History of Joseph J. Smith and his wife, Ann Coleman Smith

Paternal Grandfather of Emory Clarence Smith

History of Joseph J. Smith and his wife, Ann Coleman Smith
And
Their Descendants as Livestock Operators and Food Producers
By M.A. Smith, a son
January 8, 1954

Joseph J. Smith was born in Kempton, Bedfordshire, England, in 1821 and emigrated to the United States in 1844, settling in Missouri. My mother, Ann Coleman Smith, was born October 2, 1833 in Oldin, Bedfordshire, England. She and her ancestors occupied landed estates dating back to the time of William the Conqueror (1070). She emigrated to the United States in 1843, arriving on May 12.
My father moved to Nauvoo and then to Council Bluffs where the Mormons were preparing for emigration to Utah. This was in 1846. He worked as a wagon freighter using oxen. He freighted from Council Bluffs to St. Joseph, Missouri. He said that whisky was hauled in 50-gallon containers and wholesaled for $1 per gallon at that time, as there was no revenue tax.
My father accompanied the group of Mormons who left Council Bluffs for the west in July 1850. He had married Ann Coleman in January 1850 at Morrisonville, Missouri. This colony arrived in Utah in late September 1850 and located 30 miles south of Salt Lake City at which is now known as Lehi, Utah. He set up a livestock and ranching business in 1854 by taking up a homestead entry, as he had brought along two heifers yoked as leaders, two milk cows (which later were foundation of Durham milk cow stock), and six head of sheep. He also brought along a yoke of oxen. The sheep were leased out on shares and by 1896 had multiplied to 500 head.
My mother and father raised 10 children to maturity, three girls and seven sons, of 14 children born. My mother died October 1, 1909 and my father died August 6, 1902.

His sons also followed in the livestock business. They are:

Joseph (known as “Joe Billy”) Smith entered the cattle business in Elko, Nevada area. His sons are still in the business and have expanded extensively.
Hyrum Smith operated extensive mixed farm (primarily growing sugar beets) and livestock operations. One of his sons is carrying on in the livestock business.
Samuel A. Smith operated a sheep business from 1908-1915. He primarily engaged in mixed farming – specializing in production of sugar beets.
Frank Smith followed the distribution end of the food and livestock business and also engaged in general farming.
David Smith specialized in range livestock ranching, entering the business in 1895. One of his sons and two daughters are continuing the business left by their father who died in 1930. He purchased land in the Milk River, Alberta Canada area and shipped 500 head of cattle there. He carried on this operation for about five years. It proved too distant for good control so he sold all his interests in Canada and confined his operations of livestock ranching in the state of Utah. He also had other business enterprises.
Albert Smith followed farming during his teenage days, starting livestock operations in 1896 on the public lands in an extensive way. He died in 1929 and four sons, one daughter, and a son-in-law are operating sheep ranching in east central Utah and Elko, Nevada.
Moroni A. Smith (the writer) was born in 1875 in Lehi, Utah. I am the youngest child of Joseph J. Smith and like the other brothers have always specialized in the livestock business. At the age of seven I herded milk cows to keep them from grazing on growing crops (no fences at that time). There were, however, corralled at night. At the age of 13 I began accumulating several head of calves while working on my father’s farm. I entered the range sheep business in 1896. Range was becoming scarce then. I have three sons established in the sheep ranching business. The have a lifetime of experience as owners.

All the sons and grandsons and granddaughters of Joseph J. Smith and Ann Coleman Smith continue in efficient and successful production of western range milk fat lambs, as well as in feeding operations. The principal income received by these descendants was derived from the sale of livestock.
Albert, David and I acquired the use of more public range for the grazing of livestock than did the other sons and we made it a policy to improve and maintain the public lands as well as private lands.
When first grazing range sheep on these intermountain desert rangelands, it requires one acre per month for six months (May to October) to adequately support an ewe and lamb, compared with two acres per month in the winter months. After about 1920 the production of the rangelands, both public and private, had declined to a considerable extent, and more acreage was needed to maintain the same number of animals per month or year.