Smith, Bathsheba W. Bigler, 1822-1910

General President of the Relief Society, 1901-1910.

Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith (1822-1910) a Mormon pioneer, and a civic and ecclesiastical leader. She served as president of the Relief Society from 1901 to 1910.

Mormon pioneer. Originally from West Virginia, migrated to Missouri, Nauvoo, and Salt Lake City. Bathsheba W. Bigler was the first wife of George Albert Smith. She helped secure women's suffrage in Utah Territory, sat on the Deseret Hospital Board of Directors, and was matron of the Salt Lake Temple.

Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith was born in West Virginia in 1822. She was converted to the LDS Church when she was fifteen. Her family also converted and they moved to Far West, Missouri, then Nauvoo, Illinois, to be with other Latter-day Saints. In Nauvoo, she married George A. Smith, one of the Twelve Apostles under Joseph Smith. In 1846, the family, along with many others, made the trek to the Salt Lake Valley. She served as a counselor and then was president of the Relief Society organization from 1901-1910. Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith died in 1910.

Bathsheba W. Smith was the fourth president of the Relief Societies in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was born May 3, 1822 in Shinnsten, Harrison County, West Virginia to Mark Bigler and Susannah Ogden. She was baptized on August 21, 1837 into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with most of her father's family. She moved for Missouri right at the time the State was preparing for war against the Mormons. She married George A. Smith, one of the twelve apostles, on July 25, 1841. In 1849, after George A. had served two missions, he and his family moved to Salt Lake. He was called to settle Little Salt Lake Valley, two hundred fifty miles from Salt Lake City. Her son was killed during his mission to the Moqui Indians in 1860. Her husband died in 1876. She served in the Temple after his death. She became the General Relief Society President in 1901. She passed away in 1910. For more information on the life of Bathsheba Smith see the Latter Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia.

Mormon woman; wife of the Mormon Apostle, George Albert Smith (1817-1875); and president of the Relief Society of the Mormon Church.

Bathsheba W. Bigler was the first wife of George Albert Smith.

Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith (1822-1910) a Mormon pioneer, and a civic and ecclesiastical leader. She served as president of the Relief Society from 1901 to 1910.

Bathsheba W. Bigler Smith was born in Shinnston, Virginia (now West Virginia) to Mark Bigler and Susanna Ogden. After her brother, Jacob G. Bigler, traveled to Far West, Missouri and bought his family a farm after converting to the Latter-day Saint faith, Bathsheba's family moved to Far West, subsequently joining the Latter-day Saint Church as well. In 1841, Bathsheba married George A. Smith, a cousin of the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. and the youngest member of the quorum of the twelve apostles. After Joseph Smith's murder, Bathsheba and her husband pioneered their way to Salt Lake City, Utah where George A. Smith eventually served as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency. Following her husband's death in 1875, Bathsheba became a supporter of woman's suffrage and heavily influenced its security in Utah. Along with being involved with other civic affairs, Bathsheba sat on the Deseret Hospital Board of Directors and served as the matron of the Salt Lake Temple. She also served as the fourth general Relief Society president. She was called in 1901 and served until her death in 1910.

Bathsheba W. Smith (1822-1910) was the fourth president of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was married to George A. Smith, one of the twelve apostles.

Bathsheba W. Smith was the fourth president of the Relief Societies in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was born May 3, 1822 in Shinnsten, Harrison County, West Virginia to Mark Bigler and Susannah Ogden. She was baptized on August 21, 1837 into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with most of her father’s family. She moved for Missouri right at the time the State was preparing for war against the Mormons. She married George A. Smith, one of the twelve apostles, on July 25, 1841. In 1849, after George A. had served two missions, he and his family moved to Salt Lake. He was called to settle Little Salt Lake Valley, two hundred fifty miles from Salt Lake City. Her son was killed during his mission to the Moqui Indians in 1860. Her husband died in 1876. She served in the Temple after his death. She became the General Relief Society President in 1901. She passed away in 1910.

For more information on the life of Bathsheba Smith see the Latter Day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia.