The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-10
Passes Away at His Home In
independence, Mo.
Was A SON OF THE FOUNDER
Twelve Years of Age When His
Father Was Killed.
He Never Had but One Wife
at q Time.

Independence, Dec 10.-Joseph
Smith, president Reorganized Church
OF Latter Day Saints, died at his
home here today. At his bedside were
his son, Frederick M. Smith, who will
succeed him as president of the
church, and other members of his
family who had been called from var
ious parts of the United States.
Mr.. Smith was 80 years of age and
has been in ill health for several
months. Recently he became blind
and was forced to abandon many of
his duties as editor of the Saints Her
aid, the official publication of the
church. Several days ago he was
stricken with heart disease, and his
death has been expected daily since.
A history of Joseph Smith, who was
son of Joseph Smith, prophet, and
founder of Mormonism, is history of
the Reorganized Church of the Latter
Day Saints. 1t was he who brought
together the little bands of Mormons
in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri left be-
hind when the main body emigrated
to Utah. He became the first presi-
dent of the ReorganiZed church, and
held that Office more than half a
century, until his death. He was a
recent years president of the Latter
Day Saints IN Utah.
The greater part of President Joseph
Smith life was struggle, as had
been the life of his father. TO place
Mormonisn- upon a sound footing.
Kirkland, O., where his father had gone
two years earlier with few followers,
from Manchester N. Y. Soon after
wards the colony moved to Missouri.
There at independence, the prophet. as
he was known, established the New
Jerusalem of the church, obeying, he
said. revelation Enmity of other
settlers. however, resulted in the Nor
mons being driven out. Prophet Joseph
Smith was arrested and placed in Jail
at Liberty, Mo.
In the Jail, where the younger JOS
eph then years old, spent the first
night with his father. the prophet bent
over the child as he sObbed himself to
sleep, and to him commended the hopes
and aspirations of the church.
to Liberty Joseph Smith told, in lat
er years. but fearing for her life. my
father induced her to go with members
Of the church to Illinois.
His Life a Struggle. H= $50
Il tramped across the almost ,unin-
hal ited prairies of Missouri to Nauvoo,
ILL.,. where my father. when he was re-
was II years old. one day his dead
body was brought to us. He had been
shot by mob in Carthage, ILL.,"
After the death of the prophet most
of the members of the church emf
grated to Utah under the leadership
of Brigham Young. Young Joseph
Smith. remaining behind. worked as
farmer and as clerk and studied law.
This he gave up to effect the reorgani-
cation of the church, which was formal
ly accomplished at Amboy, ILL.,, in 1860.
Twenty years later headquarters of the
church was established in Lamont,
Iowa, and in 1906 removal was made
to Independence Mo-, where President
Smith made his home and where he
resided until his death
President Smith was married three
times, losing his first and second wives
by death. He denounced polygamous
teachings and practices and most en-
phatically denied that his father was
a polygamist sanctioned po1ygamy
Soft coal heaters at FOrbes'.-AdV.