Eliza Smith Spencer Harker

Smith/Spencer/Player/Smith/Hodgkinson.

 Eliza Ann Smith was born in Rippingale, Lincolnshire, England, on October 11, 1815, and lived the early years of her life in that community. Eliza’s family, the Smiths, were an industrious, highly respected family in the community of Rippingale.  In the year 1837, Eliza married George Mitton Spencer of Edenham, Lincolnshire, England. George was born on 15, November, 1809. To this couple were born two sons: George Mitton, September 19, 1838; and William James, July 26, 1841 - this is who we are a descendant from. On September 20, 1841, Eliza’s husband died. Eliza was left a widow with two small boys four years after their marriage and less than two months after the birth of her second son. Some few years later, in 1847, the Smith family was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, largely through the labors of Joseph E. Taylor, missionary for the church. Eliza’s two sons were asked to sing at many of the missionary meetings. On November 5, 1847, Eliza’s brother, William Joseph Smith, born April 26, 1820, was the first of the family to be baptized. He, in turn, baptized his father on November23, 1848. Eliza’s sons, George Mitton and William James were baptized the following year on June 6, 1849, with Eliza embracing the gospel on November 23, 1850. And so, the Smith family became active, energetic members of the church. Her mother was baptized in November of 1849. Eliza’s mother, Sarah Ann, was a woman of exceptional intelligence and business ability. She operated a notions and dry goods business, cleaned and carded wool, spun yarn, wove cloth, raised and dressed geese, and made Victorians and furs from the down. Her motto was “never waste a thing you cannot make.” In fact, her thrift extended to uses for all portions of the pigs and other foods which the family used. Many of these characteristics were inherited by Eliza. She took advantage of her educational opportunities, received valuable training and acquired much business ability through association with her mother. This is evidenced by the fact that in addition to supporting herself and two small boys, she emigrated to America with the Smith family just ten years after the death of her husband, leaving Gosberton on January 30, 1851 with her father and mother. The Smith family sailed with the help of the Perpetual Immigration Fund, on the Ellen Maria under Captain John Brown on February 1, 1851. They arrived at New Orleans on April 6, 1851, and at St. Louis on April 9, 1851. The party arrived in the Salt Lake Valley September 28, 1851, and went directly to the home of William Joseph Smith, Eliza's brother, who had arrived in Utah on September 25, 1849. The previous year, Joseph Harker, Samuel and John Bennion, and others had established homes on the west of the Jordan River. It is not known whether the Smiths and Harkers were acquainted prior to leaving England; yet in all probability, they were because their homes had been within five or six miles of each other and their many remembrances and experiences would provide much in common. This no doubt led up to the marriage of Eliza Smith Spencer and Joseph Harker on September 15, 1852, by Heber C. Kimball in the Council House. Eliza was the second wife.   

Eliza and her two boys went directly to Joseph's home, an adobe building located on the river bottom about one quarter of a mile south of whatis now known as 4800 South Street, or the Murray - Taylorsville Highway. In the spring of 1853, following counsel of President Brigham Young, the construction of the English Fort was begun. Joseph, acting as bishop of the West Jordan Ward, was among the first, if not the very first, to move into the new fort. From information obtainable, it is understood the family had but one home in the fort; however, it was sufficient to house both Eliza and the Susannah Sneath Harker, with all the children. While they were living in this fort, Eliza and Joseph had their three daughters, Eliza Ann - 25 August 1853; Sarah Elizabeth - 5 September 1854; and Ann Elizabeth - 8 November, 1855. Eliza taught school part of the time. The school building was a large adobe building located directly in the center of the fort. Homemade benches and desks furnished the building, which was also used for religious and social gatherings. Their stay at the English Fort ended on March 25, 1856, when Joseph moved his wife, Eliza, to the farm on the river bottom. The two room adobe house with dirt roof was a short distance south of the original home. Sorrow came to the home that same year when Sarah Elizabeth died on 14 August 1856, and again, one year later on 28 August, 1857, when Ann Elizabeth died. Two months later, 19 October, 1857, a son, Joshua was born. As a youth. he met a violent death when killed by lightning while riding his horse on State Street, 28 Jul. 1875. July 6, 1861, a son, David, was born and died April 7, 1864.  Joseph Harker was called on a mission and those two wives, Susannah and Eliza stayed behind and worked together to support themselves. 

What makes this story so exciting for us is that day after day while Susannah and Eliza worked to maintain their lives, working together as sister wives (and it sounds like it worked better than most)  they had no idea that one day Susannah's  great great grandson Kent Neeley Cornwall would marry Eliza's great great great grandaughter Susan Hodgkinson Cornwall. 

Another interesting part of the story is that although Eliza's first husband George Mitton Spencer died before hearing of the gospel, the record shows that his mother, Ann Mitton, joined Eliza and her family when they emigrated to the Salt Lake Valley.  The record shows that she was confirmed on January 1, 1848.