TITLE PAGE PIONEER (full name) Conrad Smith BIR TH (date and place) 1 Aug 1832 Quincy, Franklin Co, Pennsylvania DEATH (date and place) 28 Aug 1907 Morgan, Utah PARENTS Conrad Smith Elizabeth Gieseman MARRIED (who and date) Eliza Robison 28 July 1854 ARRIVAL IN UTAH (date) 27 Aug 1854 Salt Lake City, Utah (Company arrived with) Charles C Rich Company HISTORY (who wrote) Oles or Cleo Owens Smith 298 E 300 N, Morgan, Utah (date written) (who submitted) Oles or Cleo Owens Smith (address) 298 E 300 N, Morgan, Utah Morgan, Utah CAMP & COUNTY SUBMITTING Mt. Joy D.U.P. Camp Morgan County (Camp Historian & address) Larine Preece RFD Box 100, Morgan, Utah 84050 County Historian & address) Dena C. Rich 1266 n Morgan Valley Dr., Morgan, Utah SOURCE OF INFORMATION & PAGE NUMBERS: Conrad Smith was born Aug. 1, 1832 at Quincy, Franklin Co., Pennsylvania. He was the son of Elizabeth Ceesaman and Conrad Smith. Very little is known of his early life. He had five brothers and five sisters, Conrad is a German name which was bo be passed down through several generations of the Smith family. They called themselves Pennsylvania Dutch but they were mostly German (some Swiss). The Germans coming form the Phine Valley got their name from their Motherland which in German is called Deuttschland and that is why they were called Pennsylvania Dutch. His ancesters joined with Luther in th rebellion against the Catholic Church. They were Lutherans, so because of religious problems they came to America. The first group came to America in 1683. Conrad and Eliza Mere married July 28, 1854 in Franklin Co. Pennsylvania. Conrad was baptized into the Mormon Church on March 15, 1854 and Eliza on May 6, 1854. They were rebaptized in 1860 in Farmington, Davis Co., Utah, and again in Morgan Co, Utah, in 1877 by David Robison, Eliza's brother. They lived in Franklin Co. until the 7th of May 1860 when preparations were made for their journey westward. They had two children, Annie Elizabeth, five years old and Harriet nearly three years old. Most of the Robison family came west. Conrad, Eliza and their children left their home in Pennsylvania and traveled six days on the train and four days on the water. On the 16th day of May 1860, they arrived in Florence Nebraska. On the day they arrived Elizabeth gave birth to baby boy (Thomas Goldman). He lived six days. They remained in Florence until the 7th of June. They joined the Charles C. Rich Handcart Company then, with 240 persons, 43 handcarts, 10 tents, 6 wagons, and 38 oxen. Eliza's brother Daniel was captain. The carts were two-wheeled with bows over the top and covered with canvas. The tongue of the cart had a cross-piece about 2 1/2 ft. long fastened to the end. Two persons could stand on either side of the tongue, leaning against the cross piece. They called this pushing instead of pulling. There were 4 or 5 persons to each cart, each allowed 20 pounds. They left 3 weeks after the birth of Eliza's baby. Her brother William let her ride in his wagon. Mr. Fosket, in charge of storing provisions, failed to store enough food so flour was rationed to 1/2 lb. per day, Water was scarce and hardly drinkable. Women and children with their long aprons gathered buffalo chips. They were used for cooking their meals. The chips made more smoke than fire and turned the bread yellow. Their journey was peaceful, no Indian trouble. They always had a prayer and song at night. A relief train from Salt Lake met them at the Green River. They reached Salt Lake Aug. 27, 1860. The 9th Handcart Co. was one of the last to make the journey. It had taken eleven weeks. Wagons, carts, tents, oxen and everything that was used on the journey belonged to the Mormon Church and was returned. Their first home was a one room log house in Farmington, Utah. While in Farmington, a terrible snow storm hit the town. Snow blew in between the cracks in the logs. Eliza and her children stayed in bed. Conrad tried to keep a fire but ran out of fuel. The animals were covered with snow, but still lived. Conrad was a rock mason and helped build homes and the old Farmington rock chapel which is still in use. In about 3 years they moved to Morgan Co. in a place called Stoddard Springs. This country was primitive and a few Indians roamed this area. Homes were built of logs. Roofs were poles covered with grass. Chimneys built of rock. Floors were dirt, A small hole covered with greased paper was their window. They made their own candles, soap and lye. Clothes were washed at night and worn the next day. They lived in Stoddard a few years, then moved to Mt. Joy, later changed to North Morgan. Conrad built a two room log cabin with an upstairs and a lean-to on the back. Later he built a few more rooms. The original dwelling is still standing and has been remodeled over the years so that none of the original structure is visible from the outside. Camilla Gamble, a great-granddaughter of Conrad and Eliza still lives there. (1986) The home is at 518 North 700 East in Morgan. Candles made of tallow were used for light, later Conrad got a coal-oil lamp in Salt Lake City, one of the first ones in Morgan County. Conrad helped lay the rock for the old Morgan Stake Center, constructed in 1878. Wheelbarrows were used to deliver the rock to the workmen. As the walls grew higher strong men wheeled the rocks to the top. This building today is considered one of the best in the best in the state. It is still in use. Conrad was a strong man. He walked over the mountain to Salt lake and carried a sack of flour back to his home. Conrad died August 28, 1907 in Morgan, Utah. He was 75 years old. Eliza died January 26, 1926 in Morgan. At her death she was 90 years old. Their posterity was 6 children, 48 grandchildren, 120 great grandchildren, 23 great great grandchildren. A total of 197 people. Taken from the history by Beth Turner, a great granddaughter. Two brothers came with Conrad. Benjamin, the youngest, Archie'Smith's father, came to Morgan. The other brother stayed in Farmington.