Written by Albert Ernest Smith
and his sisters
Julia M.S. Ereckson, Josephine S. Wagstaff, Kate S. Thomas
and Florence G.S. Jones
1962
Revised by Kenneth R. Allen
August 2000
This life story of Albert Smith has been written
that his posterity might know of him and realize to some extent the wonderful,
loving father and grandfather that he was. Those who came in contact
with him, from the oldest to the youngest, loved and honored him.
His life as he lived it was the greatest heritage he could have left us.
The example he set, in every act, will be for the betterment of all his
descendants for generations to come. He so loved this following quotation
that he patterned his life after it.
“I shall pass though this world but once.
Any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show
to any human being, let me do it now; let me not defer it, for I shall
not pass this way again.”
The love and patience he showed for little
children will always be remembered by his children and grandchildren.
Albert Smith was born 28 August 1854 in Harlestone,
Northamptonshire, England. He was the only son of George and Mary
Wadsworth Smith, who also had five daughters. This family lived in
part of the Wadsworth home, a duplex shared with James Wadsworth and his
family called the Pump House. Annie, the first child, who was born
10 January 1850, died when she was four months old. Sarah the second
daughter was 10 January 1852. Then came Albert on 28 August 1854.
The third daughter Alice was born 11 February 1857. She and Albert
grew up very closely associated with each other, insomuch that they chose
the same wedding day. They were both married in the Harlestone Church
of England on 19 May 1879. Alice married Thomas Manning, and Albert
married Mary Ann Storton (who had been born 15 Jan 1856 in Harlestone).
The fifth child Ann, born 20 May 1860, died
19 May 1867. Martha Jane the sixth child was born 25 March 1863,
eight months after the death of their father.
Family tradition says that George Smith, father
of this family was Game Warden for the Estate of the Earl of Spencer and
as part of his duties he was to guard against poachers and trespassers.
According to the family story, on the morning of 19 July 1862, as he approached
the wall surrounding the estate, he heard prowlers on the other side.
As he climbed the high, ivy-covered wall with his gun in hand, he slipped,
whereupon the gun discharged, killing him instantly.
However, according to a report published on Saturday
July 20 in the Northampton Herald describing the inquest of his death,
George Smith had been for some years in the employ of Mr. John Cooper,
a farmer. Based on the inquest findings, he died instantly on Thursday
evening the 18th between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm as a result of accidental
death by discharge of a gun. (Evidently the doctor did not declare
him dead until after midnight on July 19.) According to the report,
Mr. Smith had a single barrel shotgun with him for the purpose of shooting
wood pigeons and was along the right side of the road from Upper Harlestone
to Northampton about six o’clock in the evening when he had stopped with
his master Mr. Cooper to gather up some recently cut rushes to fodder the
pigs. He had put his coat over the barrel of his loaded shotgun and
had placed it along a deep dyke with the muzzle resting just above the
level of the road, out of the way of passing wagon traffic. His master
had cautioned him to be careful before he left him there. About an
hour later, two men, Thomas Clarke and John Birt of Harlpole, found him
resting on his belly about a yard from the dyke as if he were asleep, and
in an attempt to rouse him rolled him on his back and found he was dead
with a large amount of blood on his chest. They summoned Mr. Cooper
from Harlestone and only then discovered the gun just as it had been previously
laid against the dyke. Mr. Cooper then went to Northampton and brought
back Mr. Olive a surgeon to the scene. Mr. Olive examined the body
and discovered the extent of the wound. Evidently the shotgun had
discharged as George Smith had attempted to reach it out of the ditch,
killing him instantly. He was 35.
This was a great tragedy to his wife and small
family, but they were not left to bear this alone. All Harlestone
mourned at the sadness of it. Everyone was very kind to the young
widow and her small children. It was reported that Lord Spencer did
what he could for the little family, too.
Although not quite eight years old when this
accident happened, young Albert accepted the responsibility of helping
his mother, and as he grew to manhood he acted as both father and big brother
to his sisters.
Albert was blessed with a wonderful mother
who came from a line of stalwart, religious people and although she had
many trials and hardships, her faith in God and her willingness to accept
her lot helped her to teach her children to love each other and to live
clean, righteous lives. She died 19 December 1877, one year and five
months before Albert Smith and Mary Ann Storton were married.
According to family tradition, the Smith heritage
was of very religious, God-fearing people who were lovers of nature.
George and his brothers were farmers, overseers of estates and game wardens.
They were large in stature, intelligent and kind-hearted, which they demonstrated
in their daily life.
After the death of his father, young Albert
had no further opportunity for formal schooling and was obliged to find
work to help support his family. Mr. Cooper, the village butcher
and probably also his father’s former employer as well as a kind friend
of the family, took young Albert into his shop as an apprentice where he
learned the trade which he followed the rest of his life.
Albert was quick at learning the trade and
became a very skilled butcher. His trade brought him into contact
with many influential people, who because of his pleasing personality became
his close friends. His business took him frequently to the Estate
and Manor House of the Earl of Spencer, where he became quite friendly
with Lord Spencer’s entire household.
According to family tradition, Lord Spencer
took quite a liking to this young bright boy and tried to help the family
all he could. He soon took Sarah, Albert’s oldest sister, into his
household, where she was educated and became a Lady in Waiting to Lady
Spencer. There she became acquainted with Frederick Turner, who was
Overseer of the Spencer Estate. This acquaintance resulted in their
marriage. A few years later, this couple with their two children
Dorothy and Maurice moved to Gilbert Plains, Manitoba, Canada. Sarah
died their 3 August 1918. Dorothy married Jack Campbell and as of
1960 lived in Victoria, British Columbia. Maurice married and moved
to New Zealand.
It was while visiting the Spencer Manor House
that Albert met Mary Ann Storton, who was working there in charge of the
department of linen and household goods. A friendship grew into a
romance.
Albert and Mary Ann were married on May 19, 1879
in the parish church of St. Albert the Great in Harlestone, Northamptonshire
in a ceremony solemnized according to the rites of the Church of England.
Since both of their fathers were dead, Thomas Manning, Sr., stepfather
of Mary Ann Storton, and Sarah Smith, oldest sister of Albert Smith, stood
as witnesses to the marriage. It was a double wedding. Alice
Smith, Albert’s younger sister, was married the same day to Thomas Manning,
Jr., Mary Ann Storton’s stepbrother. The brides wore like wedding
dresses, both hand-made blue taffeta. Mary Ann’s dress was made by
her mother, and Alice made her own dress. Mary Ann’s dress is still
intact and was cared for by her daughter Florence.
Albert and Mary Ann lived in Harlestone for three
years. On 27 Feb 1880, their first child, a son, was born.
They named him George Storton Smith. On 19 May 1882, their second
child, a daughter, was born. They named her Edith Mary.
In the fall of the year following their marriage,
this young couple heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ brought to them by two
young Elders, Joseph S. Tingey and Joseph Orton. They were laboring
in Harlestone as missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Albert was baptized on 22 February 1881 by Joseph Orton and
confirmed a member of the Church the same day by David Spillsbury.
On 4 October 1881, Joseph Orton ordained Albert a Priest in the Aaronic
Priesthood. On 22 January 1882 Albert was ordained an Elder in the
Melchizedek Priesthood by William Butler. Mary Ann was baptized a
few months later on 21 July 1882 by Joseph S. Tingey, who confirmed her
a member of the Church the next day.
As was the case with so many converts to the
Church in those days, many of their relatives and friends turned against
them. This proved a great trial to them. Because of this, they
soon became anxious to go to Utah and join the body of Saints. Their
families and friends could not understand why they had joined those terrible
Mormons. On the advice of some of the Elders, they sold most of their
household goods and some of their personal belongings at a public auction.
This was on Albert’s 28th birthday. Two days later they left for
Liverpool and on September 2, 1882, they sailed for New York City on the
ship Wyoming. It was a long, hard journey for this young couple and
their two babies. Albert was 28, Mary Ann was 26 and their children
were 2-1/2 years and 3 months old. Riding the train from New York
City to Ogden, Utah, they arrived September 19, 1882.
When they arrived, they were welcomed into
the home of William Butler who had just returned from a mission to England.
He had become acquainted with this young couple and had enjoyed the hospitality
of their home. They lived with the Butlers for about three weeks.
In October, Albert accompanied Elder Butler to Salt Lake City to attend
the General Conference of the Church. While there he located work
in the butcher department of the Church Tithing Office and rented two rooms
at the home of David Fullmer in the Sixth Ward near Pioneer Park.
After attending Conference, he returned with Elder Butler to Ogden and
then moved his little family to Salt Lake City.
Soon after arriving in Salt Lake, Albert began his work in the meat
marker in the Church Tithing Office Building located just north of the
present Church Office Building. While employed there, he established
a modest home, building it himself on Third West between Third and Fourth
South Street in the Sixth Ward. It was here on July 28, 1884 that
their daughter Ada Jane was born. Their little baby girl Edith Mary
had died a few months earlier, on 15 October 1883, of what was then called
Summer Complaint, probably attributable poorly-refrigerated milk.
Shortly after Ada’s birth, Albert was appointed
Superintendent of the Church Farm located near 27th South and Third and
Fourth West, in recognition of his natural talent for leadership and ability
to organize. They then sold their home in the Sixth Ward and established
a new home on the Church Farm. It was there that the following children
were born: Annie May, Alice, Julia Margaret and Albert Ernest.
Their home was located in Farmer’s Ward, and
the family soon became engaged in Church activities. They had to
travel by horse and buggy to church or horseback to school, since both
were held in the same one-room log building on State Street at about 1800
South. The Church Farm activities included a slaughterhouse located
on Second West and Twenty-first South, which Albert supervised for several
years. About this time, he purchased a farm in East Millcreek on
which he planted in fruit trees and vegetables. However, his health
proved such that his doctor advised him against farming, it being too heavy
or strenuous for him. So he sold his fruit farm. It was hard
for him to give up because he so loved gardening of any kind. Unable
to farm, he bought a home at 1848 South on Third East. He and Mary
Ann lived in this home for the rest of their lives and there raised their
family.
The rest of their children were born in this
home. They were the twin boys Robert Franklin and Samuel, Josephine,
Kate Ellen, Edwin Woodruff, Raymond Warren and Florence Gertrude.
In this large family there was bound to be
some sickness and death. Alice, the fourth daughter, died of spinal
meningitis when she was nearly six years old. Robert and Samuel died
in infancy. Raymond died of pneumonia following a severe case of
diphtheria at age five. The rest of the children grew to maturity
and were a blessing to their parents.
Albert Smith and Mary Ann Storton were endowed
and then sealed as husband and wife for time and eternity in the Endowment
House in Salt Lake City on August 2, 1883. In 1886 they went to Logan
and had their first two children sealed to them in the newly completed
Logan Temple. They also did similar temple work for many of their ancestors.
They followed up on this work with more temple work in the Salt Lake Temple
after its completion and dedication, continuing until their health did
not permit them to carry on.
Shortly after their arrival in Zion, Albert,
being very religious and conscientious in following the admonition of the
General Authorities of the Church, gave prayerful thought to the law of
Celestial Marriage and the principal of plural wives.
While living at the home of Brother
and Sister William Butler, they became acquainted with their daughter.
After a few years, and with the consent of his first wife Mary Ann, Albert
returned to the Butler home in Ogden and proposed marriage to this fine
young woman. She was serious minded and deeply religious and accepted
the proposal. They were married in the Logan Temple on November 4,
1886. She was 21 years old.
Over the next several years the following
children were born to Emma Jane and Albert: William Henry, Pearl
Elizabeth, Joseph Alma, Lewis Frederick, Leona Mabel, Hyrum Butler,
Elizabeth Emma, Lillie Sarah and Lawrence Stephen Smith.
Both families grew up in harmony, sharing
the trials and hardships that came along from time to time. Emma’s
trials were noteworthy. During the early life of her family, they
were forced to move often to protect their father and themselves from persecution
by Federal Authorities bent on destroying the Church and using polygamy
as the excuse to do so. After the Manifesto of 1890, the families
were able to settle down in a permanent home and live normal lives.
The Smith/Butler home was located on Vidas Avenue between State Street
and Third East at 2600 South in the same ward and community as Albert’s
other family. Growing up together allowed all the children to build
more firmly the love of family.
About the time that Albert and Mary Ann moved their family into their
home on Third East, Albert entered a new venture. He secured a corner
lot with a small store on it at State Street and 1700 South. Purchasing
the building from Thomas Twigs, he opened up a meat market and grocery
store. With the help of his eldest son George, he began a business
that continued with outstanding success throughout the rest of his life,
providing a livelihood for both of his large and growing families.
Albert worked hard, putting in long hours
at the store and more hours at home with Mary Ann and her children, planting
a garden with vegetables and fruit trees. He had barns and sheds
and a nice pasture in the rear of the lot, where he kept several cows and
horses. At the same time he also provided a home for Emma Jane and
her children.
Pearl Smith Kimball recounted the lives and
trials of the family in a story of her mother Emma Jane.
As George grew older and was able to give
his father more help, the store progressed and expanded. Albert’s
reputation as a merchant grew, and his store, known as ALBERT SMITH – MEATS
AND GROCERIES was recognized as the leading store between Ninth South and
the City of Murray and as one of the leading stores in Salt Lake Valley
outside of Salt Lake City. Later, as George took a more active
part in the management of the store, the name was changed to ALBERT SMITH
& SON and was incorporated under this name. Other members of
his family were taken into the store and taught the fundamentals of merchandising—and
shown how to work for a living. At its height, the store had regular
customers from the Salt Lake City limits on the north to the Murray City
limits on the south and from Sugar House on the east to the Jordan River
on the west. These customers were served by daily delivery service
using three covered wagons and smaller single carts or two buggies.
During all this time, Ada the eldest daughter was their faithful bookkeeper.
The training the boys received here during their younger years helped them
in later years when they were on their own.
While Albert operated his store he developed
into one of the outstanding merchants in the community, he never forgot
his duties and obligations to the Church. His whole life was governed
by his religious convictions and his firm belief and faith in the Restored
Gospel. He continued actively in Church assignments as they were
given him by his Bishop and other Church Authorities, and he saw to it
that his children were taught the Gospel in the home as well as the various
organizations. He did considerable temple work for his ancestors
through the years and kept a complete family record of this work, which
has been continued in the family since he passed on.
In July 1910, Albert received and accepted
a call from President Joseph F. Smith to serve as a missionary in England,
his native land. Elder J. Golden Kimball set him apart and gave him
a wonderful blessing. The promises were fulfilled as he served his
mission.
His daughter Julia Margaret has written a
very clear and comprehensive account, which is included here.
On July 12, 1910 a Farewell Testimonial
was given in his honor. As a special request he had the Farmers Ward
Juvenile Brass Band, fourteen performers on the direction of Brother Chisholm,
an elderly member of the ward, rendered a few numbers. Julia his
daughter gave a piano selection. Eight other of his favorite performers
rendered numbers. This was followed by an evening of dancing.
The following day, July 13,
1910, he left for his mission thus fulfilling a desire he had had since
joining the Church twenty-nine years before.
Albert had passage on board
the S.S. Meganitic of the White Star Line from Montreal, Canada.
His letter of July 23, 1910 written on board the ship and mailed at Quebec
told of the beautiful ride down the St. Lawrence River. The Meganitic
and her sister ship The Lawrentic were the largest steamers at that time.
He enjoyed meals and was a good sailor until they were in mid ocean.
He welcomed land when they arrived in Liverpool, England.
Elder Albert Smith’s first assignment
was to the Birmingham Conference with Elder Hansen his companion.
Here he commenced his tracting and visiting with the Saints and investigators.
After two months he was transferred to Northampton where he labored from
September 28, 1910 to August 14, 1911. Elder James Wiggle, of Kaysville,
Utah, was his Senior Companion. To be able to labor here was an answer
to his greatest desire. This was the locality where a number of his
relatives lived and also not for from Harlestone, the village where he
was born and lived until leaving for Utah. His friends and relatives
gladly welcomed him and he made many new friends among the Latter-day Saint
converts. He spent many wonderful evenings with his relatives explaining
the Gospel and getting information from their family records. They
were all very fine religious people, but not quite ready to accept all
the principles pertaining to the Restored Gospel.
About this time he bought a
bicycle, thus enabling him to make short trips to visit his sisters and
cousins in nearby villages and also Mary Ann’s two sisters and brother.
He had such a lovable personality that he was always welcome wherever he
went.
On September 28, 1911 he was
transferred to Nuneaton with Elder H.W. Noble as companion. Here
he and his companion had very good success with their missionary labors,
also making many close and endearing friends. Yet it was here they
had their greatest opposition. The main occupations in this town
were coal mining and blacksmithing. Many chains and anchors for the
large steamship companies were made here.
During the winter of 1911 and
spring of 1912, he coal mines had closed on account of strikes among the
miners. There were so many men out of work and having nothing to
do, they were easily led to some excitement by leaders who liked to cause
trouble.
An ex-mormon, William Jarman
of My. Pleasant, Utah, was distributing tracts full of lies about the Mormons
regarding young girls being sent to Utah as white slaves or polygamous
wives. He was trying to anger the people to say this had been done
in Nuneaton. He thought he could claim a reward of 200 Pounds,
or US$1,000.00, which a Mr. Peet, a non-mormon from Salt Lake City and
editor of an anti-mormon Salt Lake newspaper, had offered on arriving in
Liverpool to anyone who could arrest and convict some Mormon stealing or
enticing girls to Utah for plural wives or immoral purposes. Mr.
Jarman’s only foundation for this was that a Mrs. Wheatly with her children
had gone to Utah with a Utahn who was in no way connected with the Mission.
The mobs had succeeded in keeping missionaries out of Nuneaton for some
time until Father and Elder Noble went there. Later Elder J.M. Jones
was his companion. Father was not afraid of the mobs or their threats.
One newspaper gives the following description of him and his companion
Elder Jones:
Elder Albert Smith appears to be a man past middle age.
He wears a beard and has merry gray eyes which occasionally become stern
and piercing. At the first glance, he seems rather too frail for
the strenuous propaganda upon which he is engaged but when he speaks this
impression fades. The other Elder, J.M. Jones, is a big beefy young
man, stolid and phlegmatic, with very little personal magnetism about him.”
Father did not let the mobs discourage him in his work.
He went on visiting the non-members and Saints, distributing L.D. S. tracts.
Elder Jones faithfully accompanying him, following his advice, holding
their different meetings, held cottage meetings in the homes of Saints.
Often when the mobs would gather, shouting and throwing stores at the homes
where the elders were, they would call for them to come out, and when Father
would stop out and speak to them, not one would throw a stone but would
walk away. This was a fulfillment of one of the promises given him
in his blessing by J. Golden Kimball.
Richard H. Smith, a prominent figure in the local Baptist
Church, a building contractor and leader of the mobs said, “I will rid
Nuneaton of the Mormon Spiders.” He even tried stirring up the little
children of the Baptist Church by having them carry a square cardboard
affixed to a pole upon which was written, “For the honor of womanhood let
us rid this place of the Mormon Pest,” when they were marching in a procession
to their annual retreat.
In order to keep the mob element out of the meetings,
special tickets signed by Father had been given to members and friends
who might like to attend the Sunday morning service at the Gate Hotel assembly
hall on May 26, 1912. The streets were crowded with people trying
to get into the building. Mr. Holbrook, a Latter-day Saint, and Elder
Jones left to join Father, who was conducting the service.
There was a great of jostling outside. As some were forcing their
way through the crowd, Brother Holbrook’s little boy became frightened,
and as he turned to the child, the crowd pushed into the room. The
three policeman who were trying to hold back the crowd were unable to do
so. Father then appealed for order, but there were more noise and
cries from the anti-mormons. It was decided to discontinue the meeting.
Elder Jones first ventured forth into the street in search of the police.
He found Sergeant Molloy who went up to the Assembly Room. Elder
Jones then went to the police station followed by the crowd booing him.
The police said that it was not a public worship place, so they would not
give any assistance. Elder Jones then went home without being molested.
Father was not so fortunate. He had his silk hat, walking cane and
gloves in his hand prepared for leaving the building. His exit was
barred until a well-known anti-mormon, Richard H. Smith, made his exit
to the top of the landing
The following is a copy of Father’s account of what followed,
as written in his diary beginning the following day, May 27, 1912.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Roberts
again tried to prevent me from going out, but Sisters Nettie Horne and
Sarah Ann Bates fought the men back and I went out through the doors.
As soon as I stepped on the stairs to go down, I felt feathers falling
all over me. The next moment, I felt something warm and runny falling
on my head which I soon realized was gas tar that Mr. Richard Smith was
pouring on my head out of a can he had concealed under his coat.
He rushed by me and ran away, but no one chased him. This is police
protection in Nuneaton. Three police officers called there for the
sole purpose of keeping those men out, had allowed 30 or 40 of them to
come into our Assembly Room. They stood back about three or four
yards from the door. As soon as I reached the door, the tar began
to get into my eyes and I saw no more but was led to our ledge by two sisters,
Nettie Horne and Sarah Ann Bates. They covered my head over with
a coat, took hold of my arms and led me through the streets. The
mob followed and the police also followed to see, what well might be, that
we had police protection. Sister Hartoff, at whose home were boarding,
and her daughters Lucy and Elsie worked hard with warm water, consecrated
oil and carbolic soap until they got all the tar off my head and face.
When I could open my eyes, I looked in the glass and said, “I wish I could
have had my picture taken before they had cleaned me up so I could see
just how I looked.” Everything but my socks were gas tarred.
Mr. Richard Smith did his work well and mad a good job of his diabolic
“christian” act, he a Sunday School Teacher of a Bible Class at the Manor
Court Baptist Church of Nuneaton.
I was told tonight the same
Mr. Smith was at the Sunday School Service at the Primitive Methodist Church
as this is the day for special Sunday School Services. I am also
told that he is so religious that he will not allow the family to read
a letter or to wash up the dishes used to cook with on Sunday.
This is Monday morning May
27, 1912 that I am writing this and I feel fine, no worse for the experience,
only my face is sore from the burns of the tar and my eyes are swollen
and a little sore, and “oh” the looks of my whole Sunday. suit and silk
hat!! President Albert T. Smith came to see me and Elder Jones today.
We went back to Birmingham with him to attend a farewell social for Sister
Champain. When I entered the room, they started clapping their hands
for joy to see I was able to be there. For a number of days I was
busy with newspaper reporters but did not make any difference to my missionary
work. There were court proceedings, solicitors and lawyers to contact.
The account of the mob violence was in all the English newspapers.
I took time off to visit my relatives in Long Buckby, Northampton, Harlestone
and Stowe. I also had my eyes examined and purchased some new glasses.
My relatives were glad to hear the account from me in person and to learn
that I was well.
At court on May 29, I asked
if the hearing of my case could be postponed. It was Granted.
On June 6, 1912 the case was taken to court. Mr. Willson was my attorney.
President Rudger Clawson, President of the British Mission, and President
Albert T. Smith, President of the Birmingham Conference, and a few of the
Elders from the Branch were in attendance. Mr. Richard H. Smith was
sentenced to two months in jail and was to pay four guineas for the cost
of the clothing, three guineas for the assault and damage to his person.
This was a total of seven guineas or $36.75 in U.S. coin. This was
not nearly enough to purchase the same kind of clothes or to pay for the
new glasses. The proprietors of the Gate Assembly Hall sued Richard H.
Smith for damage to property by pouring tar on the stairway, eight Pounds,
ten shillings or US$42.00 and if not paid in one week, he was to go to
jail for six weeks.
President Clawson related that
the tar and feathering of Albert Smith and the mob uprisings in Nuneaton
were the strongest sieges of persecution Great Britain had known regarding
the Mormon Missionaries.
Soon after this case was closed
the British Government issued a statement declaring that after a thorough
investigation, no cause was found to interfere with the Latter-day Saints
missionary work in England. If anything unlawful had existed they
said it would have been discovered long before.
Through Father’s perseverance
and his not being afraid of mobs, the missionary work continued in Nuneaton.
An excerpt from a letter written
sometime later by President Albert T. Smith follows:
Things are, I think, on the improve in Nuneaton and
I understand that the anti-mormons and William Jarman are having a lawsuit
today over the spoils and they have been informed the Elders “That we are
not so black as we were painted.” I think we are going to come out in the
end all right. Give my kindest regards to your wife and daughters,
and accept the same for yourself and may be blessings of God attend you
at all times.
Your Brother in the Gospel
Albert T. Smith
The missionaries of the Birmingham
Branch presented Father with a lovely gold ring at his farewell social
on August 3, 1912, and he was honorably released from his mission to Great
Britain.
When Father received his call
to serve in the British Mission he was very happy that his great desire
to return to his native land to preach the Gospel would be fulfilled.
Another great desire was to have his wife, Mary Ann, meet him in England
at the conclusion of his labors. This dream she had also shared with
him. She was happy to be able to accomplish this by taking their
daughter Julia as a companion. They arrived in England in June 1912.
Thus they had time to visit with relatives and become acquainted with Father’s
many mission friends. They enjoyed a month together visiting relatives
and friends of their youth.
They set sail on the S.S. Scandinavian of the
Allen Line. They landed at Montreal, Canada. They visited places
of historical interest, both church and national, and arrived at their
home September 13, 1912.
The affairs at the store and with his two
families were in good shape. George and Ada had taken good care of
the store operation while he was away. After he was settled, he again
took up work in the temple and devoted much of his time doing research
work for both his and Mary Ann’s ancestors. While in England he had
been able to record many names and information about their relatives.
The research work he started inspired his family to continue the work.
During these years he was active in his ward as Ward Teacher Supervisor
and Chairman of the Genealogical Committee, positions he held until his
health failed.
Returning home from the Salt Lake Temple on
the afternoon of December 17, 1925, he stopped at the store, as was his
daily custom. As he sat by the stove warming his hands, he was stricken
with a cerebral hemmorrhage, leaving him paralyzed. He lost his speech
and the use of his limbs. He was confined to bed for a considerable
time. Later, he was able to get about in a wheelchair. The
chair was rigged up so it could be carried on the back of the family auto,
enabling him, with the help of his daughter Kate, to enjoy visiting and
riding through the countryside that he so loved.
Although Albert never regained his speech,
his mind remained clear and alert. He was always cheerful and took
an interest in whatever was happening around him. His eyesight was
not impaired, which was a great blessing to him. He was able to enjoy
a little reading and many pleasant hours riding. Since he was able
to ride, it was possible for him to visit his daughters who lived out of
town. He made many trips to Kamas where Julia and Josephine lived,
to Bountiful where Elizabeth (Beth) lived, to Brigham City where lived
and even to Montpelier, Idaho, and Star Valley, Wyoming, where his eldest
daughter Ada lived and where he sometimes stayed a week at a time.
His hearing was not impaired either, which
was also a blessing, since he could understand what people said to him
even though he could not converse. The radio was just coming into
use then, and he enjoyed listening to radio programs.
During these long trying years, he never lost
his patience or complained. At the time of Albert’s paralytic stroke,
his wife Mary Ann was in such poor health that she was not able to take
care of him, leaving Kate the only one left at home. Florence and
her husband Nat offered to give up their home and move home to help Kate
care for their parents. This was indeed a comfort to Kate and her
parents.
Two years after Albert’s stroke, 21 February
1927, his wife Emma Jane passed away following a long illness.
With Florence and Nat moving home and fixing
an apartment upstairs, they were both able to help. Florence relieved
Kate so she didn’t need to devote her whole time to their parents.
Nat helped with their father at night, who frequently needed help by administration
of a blessing when he was in pain. He also kept a vegetable garden
and took care of the cow. All these things created interest for their
father and allowed him to continue in the home surroundings that he had
enjoyed building through the years.
After five years, with Albert and Mary Ann
feeling much healthier, the parents both felt that Kate could not take
care of them and that Florence and Nat should start a home of their own.
In June 1930, they purchased a home in Butlerville, where they lived for
the rest of their lives.
They following January, Mary Ann fell in her
home injuring her leg. She was never able to walk again. She
passed away 27 June 1931 at the age of 75.
Albert remained very calm throughout this
time. However, after Mary Ann’s death, he seemed to lose all interest
in life as though as just waiting to join his two beloved wives.
On October 25, 1931, four months following the death of his beloved Mary
Ann, at his home on Third East, Albert Smith passed away at the age
of 77.
Many wonderful tributes have been paid to
this fine man who believed in God and lived according to His laws and commandments,
who loved his fellow men and lived a life of service to his Church, his
community and to all who knew him.
Albert Smith left a heritage to his large
family and descendants that all can be proud to follow.