Levira Annette Smith, 1867-1880

File — Box: 6, Folder: 26

Identifier: I

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Divorce Summons, 17 October 1868.
Decree of Divorce, 10 July 1869.
JFS, letter to Brigham Young, 25 August 1967, says: "The 'rope' with which she says I struck her (five or six times) was a peach limb not as large around at the butt as an office pencil. It was at a time when she was, to all intents and purposes, insane or possessed, and I had to treat her as I would a willful and disobedient child. There was no one but me that could do anything with her. ... I struck her with this little switch TWICE before she would get into bed from which she had risen.... It is not possible for any man to be more faithful to a sick-bed than I was for I was constant and unremitting, still she accuses me of using harsh words. My boring a hole in her head &c. Was a joke, for in her wanderings she was sometimes more jocular than ever at any other time. And at such times I would joke with her. It was at such a time she was complaining of her brain feeling 'muddled' &c. I said 'I have sometimes thought that if a hole were bored into your head, and some manure put into it, it might be an improvement, but never mind you are getting better now.' I am confident she perfectly understood me, and knew it was in jest."
JFS, letter to John E. Booth, 27 May 1868
Joseph Smith, III, letter to Levira Smith, 29 January 1880
Joseph Smith, III, letter to Levira Smith, 3 February 1880
Levira Smith, letter to JFS, 21 December

Dates

1867-1880

Conditions Governing Access

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