Smith, Joseph, Sr.

12 July 1771–14 Sept. 1840. Cooper, farmer, teacher, merchant. Born at Topsfield, Essex Co., Massachusetts. Son of Asael Smith and Mary Duty. Nominal member of Congregationalist church at Topsfield. Married to Lucy Mack by Seth Austin, 24 Jan. 1796, at Tunbridge, Orange Co., Vermont. Joined Universalist Society at Tunbridge, 1797. Entered mercantile business at Randolph, Orange Co., ca. 1802, and lost all in a ginseng root investment. Moved to Tunbridge, before May 1803; to Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont, 1804; to Sharon, Windsor Co., by Aug. 1804; to Tunbridge, by Mar. 1808; to Royalton, by Mar. 1810; to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811; to Norwich, Windsor Co., 1813; to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816; and to Manchester, Ontario Co., 1825. One of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, June 1829. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Oliver Cowdery, 6 Apr. 1830, most likely at Seneca Lake, Seneca Co., New York. With his son Don Carlos, served mission to family of his father in St. Lawrence Co., New York, Aug. 1830. Lived at The Kingdom, unincorporated settlement near Waterloo, Seneca Co., Nov. 1830–1831. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, 1831. Ordained a high priest by Lyman Wight, 4 June 1831. Attended first meeting of School of the Prophets, 22–23 Jan. 1833, in Kirtland. Member of Kirtland high council, 1834. Ordained patriarch of church and assistant president, 6 Dec. 1834. Labored on Kirtland temple. Served mission to eastern states with his brother John Smith, 1836. Stockholder in Kirtland Safety Society. Sustained as assistant counselor in First Presidency, 3 Sept. 1837. Left Ohio for Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, May 1838. Expelled from Missouri; migrated to Quincy, Adams Co., Illinois, Feb. 1839. Located at Commerce (later Nauvoo), Hancock Co., Illinois, spring 1839. Died at Nauvoo.