Smith, Orson (Orson Gurney), 1853-1935

Orson Gurney Smith was born July 4, 1853 in Keokuk, Iowa, to Thomas X. Smith and Margaret Gurney, who at the time were in the process of emigrating from their native England to Utah. Smith became the President of the Cache Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1890. His business dealings included the grain business as well as mining in Alaska, Nevada, and Idaho. He died August 9, 1935 in Logan, Utah. His funeral was held in the Logan Tabernacle, and he was buried in the Logan cemetery.

From the description of Orson Smith papers, 1886-1896. (Utah State University). WorldCat record id: 725593144

Orson H. Smith was born on July 5, 1856, in Iowa, one of 4 children of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Smith. The other children were Minerva (b. 1850), H. E. (b. 1851), and Walter (b. 1853). Smith moved to Montana, about 1880. He married Ada S. Devol (Devall?), daughter of Maggie Negus, on November 1, 1881 at Glendale.

Orson and Ada moved to Ponca, Nebraska, but other family members stayed in the Glendale, Montana, area. By 1900 the family, including Orson and Ada and their 5 children Harvey (b. 1882), Harry (b. 1885), Jessie (b. 1894), Josie (b. 1897), and Myrtle (b. 1899) were living in Silver Bow, Montana. By 1910 three more children had joined the family: Clara (b. 1902), Helen (b. 1908), and Evelyn (b. 1909). The family proved up on a homestead near Alice, in Garfield County in 1917.

Orson H. Smith died in Rosebud County September 8, 1928; and Ada Smith died in Great Falls on September 13, 1954.

From the description of Orson H. Smith family papers, 1888-1940. (Montana Historical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 279171354

Orson Gurney Smith was born July 4, 1853 in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bishop Thomas X. Smith and Margaret Gurney, who at the time were in the process of emigrating from their native England to Utah. The family initially settled in Farmington before moving to Logan in 1860 where Smith grew up. As an adult Smith worked as the manager for the Consolidated Wagon and Machine Company, as well as the postmaster for Logan. He also homesteaded the site of the original Logan Cemetery, which he later donated to the city free of charge.

In 1868 Smith was ordained an Elder in the LDS Church. He was subsequently sent for ten months to Iron County on an economic mission to help establish a co-op there. In 1875 Smith was called to serve as Bishop in the town of Paradise in Cache County. In 1883 he was selected to serve as second counselor to Charles O. Card in the presidency of the Cache Stake of Zion. In 1890 Smith became stake president, a position he held until 1899. Over the years Smith was an active ordinance worker at the Logan LDS Temple, including serving there on the first day the temple was open in 1884. He also served for four years in Cardston, Canada helping to develop the Mormon community there.

Orson Smith had three wives and twenty-seven children. His first wife was Caroline Maria Carpenter, whom Smith married in Salt Lake City in 1875. She died in 1894. His second wife was Sarah Ann B. Obray, whom Smith married in Salt Lake City in 1878. She died in 1941. His third wife was Mary Ellen Wright whom Smith married in Logan in 1884. She died in 1934.

In the early years of the twentieth century Smith was involved in the grain business, but lost everything in the economic panic of 1907. He subsequently spent two years in the gold fields of Alaska, before working in mines in Nevada and Idaho. Smith died August 9, 1935 in Logan. His funeral was held in the Logan Tabernacle, and he is buried in the city cemetery.

From the guide to the Orson Smith Papers, 1889-1898, (Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives)