut, Thomas and Polly moved to Bertrand, Berrien, Michigan, where their third child was born. Whether their first two children were born in Conneaut, Ohio or in Bertrand, Michigan has not been established. One source states the first three children were born in Bertrand. We know that Thomas’ father and mother, Jeremiah and Abigail Smith, were living in Asthabula Co. Ohio between 1833 and 1836 for two of their children were born there. It would be interesting to know how Thomas and Polly met, but we know they were brought together by a Devine Providence. The Jeremiah Smith family was living in Bertrand, Berrien, Michigan where their last child was born in 1840. Two years later Thomas’ father died in 23 August 1842. It is very probable that the missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught them the newly established Gospel there in Michigan for in the Journal History we read of a Conference being held in Florence, St. Joseph, Michigan (not far from Berrien Co.) Jun 7 and 8, 1845 at which Thomas Sasson Smith, a priest was present. He had been baptized 15 Jun, 1844 by Elder R. D. Sprague. He was ordained a Priest at Agusta, Berrien, Michigan. The Journal History states there was a branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bertrand, Berrien, Michigan with 18 members. We do not have the date when Polly was baptized but we find a rebaptism date February 1849. Thomas’ widow mother, Abigail DeMont Smith, also accepted the Gospel. She was baptized in Nauvoo, Illinois in 1845. The spirit of gathering touched the Smiths for they left their home in Michigan to move to Nauvoo, Hancock, Illinois in 1845, to cast their lot with the persecuted, driven Saints. Their prophet and Patriarch had been murdered and it would not be long before they would be driven from their beautiful city. While in Nauvoo, Thomas and Polly realized their heart’s desire by going to the Nauvoo Temple and receiving their endowments. The Exodus Death had claimed their second child, Jeremiah, 12 days after his birth in 1840. But Thomas and Polly with their eight year-old son, William Fowler and three year old Alma Janette were among those persecuted Saints who were driven from their homes in Nauvoo and the surrounding Branches of the Church in the dead of winter February 1846. These law abiding citizens were fleeing from civilian’s boundaries at the demands of a state governor to face hostile Indians, sub-zero weather, privations and suffering beyond description. “Your cause is just but I can do nothing for you.” Words spoken by a President of the United States must have rung in the ears of those outcasts for a long time. They crossed the Mississippi River over to an almost trackless area and camped a few miles from its banks. Snow had to be shoveled before tents, if they had them, could be set up. Many had no tents and tried to find shelter in wagon boxes, or even on the snow-packed ground under their wagons. These suffering exiles knew that their comfortable homes in Nauvoo, if they had not been burned, were sheltering lawless people while they shivered in the bitter cold. Yet despite hardships and suffering they could dance at night on the trodden snow and sing praises to their Creator. They had faith that their leader, Brigham Young, would be inspired to lead them to a land where they could worship God and establish His Church. We next find Thomas, Polly and their family at Kanesville, (now Council Bluffs) Iowa, where their fourth child was born, December 16, 1846. They named her Alvira Evette. What kind of shelter did brave, little mother have in that lonely wilderness? Whose kind hands ministered to her in her hours of travail and then place the tiny daughter in her arms to shelter her from that cold December day? This we know – those noble Pioneers had learned to share each others burdens and sorrows as well as their joy. No people ever lived who heeded the commandment to “love thy neighbor as thy self” more consistently than those outcasts. The main body of the Church was now at Winter Quarters, preparing for the move west as soon as the weather permitted. Some of the men and boys were working away from their “homes” trying to earn money or foodstuffs to build up their scanty supplies. Wagons and teams must be had. Blacksmiths were busy preparing wagons. Women were making clothes, knitting stockings, making or repairing tents and wagon covers. Quilts had to be made from scraps of cast off clothing. Winter Quarters was a veritable beehive of activities that winter of 1846-47. There was much suffering among them due to exposure, lack of food, and the countless hardships they had to endure. Over six-hundred died and were buried at Winter Quarters. Thomas Sasson Smith Thomas Sasson Smith was born in the state of New York, April 3, 1818 and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1844. He moved to Nauvoo in 1845 and shared in the exodus of the Saints from that place in 1846. He came to Utah in 1848, and located in Farmington, Davis County, Utah in 1849. In 1850 he was sent to Iron County to help found settlements in southern Utah. On April 7, 1855 he was called to the Salmon River, Idaho to take charge of the Indian Mission. The company left Farmington May 15, 1855 with Thomas S. Smith captain of the colony. They built a fort and raised wheat, then on February 25, 1858 the Indians attacked them while they were working. They killed two men, Bro. James Miller and James McBride, and they took Andrew Quigley and scalped him. Thomas S. Smith was shot through the arm. Bro. Thomas E. Ricks was sent to help them. He went to the Salmon River and rescued Thomas S. Smith and company from the Indians. With difficulties and hardships they reached home in Farmington, Utah. In 1865 he was called to go to the Southeast part of Nevada to locate settlements on the Muddy River. He returned from that place in 1868 on account of ill health. In 1871 he was sent to the Northwestern States on a mission. In 1884 he went to the Snake River in Idaho and the settlement of Wilford. This was forty miles north east of Eagle Rock (Idaho Falls), and was appointed bishop of that place in 1886. He was ordained a Patriarch in the Bannock Stake of Zion in 1888. He died at his residence in Wilford on July 1, 1890. His body arrived in Farmington July 3 and the funeral services were held in the Ward meeting house on July 6th. The first speaker was President L.W. Shurtliff of Weber Stake who spoke feeling of the faithfulness and integrity of the deceased. Presidents W.R. Smith and L.W. Hess and Elder Jacob Miller spoke of many good and noble qualities possessed by the deceased. A long procession followed the remains to the cemetery where they laid to rest after a long, active and busy life. (Taken from a book of Rosa’s [Aunt Rose]) Elders George Albert Smith, Wilford Woodruff, Charles C. Rich, Samuel Bent and David Fullmer from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints were holding a conference in Kalamazoo, Michigan in the St of Juine and he believed their words. There were already 126 members of the Church in the Kalamazoo area. He knew what these men spoke was of God. He was baptized the 15 June 1844. It was only a couple of weeks later that those apostles who converted him left Michigan. They had received word that the Prophet Joseph Smith had been martyred in Carthage, Illinois. There was a lot of persecution going on and all the Saints in Michigan that could were counseled to move to Nauvoo you gain strength and support from each other, and to help finish the temple. (History of the Church, and Michigan Mormons) His wife and he had been praying that his family would join the Church. He and Polly were probably already in Nauvoo when his mother and brother and sisters joined them. (Except for his married sister Sarah and her family who were still in Michigan). (Nauvoo land records) Thomas heard Brigham Young say, "I do not think there had ever been a body of people since the days of Enoch, placed under the same unpleasant circumstances that this people have been, where there was so little grumbling, and I was satisfied that the Lord was pleased with the majority of the Camp of Israel." (Church History in the Fulness of Times pg. 310) The trail to the first encampment, called Sugar Creek had mud so deep it took a double team of oxen to pull the wagons thru in places. I suspect we will see deplorable trail conditions with the spring thaw. Our provisions and supplies are insufficient for a trek to the Rocky Mountains. Jonathan, Richard and I (Thomas) will probably have to leave the family at some point to look for needed supplies. Our Spirits are high, despite the circumstances. It's sure a delight to dance with Polly as the fiddle plays the new something: "The Upper California" (Ibid pg 310) Despite the grim conditions of Winter Quarters Polly and Thomas were filled with gratitude when Polly gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Alvira Evalette Smith was born on the 16th of December 1847. The moral of the settlement had been rising as we conducted church meetings twice a week, and held family meetings. They had labored hard building wagons, and making all the necessary preparations for the family to begin their trek west in the spring. On the 16th of December 1850, Brigham Young called me to join the "Forty - Niners to head south to Parowan, Iron County. The Saint's iron supplies were rapidly diminishing. George Albert Smith was the leader of the mission consisting of 150 men and women. This experience proved to be filled with overwhelming obstacles due o their lack of capital for proper equipment and trained men. The elements took their toll with the sever winter and the flood down Coal Creek in September 1851 wiped out this project. * * * * * * * * * * * * * SALMON RIVER MISSION, IDAHO It was at the annual conference of the church, held in Salt Lake City, April 7, 1855, that a number of brethren were called to go and locate a settlement among the buffalo-hunting Bannock and Shoshone Indians in the far north, in what was then Oregon Territory, and Elder Thomas Sasson Smith, of Farmington, Davis County, Utah, a man of considerable experience, was appointed to take charge of the colony. Most of the brethren who were called on this mission, made preparations at once to fill it, and on the 15th of May, 1855, President Smith, together with other brethren, left their homes in Farmington, and other places, and on the 19th they arrived on Bear River, north of Brigham City. On the following day (the 20th) the camp, consisting of the following named brethren, was organized for traveling: Thomas S. Smith, President of the Mission, Francillo Durfee, Captian; Wm. Burgess, Jr. Lieutenant; B.F. Cummings, Seargeant; D. Moore, Historian of camp; Seras J. (Blurred so as not to read well) Barnard, Thomas Butterfield, Wm.L. Brundage, Nathaniel Leavitt, Pleasant Green Taylor, Israel S. Clark, Charles Dalton, George R. Grant, Isaac Shepherd, George W. Hill, Gilbert Benlap, Wm. Birch, John Gilligher, J. W. Browning, David H. Stephens, Baldwin H. Watts, Joseph Perry, Ira Amen(Anon or something), Jr., Abraham Zundel, Charles McGary, Wm. H. Batchlor and Everet Lish. From the encampment on Bear River the expedition continued the journey through Malad Valley, over the Malad divide and down Bannock Creek to the Portneuf, which stream they crossed on Mr. McArthur's bridge, paying $11.00 for the privilege. On the 29th they arrived at the ferry on the Snake River, immediately below where the Blackfoot River empties into the Snake. It took them three days to cross the river with their wagons and stock, the ferry-boat needing repairs before it could be used. On the 2nd of June the journey was resumed, and a northeasterly course for about sixty miles on almost trackless waste of barren sagebrush plain, and along the right bank of the river, until Market Lake was reached. Then the camp turned to the left and traveled in a northeasterly direction, over rocks, sagebrush, and sand, by way of Mud Lake and up Spring Creek (now Birch Creek), until they reached the Salmon River Pass. Through this part of the country they made an entirely new road, not having as much as an Indian trail to guide them. Continuing through the Pass over the upper valley of the Salmon River, the head-waters of the east branch of that river, now known as Lemhi River, was soon reached, and here President Smith called a halt. Selecting five brethren of the camp, he proceeded, on the 14th of June, about thirty miles further down the river to explore for a suitable place to locate a settlement. On the 15th day they selected a site for a fort and a tract for farming land, after which President Smith returned to the main camp, which moved upon the site chosen on the 18th. With that energy and determination characteristic of Mormon Pioneers, the Brethren immediately commenced to make improvements, and they soon had a blacksmith shop in working order and also had coal to burn, a plow made and a corral built for their stock. By the 19th of August they had built a fort wall and gates, seven houses and the blacksmith shop, besides breaking and planting several acres of land and doing a great deal of fencing. They called their location Fort Lemhi, after Lemhi, a Nephite King mentioned in the Book of Mormon. The distance from Salt Lake City to Fort Lemhi, the road the missionaries generally traveled in 1855-58, was about 379 miles. The valley in which Fort Lemhi was located is small, but the soil on the river is rich, and the table land afforded, at the time, good pasture for stock. Timber was also abundant on the river and on the adjacent mountains. There is a very good pass through the Rocky Mountains east of Fort Lemhi through which the distance to Horse Prairie, on the head-waters of the Missouri River, is only fifteen miles. August 13 and 14, twelve of the company were sent to Utah after supplies in charge of Captain Durfee, B.C. Cunningham, and John Galligher were dispatched to Salt Lake City with the mail, being ordered to return as soon as possible. September 29, 1855, B.F. Cunningham accompanied by J.R. Clawson and Lott Smith, arrived at the Fort, bringing the mail from Salt Lake City. They had left Ogden on the 18th. On the 17th of November, Captain Durfee and company returned to the fort with twelve wagons laden with supplies of wheat, corn and other seeds and several other seeds (sic) and Hundreds of pounds of flour. Five families also accompanied the brethren. By the beginning of December, 1854, a large amount of hay had been cut, the field enlarged, much more ground broken, about fifteen acres of sown with wheat, besides which several more houses had been built in the fort. The weather had been pleasant during the fall, but there was two or three inches of snow on the ground. On the 5th of December, Thomas Butterfield, S. W. Hill and several others, left the fort with two ox-wagons to return to the settlement in Utah, where they expected to spend the winter. In March 1856, President Smith, accompanied by others, traveled to Utah, with back pack animals, and on arriving in Salt Lake City, reported the conditions of the Salmon River Mission to President Brigham Young, who was much pleased with what the missionaries had done, and concluded to strengthen the settlement by calling more brethren to go locate there. This was done at the general conference which was held in April, 1856, and among those who responded to the call made on that occasion were Thomas Corlass, James Walker, Thomas Day, Richard Margetta, and John Preece, of Salt Lake City, George McBride, James Miller and Fountain Welch, of Farmington, Oliver Robinson and many others, these brethren started on their mission soon after conference, some of them taking their families with them. When this new company of missionaries arrived at Fort Lemhi, the brethren there were already busily engaged in putting in crops, and an addition was now made to the field on the north side, in order to give the newcomers an equal share for farming with the first settlers. President Smith returned to Fort Lemhi, July 8, and found the missionaries in good health and spirits, "notwithstanding they had witnessed almost entire destruction of their crops by grasshoppers, whose unrelenting ravages had blasted all anticipations of an abundant harvest, the prospects of which could not have been more flattering to inroads of the devourers. The grasshoppers left without depositing their eggs." The loss of the crops put the brethren to serious inconvenience, as they thereby were compelled to again (like the previous year) haul their flour and seed grain from the settlement in Utah. A company of brethren started for supplies on the 28th of July and arrived in Salt Lake City about the middle of August. Most of them returned in due course of time with provisions, seed grain and other articles of food and clothing needed by the settlers. Considerable winter wheat was sown in the fall of 1856, when another small company of settlers arrived to strengthen the colony, having been called on missions to do this like the other brethren who had gone before them. Peace and good health prevailed among the brethren at Fort Lemhi during the winter of 1856-57. In the spring of 1857, President Smith again visited Utah, but returned to Fort Lemhi on the 8th of May, 1857, in company with President Brigham Young and a strong escort who came to pay a visit to the Saints in Oregon. The following interesting account of this visit to Fort Lemhi was written by a member of the party in the Deseret News of June 10, 1857. The company reached Fort Lemhi at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 8th, 1857. This fort is a neat stockade inclosing a space sixteen rods square, and has a large and securely fenced yard for animals and a small gristmill sufficiently finished to be used. There are two good-sized fields mostly plowed and sown, in which the crops look promising, considering the coolness and consequent lateness of the season. The big and red-sided salmon are said to be very plentiful here in their season, for which we were about a month too soon; but a few red-sided salmon were purchased from the Indians. They were a fine flavored fish, and averaged about two and a half feet in length. A few Bannock Indians had pitched their lodges adjacent to the fort, among them Governor Young distributed many presents of blankets, etc., on the 11th of May, which were very gladly received. "Sunday, May 10, meeting was held in the fort, and President Brigham Young, Elder Orson Hyde, Franklin D. Richards and Lorenzo Snow, President Heber C. Kimball and Daniel H. Wells, Patriarch and President John Young and President Thomas S. Smith severally addressed the congregation, and gave some excellent instructions. In the afternoon, Snack, the head chief of this tribe of the Bannocks, and several other Indians, came into the fort and had a smoke and a long and very friendly talk, in which Arrapeon, head chief of the Utah's, who accompanied the expedition, participated. "Sandstone of an excellent quality for grindstones and a very superior chalk are found a few miles below the fort, and coal is reported about twenty-five miles below but beds have not been examined. "We left Fort Lemhi at noon of Wednesday, May 13 (or 15), and arrived in Salt Lake City at 6:00 p.m. of May 26th, having had a very pleasant trip out and back, and been absent 33 days." Soon after President Young's party returned to Utah, more farming land was surveyed at Fort Lemhi, and an addition made to the fort; and at a meeting held May 27, 1857, it was decided to build another fort; on the first creek to the north. This second fort (where a few houses subsequently were built, and several of the brethren spent the following winter) was laid off by President Smith and others two days later (May 29th). June 14, 1857, President Smith again left for his home in Utah, leaving Thomas Bingham in charge at Fort Lemhi during his absence. He returned October 22nd following, and then remained with the colony until it was broken up the following spring. A good crop of wheat and other grains were raised in the fall of 1857, which, in fact, was the only crop of any consequence raised by the brethren by the brethren while on the mission. On the 25th of February, 1858, while several of the brethren were busily engaged in mowing hay, hauling timber, etc., a large party of Bannock and Shoshone Indians (many of whom lived around the fort, and had previously been very friendly) made a sudden break upon the herd and drove off most of the stock belonging to the fort, and at the same time killing George Mc Bride and James Miller, and wounding President Thomas S. Smith, Fountain Welch, L.W. Shurtliff, Oliver Robinsen, and Andrew Quigley. A man named J. H. Powell, who came into the Flathead country with George Stevens' surveying party, and was afterwards in the employ of persons under Mr. Burr, late U.S. surveyor in Utah, was with the Indians and assisted them in plundering and killing the brethren. Elder Thomas Corless, one of the Salmon River Missionaries, in describing this Indian outrage, says that he and a number of other brethren were at the fort when the alarm was given that the Indians were in the act of stealing the herd, comprising the cows and oxen belonging to the settlers, which were grazing on the low hills a short distance east of the fort. Immediately a party of ten men (nine on foot and one on horse-back) started out to assist the herders (Brother Andrew Quigley and C. Rose), and were endeavoring to head off the stock, when Indians to the number of one hundred and fifty or more surrounded them and commenced shooting with guns and bow and arrows. The brethren, seeing the overwhelming number of the enemy, soon began to retreat toward the fort, but the Indians tried to cut them off, and the brethren were compelled to fight their way through the ranks of the savages, while the bullets and arrows were flying thick and fast all around them. George McBride, who was the only white man on horseback, ventured out some distance ahead of his companions, and was killed at the commencement; and Brother Quigley, one of the herders, and Fountain Welch, were wounded at the same time. One ball passed through Brother Corless' hat, another cut off the knot of his necktie and a third grazed his left ear. Elder Corless has always ascribed it to miraculous interposition of the Almighty that the brethren were not all killed. "There were five of the brethren down where the other fort stood, after hay, and the Indians, meeting them, immediately opened fire, upon them, and drove them from their teams, killing James Miller and wounding L. W. Shurtliff and Oliver Robinson. One ball passed through Brother Shurtliff's right arm below the elbow and through Oliver Robinson's right hand. James Miller was shot through in the same manner as George McBride; he ran a few steps and fell dead; the Indians stripped him of everything. All the brethren came in that night except James Miller, whose dead body was found the next morning by ten men I had dispatched for that purpose. The following day (February 26, 1858) the remains of George McBride and James Miller were buried by their companions. The other brethren who were wounded subsequently recovered. On Saturday, February 27th, some of the brethren made preparation to cache their wheat, as they were desirous of returning to Utah, but at a meeting held on the Sunday (the 28th) President Smith asked the missionaries if they were satisfied that they had filled their mission, and would they return without a word from President Young? The reply being in the negative, a vote to send an express to Salt Lake prevailed, and that same evening, after dark Ezra Barnard and Baldwin Watts started on this dangerous expedition. On the last of March the brethren went to work repairing the fort and building bastions with timber which had been hauled from the lower fort. This labor was continued for several days and the brethren also threshed their oats, worked on the mill-race, started to make a cannon, etc. On the 8th some Indians brought back twenty-eight head of stolen stock and pretended to be very friendly. The following day they brought back seven sows and a yearling. On the 20th the mail and several brethren arrived from Salt Lake City, bringing the news that 150 men were coming to help the missionaries away. On the 22nd this company, in command of Colonel Andrew Cummingham, arrived, and the 24th the colonel and President Smith, with sixty other men, visited the camp of the Indians, who delivered to President Smith three cows and calves and six ponies in payment for the cattle they had killed. On the 26th men started from the fort for Salt Lake City with the mail and messages for President Young, stating the condition of the camp, as it was feared by the headquarters of the Church in Salt Lake City that all the brethren of the mission had been murdered by the Indians. On the 27th the ox teams, with a portion of the missionaries and such effects as they could take with them, started for Utah, and on the 28th, Fort Lemhi was entirely vacated by the departure of the remaining brethren, who left with horse teams, together with their friends who had come to help them away. President Smith gave the friendly Indians about six hundred bushels of wheat and left about a thousand bushels with them to trade for horses. The two companies arrived in Utah safe and well. But the ten men who had left the mail on the 28th in charge of Elder B. F. Cummings, were suddenly and furiously fired upon by a party of Indians in ambush, while traveling up Bannock Creek on the 31st of March, 1858. On this occasion Bailey Lake, one of the party was killed by the Indians, who also robbed the company of eleven horses. The rest of the brethren reached the settlement in Utah a few days later. Thus ended the famous Salmon River Mission, which proved to be one of the most dangerous missions ever performed among the Indians in the North and no attempt has since been made to establish any settlement of the Saints on Salmon River. Most of the lands cultivated by the missionaries are now included in the Lemhi Indian Reservation. This history was taken from Heart Throb of the West, written by Kate B. Garter, Vol 3. SOURCE: A copy of this was in possession of Mrs. Sarah Ann Smith Collet, Lewiston, Utah (As of this date, now living in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada). I do not know who wrote it in the first place. The copy was a typed carbon, and therefore blurred in places and some of the names may be recorded incorrectly St Thomas Nevada Ward Records On the 8th day of January 1865 Thomas S Smith with eleven brethren and 3 sisters arrived on the Muddy River. Thomas S. Smith was appointed by President Brigham Young to build up a settlement in the south. The little colony soon numbered about 45 families and the town of St. Thomas was laid out. Pres. Erastus Snow counseled the brethren soon after to locate their town to the south and east about a mile and a half where another plot of land was surveyed into city lots the last of February 1866 where the people removed about the first of April following. In the fall of the same year Thomas S. Smith returned north and James Leithead was appointed to take charge of the settlement during his absence. Thomas S. Smith was released from the mission on account of sickness and Pres. Young appointed James Leithead president in the winter of 1866-7. The town consisted of 85 city lots of one acre each and about the same number of vineyard lots containing 21/2 acres and farm lots about the same number of 5 acres each. 10lots formed a block with streets 6 rods wide including sidewalks 12 feet wide. St Thomas is situated on the S.W.side of the Muddy River and one and a half miles from the junction with the Rio-Virgin Rivers. St. Thomas, St. Joseph, Overton, West Point, Junction City situated at the junction of the Rio- Virgin with Colorado. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ St Joseph was surveyed in 1865. Located and organized by Thomas S. Smith with Warren Foot presiding Elder and consisting of 40 families. During the summer and fall of the same year the settlement was reduced to about 25 families and much sickness prevailed-mostly fever and aguie and “Fluse” The settlement was abandoned in 1866. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thomas S. Smith returned from Muddy June 1867 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First settlers of St. Thomas Thomas S. Smith Andrew S. Gibbon (Interpreter) Willam J. Johnstun Joseph Koesler George Noble Henry Fonley George Jackson Robert H???? William Harriss Enoch Harris Heber Hubburd John Bankhead and son Thomas Sasson Smith from Members of the Church microfiche #6031596 References:Family Group Sheet - self L.D.S. Encyclopedia Vol. 4 Guide to Mormon Diaries and Autobiographies Bitton Davis His Journal Nauvoo Temple End. Reg. 1845 - 46 Mormons and Their Neighbors by Marvin Wiggins Nauvoo Social History Project by James Smith TIB Family Group Sheet - Father One Hundred Years on Muddy River p. 29 - 30. Half Breed Tract Federal Census Year 1840 Farmington Ward Records Deseret News (SLC) March 1872 Comments: - #1Thomas Sasson Smith mentions #2Thomas acted as President of the Salmon River Mission, and was a pioneer in many places. He was called to the October Conference in 1864 to take a company and settle the Muddy River Valley, this mission would connect St. George and Call’s Landing on the Colorado River. On January 8 1865, with 8 brethren and 3 sisters he arrived on the Muddy River and the settlement of St. Thomas Nevada (named after Bro. Smith) was laid out as a town site. He resided for many years in Farmington, Davis County, and Utah and moved to Wilford Idaho in 1884 as one of the first settlers. ************************************************************ Biographical Encyclopedia Latter Day Saint page 675 SMITH, Thomas Sasson, Bishop of the Wilford Ward, Bannock (now Yellowstone) Stake, Idaho, from 1884 to 1887, was born April 3, 1818, in the state of New York, a son of Jeremiah Smith and Abigail Demont, He was baptized June 15, 1844, acted as President of the Salmon River Mission, and was a pioneer in many places. He was called at the October Conference in 1864 to take a company and settle the Muddy Valley; this mission would connect St. George and Call’s Landing on the Colorado River. On January 8, 1865, with eight brethren and three sisters he arrived on the Muddy and the settlement of St. Thomas (named after Brother Smith) was laid out as a town site. He resided for many years in Farmington, Davis Co., Utah, and moved to Wilford, Idaho, in 1884, as one of the first settlers. He died in Wilford, Bingham Co., Idaho, July 1, 1890. Thomas S. Smith Fourth Colonizing Mission Retirement was unknown in those pioneering days. Thomas was in his 65th year when he was called on his Last Colonizing mission. This time in the Upper Snake River Valley, then called Wilford Flats, a plateau rising above the Snake River in Southern Idaho. This call came in 1883. Again faithful Amanda chose to go with her husband. Their oldest son, Jesse Lucius, and only daughter Cynthia Ellen, were married. As there was no account given in the brief sketch, the writer does not know if all four of the rest of their children accompanied them. Richard DeMont was 23 years of age, Frederick Thomas 18, Jacob Henry 11, and Jonathan 7 when the Smiths moved to Idaho. We do know that Thomas and Amanda established a home where Thomas lived the rest of his life. On September 6, 1884, Thomas Sasson Smith, now in his sixty-seventh year, was ordained of Wilford Ward by Thomas E. Ricks when the Wilford Branch was organized a ward. He served in this capacity until he was ordained Patriarch of the Bannock Stake August 21, 1887. In this sacred calling this humble Patriarch officiated until hi death, July 1, 1890 in Wilford, Brigham (now Fremont) Idaho, age 72 years and 3 months. He was buried in Farmington City Cemetery by the side of his first wife Polly, July 5, 1890. After the heroic attempts to establish colonies at Fort Lemhi and the “Muddy”, as well as the Iron County had ended so tragically, it is gratifying to know Thomas’ last mission was a success. Although he never fully recovered from malaria contracted in the swamps in the Muddy Valley, he was able to serve faithfully to the end of his days in helping to build the Kingdom of God here in the Valley of the Mountains. We who are descendents of these stalwart pioneers should look upon their struggle and achievements with pride. Let us never forget that the blessings of our priceless heritage must be earned by each of us, individually, if we are to be counted worthy of them. A note written by Sarah Ann Smith Collet states: He (Thomas Sasson Smith) died at his residence in Wilford on July 1, 1890. His body arrived in Farmington July 3, and the funeral services were held in the ward meeting house on July 6th. The first speaker was President Shortliff of Weber Stake, who spoke of the faithfulness and integrity of the deceased. President W.R. Smith and J.W. Hess and Elder Jacob Miller spoke of the many good and noble qualities possessed by the deceased, A long procession followed the remains to the cemetery where they were they were laid to rest after along, active and busy life. Comments of Sheila Jessop Sheila Jessop (the above Sarah Ann Collet’s daughter) called her mother to clarify if all four of the children above mentioned went to Wilford with Thomas and Amanda. She thought they did. She was sure that at least Richard DeMont went to Wilford as he was Our “aunt” (as we knew her) Vera’s father. They went to Canada with other of his family. However Fred Smith and Sarah Ann Smith Higbee didn’t follow them until 1910 one year before my mother was born. Mom said that she was sure that he was the son that took Amanda (his mother) with him and they lived in Magrath, Alberta, Canada. I later found the following information and will include it mostly because I remember some of the family. Vera and her husband Harry Orcutt were special to me. My dad bought their farm and we lived there until 1958 when we moved to Utah. Another reason they were important to me was “Uncle” Harry baptized me! (Aunt Vera and her mother mostly) I remember visiting with Aunt Evelina and Vera in there home in Cardston. When I went to Cardston in 2001 I saw the house where they lived and it still looks about the same as I remembered it. I also remember when Morgan died. I am not too sure of any of the others. : Richard DeMont Smith (son of Thomas Sasson) and Evelina Moose (Mousseau) Smith lived in Wilford for almost two years and then moved out to Sand Creek (a settlement northwest of St. Anthony). After living there for about twelve years, they moved to Canada in 1902 with the other members of Thomas S. Smith family who moved there. He took his mother, Amanda Hollingshead Smith with him. He secured a large farm and spent the rest of his life there. He died in Champion, Alberta, Canada February 1, 1910 and was buried in Magrath, Alberta, Canada. Eveline Smith died May 4, 1956 at Cardston, Alberta, Canada and was buried at Magrath, Alberta, Canada. Children of Richard DeMont and Eveline Smith: Name Birth datePlace of BirthSpouse Death Date Richard D.Aug 18, 1885 Wilford, Idaho Alice H. Hansen Jan.1,1953 (he was killed by a car near Clareshome. Alberta, Canada) Evalina M. Apr 11, 1887 Wilford, Idaho Daniel D. Pierson Edna E. Apr 11, 1889 Sand Creek, Idaho Parley P Peterson Mar 12,1930 Orvil B. May 30, 1891 Sand Creek, Idaho Clara L. Anderson May 20,1949 (he was killed in a farm accident) Henry T. July 31, 1893 Sand Creek, Idaho Rhoda M. Pitcher Mar 10, 1958 Jeanette Nov 25, 1895 Sand Creek, Idaho Ralph C. Hardisty Mary Ann Jun 17, 1898 Egin, Idaho Mar 1, 1899 Frederick M. Jul 22, 1903 Magrath, Alta. Canada Tina Jacob Vera M. Mar 10. 1900 Egin, Idaho Harry J. Orcutt Morgan W. Oct 16,1905 Magrath, Alta. Canada Elva D. Nielson July 14, 1951 (he was killed in a tractor accident) Thomas Sasson Smith Great grandfather of Sheila Jessop By Sheila Jessop (for a Sacrament Bulletin insert ) Thomas was born April 3, 1818, in Junius, Seneca, New York, and the oldest child of Jeremiah Smith and Abigail DeMont. He was almost seven when he moved along with his family across the state to Perry. His great grandfather for whom he was named died in the town of Perry on the 29 July 1829 at the age of 77 years old. (He was Thomas Sasson his maternal great grandfather.) When Thomas was 19 years old he married first Polly Clark, 13 July 1837 in Connaugh, Astabula, Ohio. She was the daughter of William Fowler Clark and Alma Downs who was born in Woodbridge, New Haven, Connecticut. They took out their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple 28 January 1846. He was baptized, June 15, 1844, just before the martyrdom of the prophet. Thomas moved his family to Nauvoo in 1845. They lived in Nauvoo on lot number 28. Polly was baptized in 1846. Thomas and Polly were among the saints that were persecuted and driven from their homes in Nauvoo in the dead of winter, February 1846. They had lost two sons in infancy but had one daughter three years old. We next find that Thomas and Polly were in Council Bluffs, Iowa, then on to Winter Quarters where their fourth child was born.. They were among those who were able to leave Winter Quarters in the spring of 1847 arriving in Salt Lake Valley 21 September 1847 in the A. O. Smoot Company. They settled in Farmington, Davis, Utah. Building a home for his family on what is now Main Street, not far from the Farmington Cemetery on the west side of the street. Thomas was active in the church and civic life . He served several terms in the Upper House of the Utah legislature. Brigham Young called Thomas to join the “Forty-Niners” to head south to Parowan, Iron County. Apostle George A. Smith was leader of this mission. This experience proved to be filled with overwhelming obstacles due to our lack of capital for proper equipment and trained men. The elements took their toll with the severe winter and the flood down Coal Creek in September 1851 wiped out the project. On 16 July 1857 he was sealed in the Endowment House to Amanda Ellen Hollingshead daughter of Isaac Hollingshead and Mercy Wilcox. At the annual conference of the church, held in Salt Lake City, April 7, 1855 Thomas along with a number of brethren were called to go and locate a settlement among the buffalo-hunting Bannock and Shoshone Indians in the far north, in what was then the Oregon Territory. His wife Polly was with child so it made it hard to leave her home again but the Kingdom of God must be carried on regardless of the sacrifices and hardships. Thomas, a man of considerable experience was appointed to take charge of the colony as president of the mission. They left 15 May 1855. On the 15th day of June they selected a site for a fort and a tract of land for farming. With the energy and determination characteristic of Mormon Pioneers, the brethren immediately commenced to make improvements. They soon had a blacksmith shop in working order and also had coal to burn, a plow made and a corral built for their stock. By the 19th of August they had built a fort wall and gates, seven houses and the blacksmith shop, besides breaking and planting several acres of land and doing a great deal of fencing. They called their Fort Lemhi. This fort was about 379 miles from Salt Lake City as they had traveled. In March 1856 President Smith along with others traveled to Salt Lake City and reported to Brigham Young their mission. (Salmon River Mission) He was pleased with what they had accomplished and decided to strengthen the settlement, which was done in April General Conference 1856. President Smith returned to Fort Lemhi July 8 1856, finding the missionaries in good health and spirits despite the fact that their entire crop had been destroyed by grasshoppers. The 28th July a company of brethren went to S.L.C. for provisions. Winter wheat was sewn in the fall of 1856. President Smith went again to S.L.C. in the spring of 1857 and returned to Fort Lemhi along with Brigham Young . For a time things went well with the Indians several being baptized. On 25 February 1858, while the brethren were busily engaged in mowing hay, hauling timber, etc...a large party of Bannock and Shoshone Indian (many of whom lived around the fort) made a sudden break upon the herd and drove off most of the livestock and killing 2 men and wounding several others, one of which was Pres. Smith. A relief company of men was sent by Brigham Young to aid the missionaries gather what they had left and thus ended the Salmon River Mission. During General Conference in October 1864, Thomas was called to preside over a group of colonizers sent to settle the southlands along the Muddy River. My grandfather was born here in St. Thomas and lived there until he was four. (Where lake Mead now is). On January 8, 1865, with eight brethren and three sisters he arrived on the Muddy and the settlement of St. Thomas. Life had been relatively peaceful since he returned from Fort Lemhi six years previous. He took south with him his second wife Amanda (my great grandmother) and their three small children. The new community was named St. Thomas after Thomas Sasson Smith. Living conditions were trying - intense heat caused crop failures, and flash floods we frequent. Concerns of malaria were serious for the Smith family as Thomas contacted it and was released as President of Mission and Bishop of the people there. Amanda returned to Farmington with the children in October of 1866. Thomas’ first wife Polly died 24 March 1872 in Farmington. Some of Thomas’ son and neighbors from Farmington joined Thomas and Amanda in their move to the Upper Snake River Valley (Wilford, Idaho), in 1884, as one of the first settlers. It was a very busy year – again clearing land, planting crops, and building a home there on “The Island” . Thomas was called as the first Bishop of the Wilford Ward, Bannock (now Yellowstone) Stake, Idaho, from 1884 to 1887. He was set apart at Rexburg by Apostle John W. Taylor. He was later made a patriarch in the Bannock Stake in 1888. It was here in Wilford that my grandfather and grandmother met. Thomas died in Wilford, Bingham Co., Idaho, July 1, 1890 after meeting with a serious accident, falling from a load of hay. At the time of his death my grandfather blew the conch shell (a shell with a legend which ties us to the Joseph Smith family, but has not yet been proven) and called in all the Smith family with the alarm. Thomas was buried in Farmington, Utah. Listed in an article “S ketches of a Pioneer Community Wilford Idaho” are my grandparents Frederick Thomas (son of Thomas Sasson) and his wife Sarah Ann Higbee Smith along with both of their parents -- Thomas Sasson and Amanda Smith and Silas and Melissa Higbee Amanda and her family continued to live in Wilford until her sons moved to Cardston, Alberta, Canada. She lived in Cardston until 1901 and moved to Magrath, Alberta where she died and was buried 21 September 1903. I am very grateful for this pioneer ancestor who is my mothers paternal grandfather. By Sheila Jessop

  
  

• Sources

  [S32] Unknown, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Trees. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=32128504&pid=9457