Willard G. Smith was born at Amherst, Ohio, 9 May 1827. He presided over the Morgan Stake from 1877 to 1893 Willard died 21 November 1902. Willard G. Smith was called to serve as president of the Morgan Stake with Richard Fry and Samuel Francis as first and second counselors. The stake boundaries were to follow Morgan County lines. Nine wards were then created in the stake according to settlement and population. The following is a list of the wards and the men called and ordained as bishops at the time: North Morgan Ward—Wyman M. Parker South Morgan Ward—Charles Turner Richville Ward—Albert D. Dickson East Porterville Ward—Joseph R. Porter Milton Ward—Eli Whitear Weber Ward ( Peterson) —Charles S. Peterson Enterprise Ward—John K. Hall Croydon Ward—John Hopkin West Porterville Ward—Thomas Brough (called a fewweeks after the July organization)5 After the new officers were presented and sustained in the Sunday morning session of conference, the meeting adjourned with instructions that the new officers were to be back in one hour to be ordained and set apart in their new callings by Elders Snow and Richards. Charles S. Peterson moved from the Valley in the fall, necessitating a reorganization of the Weber Ward. Lawrence Robinson was then called and ordained to succeed Bishop Peterson on 25 November 1877.6 On 11 July an epistle was sent out by the First Presidency of the Church to stake presidents, bishops, and all officers and members of the Church. "Beloved Saints: As we are now organizing the Stakes of Zion in these mountains and setting in order the quorums of the priesthood, we think it proper to give some general instructions to secure uniformity and concert of action in the Church." The epistle was lengthy and went into detail about organizational matters. The following are some highlights: 1. Under the direction of the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles, the presidencies of the various stakes were to have the supervision in all matters pertaining to the Church in their area. 2. Wards were to be organized, and every family, no matter how far removed from a Fast Richard Fry—Born Down, Devons' Trowbridge, 15 April 1831. Died 15 April 1900.