Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-17
JOSEPH SMITH.
SON Of MORMON
PROPHET, IS DEAD
'atriarch Had Presided 81 Years
Over Recognized Church
of Latter Day Saints
Son Succeeds Him.

|
on announced eight years ago by Joseph /
mith, president of the reorsahized
. hurch of the Latter Day Saints, desig-
atinE as his successoL his eldest son. INT
from the church a. burden of choos-
hg "A new leader upon the death here this
fternoon of the patriarch, who for 81
ears had presided over the organization
| he son, Frederick NJ. Smith, automau.
billy becomes head of the church.
The new president Is 81 years old. His
designation to succeed his father was
atihed by the general conference shortly
fter the father announced that he had
eceiyed the revelation. President Smith .
LIST adnionition was:
II wish those of my friends who may
htend placing flowers on my coffin would
efrain. Let them give the money to
harity."
His wife six sons and two daughters
Fere at his bedside throughout his Ill.
ess
The funeral will be held from the Ola
tone Church here Sunday.
A history OF Joseph Smith, who was
son OF Joseph Smith, a prophet, and
bunder OF Mormonism, is a history Of
be Re-organized Church OF the Latter
bay Saints, 1t was he who brought to-
ether the little bands Of Mormons in
linos Iowa and Missouri, left behind
hen the main body emigrated to Utah.
lie became the first president OF the re-
rganzed church and held that office
bore than half a century, until his death
fe was a cousin of Joseph Fielding
ninth, in recent years president Of the
after Day Saints in Utah.
The greater part Of President Joseph
bnith's life was struggle, as had been
be life of his father to place Nor
onism upon a sound footing During
be last years of his life he was blind.
He was born November 6, 1882, at Kirt-
md, Ohio where his father had gone
NO years earlier with few followers.
rom Manchester. n. Y. Soon after
ards the colony moved to Missouri.
here at Independence, the prophet, as
was known, established the New
erusaen' of the church, obeying, he
lid, revelation. Enn1ity of other set
ers. however. resulted in the Mormons
ling driven out. Prophet Joseph Smith
as arrested and placed in jail at LIB
+ty, Mo.
In the jail. where the younger Joseph,
hen Ave years old, spent the first night
18th his father, the prophet bent over
be child as he sobbed himself to sleep,
nd to him commended the hopes and
spirations OF the church.
MY mother accompanied my father to
liberty" Joseph Smith told, in later
ears. "but fearing for her life, my
lther induced her to go with members
the church 70 Illinois.
II tramped across the almost uninhabi-
tied pralres Of Missouri to Nauvoo, ILL.,.
here my father, when he was released.
lined us Then. In 1874. when 7 was 70
ears old, one day his dead body was
Fought to us. He had been shot by a
Job in Carthage, Ill"
After the death of the prophet most
the members Of the church emigrated
Utah under the leadership OF Brigham
Dung, Young Joseph Smith, rema ming
ehind, worked as farmer and as a clerk
hd studied law. This he gave up to
feet the reorganization of the church,
hich was formally accomplished at
mooy. H., in 1860. Twenty years later
eadquarters Of the church was estab-
bmoval was made to independence. Mo-,
here President Smith made his home
nd where ne resided until his death.
President Smith lived simply, occupy
g modest cottage, one room of which
bnstituted his Office. He arose early
I'D until his health began to fail a few
bars ago and blindness overlook him,
devoted his days TO editorial work
pr the Saints Herald. the official pub
cation of the church, and governmental
FAIRS OF the organization, as well a.
spending to many pleas for advice
ON communicates. The aged church.
BAD was a familiar ngure in indie
endence with heavy whitened beard and
ressed plainly, he had much the ap,
earance of a well-to-do farmer. He wa.
close touch with the members Of hi
purch and was Familiarity addressed by
lem as Brother Joseph" Much of tn,
ttive conduct of his office he turneC
yer in 1917 to his son, Frederick NJ
NTH, who, he declared. revelation
I'D said should succeed him.
President Smith was married thre
mes losing his first and second wive
death He denounced polysamou
|achines and practices and mos
alphabetically denied that his father wa
gamist or sanctioned polygamy.