Louisa Smith Park (1818-1891)
Faversham, Kent - in Swale District, Kent, England, United Kingdom. Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. It is roughly equidistant between Sittingbourne and Canterbury. The parish of Faversham (Feversham) includes an ancient sea port, and lies 48 mi east of London, off the London-to-Dover A2 road, 18 mi east north east of Maidstone and 9 mi west of Canterbury. - All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License - Wikipedia
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OBITUARY OF LOUISA SMITH PARK
Louisa Smith Park, daughter of William and Mary Ann (Staples) Smith was born near Faversham. Kent, England, June 24, 1818, emigrated from there with her parents to Canada about the year 1832, where she entered upon the pioneer life, which seems to have been marked out for her; helped her parents to clear the forest, assisted at the brush and log burning, to effect the clearing of her father's farm. In 1839, she married John Park, and soon after, embraced the gospel, being baptized by Elder John Barrowman, (now of Nephi) in 1842. Left Canada in 1846 with ox teams, passing through Nauvoo, visiting the Temple there, and then on to Winter Quarter's Company. Came to Provo with the pioneer company, passing through all the vicsisitudes of pioneer life again. Her twin boys, born on the last day of 1849, in the old Fort on Provo River, excited great interest and attention among the Ute Indians, who then surrounded them in great numbers; passed through the Indian wars of those early days, her daughters remembering the exhibition of Old Elks and other prominent Indiana's heads, being hung up in the guard house, horrid trophies of the war. Sister Park continued on, a steady worker, never faltering by the way, her faith and zeal for the gospel shining and enduring to the end; was president of the teachers of the Relief Society of the Second Ward. Here, at times, in the quiet meetings with her sisters, would her zeal and strength of faith in the gospel break forth in language and utterance of such force, with it's gospel fire, as to win the hearts and affections of the members of her society. A circumstance occurred some few years back when her brothers came from Canada to visit her at Provo. These Smiths, after strolling around our streets, happened to pass by Sister Martha Ann Harris' house, the sister of Apostle Joseph F. Smith, and made inquiries of her for the home of their sister. It was strange that these Smith's should ask a Smith also the where abouts of a Smith, and it made them think how strange was the incident and wonder if a relationship did not exist between Sister Harris and these men, when one considered that the deceased was born only forty miles in a direct line south from the little village of Toppesfield, Essex, England, the cradle of the Prophet Joseph's Family. This may or may not be, but there was a prophetic fire occasionally lit up the heart of Sister Park, which found utterance in words that held her sister listeners in wrapt attention on many occasions. The deceased is the mother of twelve children, 62 grand children, and one grand, grand child. She quietly passed away to her rest, departing this life on Friday last, October 23, 1891. The funeral services over the remains of Sister Louisa Smith Park were held Sunday afternoon last in the Second Ward assembly Room. The services were conducted by Bishop Evan Wride; singing by the choir and prayer by Elder S.P. Eggertson Jr. A biographical sketch of the life of our beloved sister was read by Elder James Hardy. The speakers on the occasion were Elders Abraham Halladay, President H.H. Cluff, Elders S.S. Jones and James E. Daniels. President Cluff dwelt upon the life of Sister Park, and referred to the many trials she endured. He dwelt on the subject of the Resurrection in a most instructive and interesting manner. He showed that our sister had filled a life of usefulness and had proved her worthiness to meet her husband who had gone before and received the reward of the just. He invoked the blessings of the Lord upon the family and hoped they would pattern after her noble example. Others spoke briefly and endorsed the sentiments uttered, testifying to the excellent qualities of our departed sister. Benediction was pronounced by Elder V.L. Halladay. Numerous floral offerings by the friends of the deceased testified to their love and remembrance. A large concourse of citizens followed the remains to the cemetery, where the dedicatory prayer was offered by Bishop Wride. Member of John Taylor's First Pioneer Company: In the 2nd Hundred; Edward Hunter, Captain: First Fifty, Joseph Horne, Captain: 5th ten, Thomas Orr, Sr., Captain. Organized and departed Winter Quarters: 17 Jun 1847 and arrived Salt Lake Valley 29 Sept 1847. Source: The Daily Enquirer, Provo City, Utah, Tuesday, October 27, 1891. |
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