William Jasper Harris was born at Geneva, Morgan County, Illinois on October 25, 1836. He was the second child and only son of this parents, Zachariah and Almira Emily Hill Harris. He had three sisters but only his older sister Artimissa Ann, lived beyond infancy. Matha Jane died two weeks after her first birthday when William was three years old. Mary Elizabeth died at seven months of age just before William's fifth birthday.

William's father had a grocery and harness business in Geneva which was successful and prosperous. However he died very suddenly of consumption a few hours after eating breakfast with his young family sometime in 1841. The baby, Mary Elizabeth, only survived her father a few weeks. So, with William barely five years old and his sister about six and a half, their mother was left a widow. She did not have her own home but was well provided with clothing and household goods.

Emily Harris went to live with her sister, Mary Hill Crismon, and her husband at Massidona, just thirty miles from Nauvoo, Illinois. She helped to support her children by weaving. Her sister allowed Emily to have a loom in the Crismon kitchen. While living at Massidona, William's mother learned about Joseph Smith from her sister and her husband who had joined the Mormon Church. Emily attended a conference in Nauvoo to hear the prophet preach a powerful sermon. She never doubted the truth of his message and in the winter of 1842 at her request she was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in water reached through two feet of ice.¹

When William was about seven years old, Emily Harris and her two children moved up the Mississippi River to Nauvoo. William was fascinated by the beautiful city and was even more excited when he was hired as a stable boy to take care of horses.²

Emily Harris was married in Nauvoo to Abraham Owen (A. O.) Smoot on January 18, 1846, as a plural wife. William was ten years old at this time and was able to help as wagons were fitted out and preparations were made to leave Nauvoo shortly after his mother's marriage.³

The Smoot family stayed in Winter Quarters through the hard winter of 1846-47, then left Nebraska to begin the long journey across the plains on June 17, 1847. A. O. Smoot was captain of the fourth group of 100 wagons to make the trek.

They arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on September 25, 1847, just four weeks before William's eleventh birthday. (No mention is made of William's sister, Artimissa Ann, just a year and a half older than William. She is not listed as a member of the company with her mother and William, but she did come West.)⁴

William lived at the Smoot home in Salt Lake until he was called to go on a mission to England. At this time William had become very friendly with Martha Ann Smith, who was the orphaned daughter of Hyrum and Mary Fielding Smith. Martha Ann felt sad to have William called to go so far away, but she was handy with her needle and willing to help his mother in the work of preparing things for his journey. Together Martha Ann and Mrs. Emily Harris Smoot made heavy hand knitted stockings, brown homespun clothes and gathered provisions and bedding for the missionary to take with him.

William went to the Endowment House in Salt Lake to receive his blessings and to be set apart for his mission by Elder Orson Hyde.⁵ Afterward President Young asked several of the young men in the group if they had sweethearts they would like to marry. William said he did. Brigham Young told him to "Go bring her here right soon and be married before you go!"

That afternoon Martha Ann was greatly surprised when William came rushing in the house and said "Get your sunbonnet, Martha, and come with me. We are going to get married!"

Martha turned to William's mother and said almost breathlessly, "What shall I do?"

"Law me, honey," said Mrs. Smoot, "put on the calico dress and go with him!" So Martha climbed into the wagon and they went to the Endowment House to be married by President Brigham Young. It was April 21, 1857, three weeks before Martha Ann's sixteenth birthday.

Two days after their marriage, William left his young wife in the care of his mother where Martha Ann worked hard in the Smoot home. She helped with the spinning and weaving as well as making butter, cheese, and milking many cows every day. Martha Ann also did many other household duties which needed to be done with sixteen Smoot family members in the home. She earned her board and clothing while her husband was away.⁶

Elder Harris left for his mission in company with seventy other elders, with Brother McIntosh as his traveling companion. He carried with him an Elder's Certificate written and signed personally by the First Presidency of the Church:

"To all persons to whom this letter shall come:
This certifies that the bearer, Elder William J. Harris, is in full faith and fellowship with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and by the General Authorities of said Church, has been duly appointed a missionary to Europe to preach the gospel and administer in all the ordinances therof pertaining to his offoce. And we invite all men to give heed to his teachings and counsels as a man of God, sent to open to them the door of life and salvation and assist him in his travels in whatsoever things he may need. And we pray God the Eternal Father to bless Elder Harris and all who receive him and minister to his comfort with the blessings of heaven and earth, for time and for all eternity in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen"

Signed at Great Salt Lake

Territory of Utah

22nd April, A.D. 1857

in behalf of said church.

 

 

Brigham Young

Heber C. Kimball

Daniel H. Wells

First Presidency

William helped his companions rig out the little carts with bows and wagon covers to protect their few belongings. When everything was ready William bade good-bye to his young bride and to his mother and started on his one thousand mile journey across the plains, pulling his handcart.

Seymour B. Young wrote, "In our missionary handcart experiences there were six divisions of the handart missionary company, called tens. The rear ten of yesterday was the leading ten of today. To that, Wm. Harris would travel in front and in rear of the ten to which I belonged and when we encamped for the night, we were all together and had our evening hymns and prayer as one family."

From William's diary we read: "Thurs. April 30th. The ground covered with snow 4 inches deep. After all things ready arrived at Muddy Creek. I pulled off my boots and waded in very cold water. We made a fire and washed. We then proceeded to Fort Bridger. A cold day, muddy and disagreeable. After traveling some distance we ascended a rocky ridge, which called for a long pull, a strong pull and all pull together. We arrived at the Fort about one o'clock, repaired our carts and retired for the night.

"May 31st. T. C. Angel and others arrived with the mail on their way to the valley. A Brother Smith spoke awhile. We then sang our hand cart song written by Bro. P. Gargetts. We said good-bye and started again traveling six miles. We encountered one of the most dreadful thunder and lightning storms, the lightning vivid and the thunder shocks heavy and often. We rolled to a small creek and camped, builded a large fire and soon all were busy drying ourselves. We were throughly wet through. I am tired and sore but feel well in spirit."

Foot worn and weary they arrived in New York on June 27, 1857, and prepared to take the ship for England. Elder Harris and the other missionaries left New York on Wednesday, July 8, 1857, on board the fine clipper Dreadnought, bound for Liverpool, England. The sea voyage was very rough and William suffered from seasickness. An Elder walked by him and said, "Billy, we're going down."

William retorted, "I don't care, let her go!⁸"

The missionaries did finally arrive at Liverpool, England, on August 4, 1857, after a passage of 26 days.⁹

William served faithfully on his mission until his release. Because of the invasion of Johnston's Army invading the Salt Lake Valley, William and other missionaries in England were called home after serving about sixteen months.

During that time the saints in Northern Utah had been asked to leave their homes and move south because of the threat from Johnston's Army. Martha Ann had moved with the Smoot family to Pond Town (near Salem, Utah) where they spent the summer until the latter part of July. They were on their way back home to Salt Lake. Martha Ann tells about it herself in a letter she wrote to her posterity years later in 1881:

"As we were traveling along the road I was driving a team of horses. I just drove around the Point of the Mountain when we saw a man riding on a white mule. To my great surprise it was my husband. We had not heard from him for six months so we were not expecting him. It was an agreeable surprise. We reached home safe and found the old house just as we left it."¹⁰

For two years after William's return from his mission, he and Martha Ann remained at the Smoot home. William worked on the Smoot farm and Martha continued her household duties for the family.

One rainy day (recorded in the diary of Hosea Stout as being Wednesday, May 18, 1859)¹¹ William and Joseph Abbot were plowing a field about where Pioneer Park is now located in Salt Lake City. William was driving a team of horses with a plow behind them. He had the reins over his shoulder, behind his neck and under his arm so he could use both hands on the plow. Joseph Abbot was walking behind hm carrying a brass bucket full of corn which he was planting in the furrow behind the plow. Suddenly lightning struck the brass bucket and melted it. Abbott was killed instantly from the charge. William was knocked unconscious, badly burned and dragged for some distance by the frightened team.

Patriarch John Smith, Martha Ann's half-brother, happened along the way, the first time he had gone that route in three years. He found William quite a distance away from Abbott. John thought his brother-in-law was dead as he picked him up and saw his mouth filled with dirt and blood. John got him breathing again and found help to take William home to Martha. With her faith and prayers and untiring care over many weeks, Martha nursed her husband back to life although he was never a strong man after this tragic incident. The family always felt sure the Lord sent Patriarch John Smith at that moment to save William's life.¹²

About three months after this tragic accident William and Martha Ann's first child was born, a fine son who was named William Jasper Harris, Jr. (born August 4, 1859). Soon after the birth of their baby the young couple moved into the city (Salt Lake) where William continued to heal from his injuries. Martha did all she could to support her family at this difficult time.

When he was recovered enough to work again, William made a trip to California with a team of mules and wagon to freight dry goods and groceries for his stepfather, A. O. Smoot. The Indian problem was bad at the time and Indians would steal his food until he had to take a buggy whip to them to get them to leave him alone so he could continue freighting the goods back to Salt Lake City. On another trip, William went back East in company with Captain Hooper who acted as his body guard since William was carrying quite a sum of money. He took money for A. O. Smoot, then Mayor of Salt Lake, and his own money to help buy oxen and wagons and a train of dry goods, nails, hardware, and various things for Salt Lake City. While on this trip twenty-seven head of oxen became ill and died of a disease called bloody urine. This was a great loss to William as well as to A. O. Smoot.

Four more children were born to William and Martha Ann. Joseph Albert was born on August 19, 1861, Hyrum Smith on August 14, 1863, Mary Emily on October 23, 1865, and Franklin Hill on September 11, 1867.

William served on police duty for eight years in Salt Lake City. After this time he freighted flour, bacon and cheese from Salt Lake City to Salmon River, Idaho. He suffered many hardships during this trip.

After his return President Brigham Young called him to prepare to fight the Indians. Furnishing his own horse, saddle, bridle, and bedding, he served as Second Lieutenant to Heber C. Kimball's company in the Black Hawk War in 1866. He was gone for three months to Sanpete County, leaving his wife and the four children they had at the time to fend for themselves in Salt Lake.

In 1867 President Young called William to serve as one of the minutemen who formed the bodyguard for the president. Selling his home in Salt Lake, William and Martha Ann moved the family to Provo, Utah, where he served President Young faithfully in that capacity.

The Harrises purchased a corner lot in Provo on Second South and Third West, where a two room adobe house was built. The family again endured many hardships in making that new home. William and Martha Ann lived in Provo the rest of their lives. Six more children were born to them. Lucy was born on March 10, 1870, John Fielding on June 28, 1872, Mercy Ann on March 30, 1874, Zina Christine on May 13, 1876, Martha Artimissa on June 27, 1879, and the youngest child, my own grandmother, Sarah Lovina, was born December 8,1882. This large family of thirteen lived in the two room adobe house until Sarah was nine years old, when a larger and better house was built.

William was one of the first men to discover the Mammoth Mine in Tintic. He enjoyed prospecting and mining but never became prosperous at it. ¹³

Some of William's grandchildren have shared their memories of their grandfather. Merrilla Furner Worthington wrote: "It seems I can see them now as I saw them then--Grandma picking black English currants and raspberries--Grandpa with his hot beds of tomato and cabbage plants at the south side of the big house--and his beautiful gardens and fruit trees, seems to me he raised everythihng there was to be grown in any garden. The only thing I can remember he didn't have was strawberries and dewberries.

"Grandpa was an expert at pitting apples. I shall never forget how those pearmains and greenings (varieties of apples) looked and tasted at about Christmas time every year! And the care he gave his chickens and pig and cow! He was the cleanest person about milking that I have ever seen --and I must mention here that he always wore a gingham apron to milk in. His chores were done at the same time every day just like clock work.

"When Grandpa told us children to do anything we knew he meant business. I will remember as long as memory lasts the day I decided to take my sisters and cousins for a ride in Grandpa's surrey. I was about seven years old and all the others were younger. The children all climbed in behind and I in front. Old Nig was tied to the hithching post and I was giving him a brisk lashing with a fanmcy new buggy whip. Nig wasn't going anywhere but he was stepping forwards and backwards plenty fast. Grandpa saw the predicament and hurried to the rescue. After quieting the horse he set me firmly on the ground by the ear and told me in a way I have never forgotten that I couldn't go for a buggy ride with the horse fastened to a hitching post.

"Grandpa was pleasant usually and though he had a fine sense of humor, he was a man that a person couldn't trifle with. He liked justice and right and he stuck to his convictions like an immovable wall.¹⁴"

Fielding Harris does not remember his grandfather personally, but he remembers stories about him told by his father, John Fielding Harris, the youngest son of William Jasper and Martha Ann. He told Fielding about William's love for horses, especially a beautiful, white riding horse he owned. The horse strayed one time and got lost. William looked everywhere for it with no success. In the neighborhood lived a girl who seemed to have extrasensory perception. William went to her for help and she told him to go look for his horse near a cetain watering hole. Sure enough, when he went there, he found the horse!"

Fielding also remembers his father's stories about a pair of white handled six shooters William owned. He was such a good shot he could shoot the head off a rabbit as he rode his horse.

There were stories told to Fielding about his father working in a sorghum molasses plant as a youth. He was allowed to take home the skimmings from the boiling sorghum. Sometimes this would be all the family had to eat. ¹²

There were many hard times in the Harris family, but William and Martha Ann were blessed to have eleven children all grow to adulthood. Each one was married in the temple and had children. One daughter, Lucy, died in 1903 only five years after her marriage. William and Martha Ann took her two children, Edna May and Arthur Simmons, and loved them and cared for them as their own until they were grown and married.

On Friday, April 23, 1909, William went with his son, Joseph A., to attend a performance given at the Opera House in Provo to honor the Black Hawk Indian War veterans. They were returning home about 11:00 o'clock and were just crossing Center Street when William was hit by a team of horses. He was severely injured and died a few hours later.

The Deseret Evening News reported on the accident the next evening:

"RACING TEAMS KILL PIONEER

William J. Harris, Who Married Sister of President

Joseph F. Smith, Meets Death

RUN DOWN ON PROVO STREETS

Identity of Teamster Not Yet Disclosed

Veteran of Indian Wars and Wellknown

Throughout State

Provo, Utah, April 24. -- Last night William J. Harris, a '47 pioneer of Utah and a very highly esteemed resident of Provo for 41 years was run over and fatally injured by some reckless driver on Center Street.
Accompanied by his son, Joseph A., he attended the performance given at the opera house in honor of the Indian War veterans and was returning home about 11 o'clock. As he was crossing Center Street, his son a few feet in the lead, he was struck by one of two teams, which were racing down the street. W. F Dunn and others on the sidewalk who witnessed the affair ran to his assistance with his son, and picked up the unconscious form and carried him to his home, where he remained most of the time unconscious until his death which occurred at 3:30 this morning. Dr. Pyne was summoned immediately after the accident and did all possible for his relief. The old gentleman was bruised all over his body and there was a deep cut in his face. His death is supposed to be due to concussion of the brain.

CAME TO UTAH IN 1847
Deceased was born in Geneva, Morgan County, Illinois, Oct 25, 1836, being the son of Zachariah and Emily Harris. He came to Utah with his widowed mother and family in 1847, the year of the pioneers and located at Salt Lake City, where he served later as police officer. He Married Miss Martha A. Smith, sister of President Joseph F. Smith. About 41 years ago they moved to Provo which has been their home ever since. He is survived by his wife and 11 children and many grandchildren besides a host of friends who honor his memory. Two of his sons are in Nevada,and one in Texas. Until these are heard from arrangements for the funeral will not be made.
Mr. Harris took an active part in a modest way in the development and upbuilding of the state. He was a veteran of the early Indian Wars. He was also one of the first locators of mining property in the Tintic District and was one of Uncle Jesse Knight's guests of honor at the Tintic celebration last month.

RACING WITH A BUGGY
The vehicle which struck Mr. Harris down was occupied by four men, and the driver was racing with a one horse buggy. The driver did not stop to see what injury he had done his victim but continued his flight down the street. It is probable that he will be apprehended as some of the bystanders think they can identify him. ¹⁶

William Jasper Harris was a faithful Latter-day Saint doing all in his power to be a true citizen and an honest man. At the time of his death he was 72 years of age. His funeral was planned by the family after they were able to communicate with his three sons who were working out of state. He is buried in the Provo City Cemetery.

The day following the funeral services for William, the following article appeared in the Deseret Evening News:

"W. J. HARRIS FUNERAL IN PROVO TABERNACLE

Impressive Services Over Veteran of Early Indian Wars

Provo, April 30. Impressive obsequies were held in the tabernacle here yesterday afternoon over the remains of William J. Harris, who was run over and fatally injured last Friday night. There was a large attendance of friends and relatives from Provo, Salt Lake and other towns nearby. President Joseph F. Smith and Patriarch John Smith were among the bereaved being the brothers of the decedent's wife. Beautiful selections were rendered by the choir under the direction of J. R. Boshard. M. L. Pratt, George Harrison and other Indian War veterans, comrades of the deceased sang an old campaign song composed by Mr. Pratt.
Addresses eulogistic of the life and work of the deceased were delivered by Elders Orson F. Whitney, Francis M. Lyman and M. L. Pratt.
It was learned yesterday that Robert Hill of Provo Bench was the man driving the team which ran down and fatally injured Mr. Harris last Friday night. Mr. Hill remembered driving down Center Street where a single buggy crowded him almost into a telephone pole on Third West. But he said he did not see any one on the crossing and was grieved to think that he had been the cause of his friend's death. Mr. Hill was a friend of the Harris family and called to make his explanation of the accident. Mr. Hill's explanation was entirely satisfactory to the officers and no further investigation will be made.¹⁷"

1. Lorena Dusenberry, "A Scrap of Genealogy of Emily Hill Harris Smoot," unpublished typed manuscript, Daughters of Utah Pioneers Museum Library, Salt Lake City, Utah, pp.1-2
2. Alvin Startup, talk given at Harris Family Reunion, June 21, 1980
3. Sarah Harris Passey, "William Jasper Harris," unpublished manuscript in possession of granddaughter, Carole Call King
4. Kate B. Carter, comp., Heart Throbs of the West, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1947, 8:443
5. Journal History of the Church, 21 April 1857
6. Sarah Harris Passey, "The Story of Martha Ann Smith Harris," pp. 6-9, unpublished manuscript in possession of granddaughter, Carole Call King
7. Journal History of the Church, 27 June 1857 and 8 July 1857
8. Sarah Harris Passey, "William Jasper Harris," p. 2
9. H. B. Y. 1857;p.409
10. Martha Ann Smith Harris, letter written to her posterity on March 22, 1881, in Provo, Utah
11. Juanita Brooks, ed., On the Mormon Frontier, the Diary of Hosea Stout, 1844-1861, c1964, University of Utah Press, Utah State Historical Society, 2:695
12. Sarah Harris Passey, "William Jasper Harris"
13. Sarah Harris Passey, "The Story of Martha Ann Smith," and "William Jasper Harris"
14. Merrilla F. Worthington, "Memories of My Childhood with Grandpa and Grandma Harris," unpublished manuscript in possession of Shirley Passey Williams, Logan, Utah
15. Fielding Harris, telephone interview at his home in Ogden, Utah, by Carole Call King
16. Deseret Evening News, Saturday, April 24, 1909, Salt Lake City, Utah. Copy in possession of Leland Mack Harris, Orem, Utah
17. Deseret Evening News, Friday, April 30, 1909. Copy in possession of Brian Harris, Orem, Utah

[This article was prepared by Carole Call King in 1990 to present at her local monthly meeting of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. The original was sent to the National DUP Museum for their archives. She also has provided copies to various members of the extended Harris family.]