William B. Smith (1811-1893)
13 Mar. 1811–13 Nov. 1893. Farmer, newspaper editor. Born at Royalton, Windsor Co., Vermont. Son of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack. Moved to Lebanon, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, 1811; to Norwich, Windsor Co., 1813; and to Palmyra, Ontario Co., New York, 1816–Jan. 1817. Moved to Manchester, Ontario Co., 1825. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by David Whitmer, ca. 9 June 1830, at Seneca Lake, Seneca Co., New York. Ordained a teacher, by 5 Oct. 1830. Lived at The Kingdom, unincorporated settlement near Waterloo, Seneca Co., Nov. 1830. Moved to Kirtland, Geauga Co., Ohio, May 1831. Ordained an elder by Lyman Johnson, 19 Dec. 1832, at Kirtland. Served mission to Erie Co., Pennsylvania, Dec. 1832. Attended organizational meeting of School of the Prophets, 22–23 Jan. 1833, in Kirtland. Married Caroline Amanda Grant, 14 Feb. 1833, likely in Erie Co. Ordained a high priest, 21 June 1833. Participated in Camp of Israel expedition to Missouri, 1834. Ordained member of Quorum of the Twelve, 15 Feb. 1835, at Kirtland. Left Ohio for Far West, Caldwell Co., Missouri, May 1838. Disfellowshipped, 4 May 1839. Restored to Quorum of the Twelve, 25 May 1839. Settled at Plymouth, Hancock Co., Illinois, ca. 1839, where he kept a tavern. Member of Masonic lodge in Nauvoo, Hancock Co. Member of Nauvoo City Council, 1842–1843. Editor of Nauvoo newspaper the Wasp, 1842. Represented Hancock Co. in Illinois House of Representatives, 1842–1843. Moved to Philadelphia to care for his sick wife, 1843. Admitted to Council of Fifty, 25 Apr. 1844. Participated in plural marriage during Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Moved to Nauvoo, 4 May 1845. Wife died, May 1845. Ordained patriarch of church, 24 May 1845. Married Mary Jane Rollins, 22 June 1845, at Nauvoo. Excommunicated, 12 Oct. 1845. Dropped from Council of Fifty, 11 Jan. 1846. Sustained James J. Strang as successor to Joseph Smith, 1 Mar. 1846. Married Roxey Ann Grant, 19 May 1847, in Knox Co., Illinois. Ordained patriarch and apostle of Strang’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 11 June 1846, at Voree, Walworth Co., Wisconsin Territory. Excommunicated from Strangite movement, 8 Oct. 1847. Affiliated briefly with Lyman Wight’s movement, 1849–1850. Initiated a new movement with Martin Harris and Chilton Daniels at Kirtland, likely 1855. Married Eliza Elsie Sanborn, 12 Nov. 1857, at Kirtland. Moved to Venango, Erie Co., by 1860, and to Elkader, Clayton Co., Iowa, shortly after. Enlisted in U.S. Army during Civil War and apparently adopted middle initial B at this time. Spent active duty time in Arkansas. Joined Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1878. Wife died, Mar. 1889. Married Rosanna Jewitt Surprise, 21 Dec. 1889, at Clinton, Clinton Co., Iowa. Moved to Osterdock, Clayton Co., 1890. Died at Osterdock.
Retrieved with permission from The Joseph Smith Papers.