Joseph Smith, Sr. (father of Joseph Smith, Jr.)
Born: 12 July 1771
Called as Presiding Patriarch: 18 December 1833
Called as Assistant Counselor in the First Presidency: 3 September 1837
Died: 14 September 1840
Called as Presiding Patriarch: 18 December 1833
Called as Assistant Counselor in the First Presidency: 3 September 1837
Died: 14 September 1840
Image source: Wikipedia, public domain
Biographical Articles
Biographical Encyclopedia, Volume 1
Ensign, December 2005, Family of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith: The First Family of the Restoration
Ensign, December 2005, Family of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith: The First Family of the Restoration
Jenson, Andrew. "Smith, Joseph Sr." Biographical Encyclopedia. Volume 1. pg. 181-182.
SMITH, Joseph, senior, the first presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and father of the Prophet Joseph Smith, was born July 12, 1771, in Topsfield, Essex county, Mass.; he was the second son of Asahel Smith and Mary Duty. The subject of this sketch was born in Topsfield, March 7, 1744; he was the youngest son of Samuel and Priscilla Smith. Samuel was born January 26, 1714, in Topsfield; he was the eldest son of Samuel and Rebecca Smith. Samuel was born in Topsfield, January 26, 1666, and was the son of Robert and Mary Smith, who emigrated from Old England, Joseph Smith, Sen., removed with his father to Tunbridge, Orange county. Vermont, in 1791, and assisted in clearing a large farm of a heavy growth of timber. He married Lucy, daughter of Solomon and Lydia Mack, Jan. 24, 1796, by whom he had ten children, namely: Alvin. born Feb. 11, 1798; Hyrum, born Feb. 9, 1800; Sophronia, born May 16, 1803; Joseph, born Dec. 23, 1805; Samuel Harrison, born March 13, 1808; Ephraim, born March 13, 1810; William, born March 13, 1811; Catherine, born July 28, 1812; Don Carlos, born March 25, 1816; and Lucy, born July 18, 1824. At his marriage he owned a handsome farm in Tunbridge In 1803 he rented it and engaged in mercantile business, and soon after embarked in a venture of ginseng to send to China, and was swindled out of the entire proceeds by the shipmaster and agent; he was consequently obliged to sell his farm and all of his effects to pay his debts. About the year 1816 he removed to Palmyra, Wayne county New York, bought a farm and cleared two hundred acres, which he lost in consequence of not being able to pay the last instalment of the purchase money at the time it was due. This was the case with a number of farmers in New York who had cleared land under similar contracts. He afterwards moved to Manchester, Ontario county, New York, procured a comfortable home with sixteen acres of land, where he lived until he removed to Kirtland. Ohio. He was the first person who received his son Joseph's testimony after he had seen the angel, and exhorted him to be faithful and diligent to the message he had received. He was baptized April 6. 1830. In August, 1830, in company with his son Don Carlos, he took a mission to St. Lawrence county. New York, touching on his route at several of the Canadian ports, where he distributed a few copies of the Book of Mormon, visited his father, brothers and sisters residing in St. Lawrence county, bore testimony to the truth, which resulted eventually in all the family coming into the Church, excepting his brother Jesse and sister Susan. He removed with his family to Kirtland in 1831, where he was ordained to the High Priesthood June 3, 1831, by Lyman Wight. He was ordained a Patriarch and president of the High Priesthood, under the hands of Joseph smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams Dec 18 1833, and was chosen a member of the first High Council, organized in Kirtland, Ohio, Feb. 17, 1834. In 1836 he traveled in company with his brother John 2.400 miles in Ohio, New York.
SMITH, Joseph, senior, the first presiding Patriarch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and father of the Prophet Joseph Smith, was born July 12, 1771, in Topsfield, Essex county, Mass.; he was the second son of Asahel Smith and Mary Duty. The subject of this sketch was born in Topsfield, March 7, 1744; he was the youngest son of Samuel and Priscilla Smith. Samuel was born January 26, 1714, in Topsfield; he was the eldest son of Samuel and Rebecca Smith. Samuel was born in Topsfield, January 26, 1666, and was the son of Robert and Mary Smith, who emigrated from Old England, Joseph Smith, Sen., removed with his father to Tunbridge, Orange county. Vermont, in 1791, and assisted in clearing a large farm of a heavy growth of timber. He married Lucy, daughter of Solomon and Lydia Mack, Jan. 24, 1796, by whom he had ten children, namely: Alvin. born Feb. 11, 1798; Hyrum, born Feb. 9, 1800; Sophronia, born May 16, 1803; Joseph, born Dec. 23, 1805; Samuel Harrison, born March 13, 1808; Ephraim, born March 13, 1810; William, born March 13, 1811; Catherine, born July 28, 1812; Don Carlos, born March 25, 1816; and Lucy, born July 18, 1824. At his marriage he owned a handsome farm in Tunbridge In 1803 he rented it and engaged in mercantile business, and soon after embarked in a venture of ginseng to send to China, and was swindled out of the entire proceeds by the shipmaster and agent; he was consequently obliged to sell his farm and all of his effects to pay his debts. About the year 1816 he removed to Palmyra, Wayne county New York, bought a farm and cleared two hundred acres, which he lost in consequence of not being able to pay the last instalment of the purchase money at the time it was due. This was the case with a number of farmers in New York who had cleared land under similar contracts. He afterwards moved to Manchester, Ontario county, New York, procured a comfortable home with sixteen acres of land, where he lived until he removed to Kirtland. Ohio. He was the first person who received his son Joseph's testimony after he had seen the angel, and exhorted him to be faithful and diligent to the message he had received. He was baptized April 6. 1830. In August, 1830, in company with his son Don Carlos, he took a mission to St. Lawrence county. New York, touching on his route at several of the Canadian ports, where he distributed a few copies of the Book of Mormon, visited his father, brothers and sisters residing in St. Lawrence county, bore testimony to the truth, which resulted eventually in all the family coming into the Church, excepting his brother Jesse and sister Susan. He removed with his family to Kirtland in 1831, where he was ordained to the High Priesthood June 3, 1831, by Lyman Wight. He was ordained a Patriarch and president of the High Priesthood, under the hands of Joseph smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams Dec 18 1833, and was chosen a member of the first High Council, organized in Kirtland, Ohio, Feb. 17, 1834. In 1836 he traveled in company with his brother John 2.400 miles in Ohio, New York.