Mary Aikens Smith - Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude

Contributed By FrostShelley1 · 1 April 2014 · 0 Comments

Mary Aikens Smith

Mary Aikens was born on August 13, 1797 in Barnard, Windsor County, Vermont. She married Silas Smith (a brother of Joseph Smith Sr.) on March 4, 1828. Silas had been married previously, and had seven children born before his first wife died.

Silas and Mary moved to Kirtland in the spring of 1836. He had been baptized but Mary had not yet joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When she was fully convinced of its truthfulness, she was baptized by Hyrum Smith on July 18, 1837.

The Smith family was among those who left Kirtland for Far West, Missouri. They went through all the trials of the Saints, among which was the death of their son, John Aikens Smith, age six, on November 27, 1838. In February 1839 the family crossed the river back into Illinois. Here in Pittsfield, Illinois Mary’s husband, Silas, was taken in death on September 13, 1839.

In 1843, Mary and her two sons, Jesse and Silas, settled in Nauvoo. She was sealed to John Smith (her husband’s brother) for time, and to her husband, Silas, for eternity on August 13, 1843. Later, after the prophets death, she and her sons made preparations to come West with the Saints.

Mary, Silas, and Jesse came with the Parley’s Company: Perrigrene Sessions, captain, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 25, 1847. A cabin was provided for her and her sons by Uncle John Smith. In the spring of 1849 they took up a farm in Farmington, Utah. Then in the fall of 1851, they were called to go to Parowan to settle. Both of her sons found sweethearts and were married; Silas Sanford (age twenty-one) married Clarinda Ricks on July 9, 1851; and Jesse Smith (age eighteen) married Emma Seraphine West on May 13, 1852.

Mary was a great help to both families, especially while her sons were on missions for the Church. She passed away on April 27, 1877 in Parowan, Utah.

A. O. Smoot Wagon Train

Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude, Volume 4, International Society Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.