| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Sarah's oldest brother Alvin and her father Samuel Thomas participated in the 1834 march of Zion's Camp. Her father and family were also forced out of Far West in October 1838. Sister-in-law of Alvin Winegar who was born May 13, 1816 in Chenango County of N.Y. and who married Mary Judd Aug. 29, 1837 in Chenango County. Alvin came to Utah in 1852 as part of the Benjamin Gardner company. Member of the 5th quorum of seventies, elder, and high priest. Stonecutter for Salt Lake Temple. Died June 12, 1874. He in turn had a son, John Winegar, born Sep. 28, 1838 in Clay County, Missouri who came with his father to Utah. Both Sarah and Alvin are siblings to Almira Winegar who marries William Stoker and who live in Spanish Fork. See their notes elsewhere in this database.
2. Censuses:
1850 US: Dist. 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 98a, dwelling 542, 28 Sep 1850, next door is George and Mary Graybll:
John Smith, 51, SC.
Sarah, 43, NY.
Lydia, 16, IN.
Stephen, 14, IN.
Joseph, 12, IN.
Rhoda Ann, 9, IL.
Hyrum 6, IL.
Samuel Carlos, 4, IA.
Abraham, 1, IA.
1851 Iowa State: Pottawattamie County. FHL film 1022203. The entire state was counted but only Pottawattamie listed everyone by name in the household and their ages; other counties only listed the head of the household and a numerical count without names of the various ages by sex in the household. No date is given when the census was taken but it was certified in Dec. 1851; however, the other counties show a Sep 1851 date which also appears more likely for Pottawattamie as well in light of ages given some children with known birthdays in October. Census return:
Smith: John 50, Sarah 43, Lydia 16, [unreadable: may be Joseph 13], Rhoda A. 9, Hiram 7, Samuel C. 4, Abraham 2. [Note that the following related families are in this census and very close neighbors: Simeon P. Graybill, Michael/Polly Graybill with Polly's mother Catherine Eller Stoker, Eller/Margaret Stoker, Jacob/Catherine Stoker, Philip/Catherine Gatrost, David/Barbara Stoker, Edward/Sarah Davis, and William/Almira Stoker. Other relatives in same county but separated by several pages of census include the following families: Thomas/Hannah Pilling whose daughter Hannah, later marries William Lenore Graybill, Levi/Patience Graybill, John W./Sarah Stoker, Hannah Ford whose son Martin later marries Zibiah M. Stoker, and John/Sarah Smith.]
1854 Iowa: Madeconia, Pottawattamie, Iowa, FHL film 1022207. Next door neighbors include Levi Graybill and John Smith. Census return:
John Smith, 6 males, 2 females, 1 voter, 1 militia, 8 total.
1870 US: Wheeler's Grove P.O., Grove Twp., Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 160a, dwelling 21 [same neighborhood as Levi and Salathiel Graybill, and son Stephen Smith]:
Sarah Smith, 63, housekeeping, $3000, $500, NY.
Samuel C., 23, farming, $200, IA.
Mary F. 18, at home, IL.
Hiram, 25, farming, $300, IL.
Abraham, 21, farming, IL.
1880 US: Grove, Pottawattamie, Iowa, NA T9-0361, FHL 1254361, p. 122D:
S.C. Smith, marr., 33, IA NC NY, farmer.
Mary F., wife, 28, IL IN - .
Laura, dau., 10, IA IA IL.
John, son, 7, IA IA IL.
Lewis, son, 4, IA IA IL.
Fredrick, son, 9m, IA IA IL.
Sarah Smith, mother, 71, NY, CT CT.
Hiram Smith, brother, s, 36, IL NC NY, farmer.
BIOGRAPHY:
1. See notes of husband John Smith for extensive biography on entire family including this individual.
2. Susan Easton Black, compiler, "Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," (Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1993, copy in Family History Library in Salt Lake City), p. 831: "Sarah Smith. Birth: 19 May 1807, Herkimer (Hancock) County, New York (Union County, South Carolina). Death: 15 November 1880. Sarah Smith joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 3 Jan 1833 at Springfield, Erie, Pennsylvania, being baptized by Lyman Johnson. She later affiliated with the RLDS. Source: Early Reorganization Minutes, 1852-1871, Book A; Early Reorganization Minutes, 1872-1905, Book C; 'Saints Herald' obituaries, 1881, p. 112."
3. The book "Mormon Redress Petitions, Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict," edited by Clark V. Johnson, contains a copy of the "Scroll Petition" dated 28 Nov 1843 at Nauvoo, IL addressed to the U.S. Congress by members of the LDS Church who had property destroyed by Missouri mobs in the 1830's. Included with over a couple thousand signatures are those of Jno. and Sarah Smith and some of his children from his first wife who was deceased at the time of the petition: Hannah, Elizabeth, Stephen. Jos., and Rhoda A.
4. FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, pg. 197: "Grove Township... Many of these early settlers left Nauvoo intending to go to Utah, but for one reason or another they paused here and finally concluded to remain and few, if any, have had cause to regret it. The first to organize a religious body in the township were the Latter Day Saints. E.W. Briggs and W.W. Blair were the organizers, and the original members were John Smith and wife, E.W. Knapp and wife, A.J. Field and wife, James Otto and wife, Levi Graybill and wife, John Winegar and wife, Joseph Smith and wife, and Stephen Smith. John Smith was their first president and E.W. Knapp the first clerk. Services were held at residences of the different members and later at schoolhouses, but the society becoming more numerous and wealthy, in 1874 they erected a modest church building at a cost of $763. The membership had increased until in 1881 it had reached ninety and maintained a regular Sabbath School."
5. The following partial quote is included in the biography of Stephen Smith, son of John Smith, per FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, pp. 1066-1067 [see notes for Stephen Smith in this database for full quotation]: "Stephen Smith, now living retired but still residing on his farm on section 27, Grove township, came to Pottawattamie county about the 1st of November, 1847. On this day he arrived in Council Bluffs, where he spent the winter. In the following April his father arrived in Macedonia township, bringing his family with him, and there he built the first house within what is now the borders of the township. John Smith, the father, resided there for eight years or more, and in the fall of 1853 or 1854 became a resident of Grove township, settling on section 8, where he continued to reside until his death occurred, in 1870, when he was 72 years of age. His remains were interred in the cemetery of the Latter Day Saints in Grove township. He was a farmer by occupation and at one time he built the first saw mill on Farm creek, which he operated for several years, thus becoming associated with the industrial development as well as the agricultural interests of the county. In politics he was originally a whig, but upon the dissolution of that party became a republican. He served for several terms as supervisor from his township and was a member of the county board when the first courthouse at Council Bluffs was built. As a determined pioneer and influential citizen he was well known in this county. His birth had occurred in North Carolina and he had resided for some time in Indiana prior to coming to Iowa. The wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Martha Koonts, was born in Indiana, and from that state they removed to Adams county, Illinois, where the death of Mrs. Smith occurred, in 1840. Stephen Smith was born in Henry county, Indiana, January 28, 1836. His father wedded a second time, having wedded Miss Sarah Winegar in Adams county, Illinois, after losing his first wife. She accompanied her husband to Pottawattamie county and died here in 1882 [error; should be 1880]. By the two marriages there were seven sons and six daughters. Those of the family who came to Pottawattamie county were: Mary, Patience, Hannah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Rhoda [error: Lydia Rhoda is one individual and not two], Anna, Stephen, Joseph, Hiram, Carlos and Abraham. [Note: I believe Anna being included in this list to be an error in that it appears she died in Indiana as an infant.] Two brothers of the family died in early Childhood. Of the children Stephen, Lydia, and Abraham are still living, the sister being a resident of Cheyenne county, Kansas, while the brother makes his home in northwestern Nebraska. Stephen Smith was eleven years of age when he came with his father to Pottawattamie county..."
6. The FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 125-140, has an extensive downlined biography of the children of John Smith and Sarah Winegar.
BIRTH:
1. Calculated date from tombstone: 15 Apr 1807.
2. RLDS obituary below: 19 Mar 1807.
3. RLDS citation date and endowment record date: 19 May 1807 - I use this date since it occurs in two records.
4. Pitt book cited below uses an undocumented date of 1802 which looks completely erroneous.
DEATH:
1. RLDS citation above: 15 Nov 1880. RLDS obituary below: 15 Nov 1880.
2. Burial citation below: 13 Nov 1880 - I use this date.
BURIAL:
1. Picture of tombstone on website for "Mormon Cemetery" located in Grove Township of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, four miles east of Macedonia on County Road G66/Pioneer Trail.: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapottaw/CemMormon.htm> It reads: "Sarah Smith, wife of John Smith, Died Nov. 13, 1880, Aged 73 Yrs. 7 Mo. & 28 Dys."
"Alta E. Smith, 16y 6m 17d, 15 Apr 1881 - 2 Nov 1897" (Dau. of Samuel Carlos and Mary Frances [Peckenpaugh] Smith - Samuel is son of John and Sarah [Winegar] Smith.)
"Drucy Smith, died 2 Jun 1890, 19y 11m 16d" (Laura Drucella Smith, dau. of Samuel Carlos and Mary Frances [Peckenpaugh] Smith).
"Rhoda A., inf. dau. died 10 Dec 1875" (Dau. of Samuel Carlos and Mary Frances [Peckenpaugh] Smith.)
"Hirum Smith, 27 Feb 1844 - 22 Jul 1897, 53 y, 4m, 25d" (Son of John and Sarah [Winegar] Smith.)
"Clifford, Smith, died 6 Jul 1881, 9m 3w 1d" (Son of Abraham and Olive Melissa [Knapp] Smith - Abraham is son of John and Sarah [Winegar] Smith).
2. Copy of complete printed cemetery listing from FHL book 977.771 V3e, vol. 1, Bk. 3-5 in hard file 90 with John Peter Graybill. Information fon the cemetery from the 11 Nov 2002 website <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapottaw/CemMormon.htm?sourceid=00319368866824358798>: "Mormon Cemetery. Located in Grove Township [Pottawattamie County, Iowa], four miles east of Macedonia on County Road G66/Pioneer Trail. It has been called the Mormon cemetery and the LDS cemetery because it is on the Mormon Trail and many of the people buried there belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church was organized in 1863. Original members were John Smith and wife, Sarah; E.W. Knapp and wife, Melissa; A.J. Fields and wife, Sarah; James Otto and wife, Mehitable; Joseph Levi Graybill and wife, Patience; John Winegar and wife, Elizabeth; Joseph Smith and wife, Rachel and Stephen Smith. [Taken from the 1882 Pottawattamie Co. History by Baskin.] Many of these members are buried here. [In later years members of the Re-organized Latter Day Saints were buried here.] The oldest burial is that of Peter Frain, 12 Oct 1861, whose stone is still visible." [Note: most of the people mentioned were RLDS by 1863.]
OBITUARY:
1. The RLDS publication "Saints Herald," v. 28 (1 Apr 1881), p. 112: "Sarah Smith was born in Hancock county [no such place in NY], New York, March 19th, 1807; was baptized into the church in Erie county, Pennsylvania, January 3rd, 1833, by Lyman Johnson; died Nov. 15th, 1880. The following is taken from the Maccedonia, Iowa, Tribune:
Softly wave the silver hair,
About that aged Brow!
That crown of glory worn so long
A fitting Crown is now.
Fold reverently the weary hands,
That toiled so long and well,
And while your tears of sorrow fall
Let sweet thanksgiving swell.
She's safe within her mansions be;
Where many mansions be;
O pray that thus such rest may come,
Dear hearts, to you and me."
SOURCES_MISC:
1. Mentioned in the FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 125-140.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1807 - 1880 (73 years)