Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-06-22
"reminiscences
Of PIONEER DAYS
Boyhood Ilome Of Prcst Joseph
I Smith Scene Of Happy
'csliyily
MILFORD WARD REUNION,
Prominent Guests Of Honor -- How
roaeer Homes Were Founded
In Utah

june 70 Viii long be- remembered by
those who participated IN the festivities
that were given by The pooplo Of VII.
ford ward, to some Of the gpNuml au.
thorltios Of the church, at the homo of
Jons Hanson, ~, who now owns the
property the southwest corner Of Thin.
tcculh South ana Eleventh Gaet streets,
owned ana orru.lod by the mother ot
ircsIloni Jofoph r. Smith b5 years ago,
when our beloved president WAS ID boy,
liy 1880 o'clock the grounds were alive
WIN Tho busy throngu which had an.
somblod TO DO honor to those who were
the specially invited guests Uf the day,
"a soon az the assembly was seated,
The children of the Primary association
sang a beautiful song Of Welcome
Bishop y Cummings prcgldod,And NJ
Ter 'he opening hymn, "Wo thank Thee,
o GOD, Tor q Prophet had been sung
pA inc chOlr ana congregation, luvucns
non was offered by Elder John W.,
Nhllo &c the ward Blshopric, aftor
when thc congregation again Joined IN
singing 20 go mountains high"
Bishop Cummings. IN behalf Of the
ward, then welcomed the visitors and
said the place Of meeting had been so.
lyrtVd because Of ~ historic interest NV
the home Of President Joseph w. smith
ana his brother the Patriarch, John
smith The latter gave short ac.
count Of how they settled upon the
promises IN lsi9, ana related u number
Of very interesting incidents connected
herewith President Smith then re-.
lhtcd IN very interesting manner the
travels 0nd trials Of the family from
tho time Of their departure from Nau.
VOC In 1916 90 The settlement upon that
ever cherished spot Of ground, and
many very interesting events which
twnspIrcd while he lived there and
hcrded their stock upon the nearby
hills
Jons Hansen, Sr, then told how he
came into possession ~ the property
10 years ago, when he purchased II
from Patriarch John smith, ana his
experience since living there,
Tho committee ON relloshments thon
called the assembly 90 the south ond
Of the orchard, where tables were In
readiness 10 seat l39 persons at u time,
and III paTtOok Of a very choice lunch
con Of strawberries Ice cream and oths
en- dolcaslcs, President John r. Windcr
invoked a blessing upon the food,
There were 10 many present that II
required three slttlngB 10 accommodate
all AZ the tables, during which time
music ana singing were INDUCED IN,
| After luncheon all assembled again NJ
| the north end Of the grounds, where
| brief addresses wero nude by President
Frank Y. Taylor Of the Granite stake
President John II, Wmder Elder n.y.
| rum NJ Smith, President Nephi H. Nor.
| rls Of the salt Lake stake Bishop j.
| j, cummings ana President Joseph IT,
Smith
singing interpreted the speaking,
numbers being rendered by Brother
Evan stephens quartet consisting OF
SlstVra owen and Wndor ana Broth.
ors stephens ana llyrum NJ, Smith, The
Wilfurd quartet SANG Memories Of
uNlllcc" ana by request Of President
Wmdor, Prof stephens SANG my own
dear mountain home"
Many Of the visitors were conducted
through the rooms that remain Of the
old house built by the Smith family,
the adobcs Of which were made by Pat.
narch John smith, who stated that he
celebrated his eighteenth birthday by
carrying out coo adobics 10 dry, Later
The whole family, including the moth
or, united their physical labor In
building the house, the upper story
OF which has since been removed
While upon the historic threshold,
George A, smith had President Jo'
scph 4, Smith and those of his family
who were present pose for n snap
shot" as a souvenir of the place and
occasion
The assembly voted II one Of the
ntosl plpngant DAYS of their lives, after
which they separated and went home,