Family History: Jane Fowles Smith

JANE FOWLES SMITH 

1825 - 1889

Jane was born August 26, 1825 in Bedford, England.  According to her son, Francis Harper, Jane’s mother Ann was “reared in the Royal Palace of England” and married one of the Queen’s Royal guards, Henry Fowles.  Jane had a college degree and worked some in her father’s tailor shop.  She converted to the church at 18 and a year later left for America.  In Nauvoo she met and married Thomas Sheffield, moving with his family to Tennessee “on the breaking up of Nauvoo”.  Her husband “lost faith” so Jane left him to continue her journey to Utah, taking her 22-month old daughter Susan Adelaide.

  Thomas, who had taken to drinking whiskey, died shortly thereafter.

Back in England her parents and sister Adelaide eventually also joined the church (though not sister Ann or brother William), and her father died.  Her sister Adelaide met and married an LDS missionary, Job Smith.  Her mother and sisters with Job and other saints emigrated by ship to St. Louis, where they met Jane.  Job was captain of a 40-wagon company but before they could head West cholera broke out—many died.   Two days after Jane saw her mother again, her mother died.

 When Job and the others recovered enough to travel, they set out June 19 and reached the Valley September 25, 1854.  

Jane gave birth to Louisa Jane on November 26, 1854.  According to Job’s written record, he was married to Jane on May 6, 1855 by Brigham Young whose consent he had previously obtained.

   Jane lived with Job and her sister Adelaide.  She helped with the farming, suffering near starvation when grasshoppers took their crops.  Jane bore a son named Mormon Job on December 28, 1856.  He changed his name to Henry J.

  In 1858 Jane and Adelaide moved to Lehi in advance of the U.S. army’s arrival.  They returned to their log house in SLC (Main near 3^rd S.) which was also Job’s workshop for making and selling baskets.  March 1, 1859 Lucy was born to Jane. Jane was ambitious and worked hard.  She and Job started a school for their children and others, held in the ward meeting house.  Each pupil paid $2.50 per ten week term (often paid in produce).  May 25, 1862 Jane bore a son, Wilford Fowles.  Jane bore George Thomas on July 9, 1864.  

Jane and Adelaide were not happy living together.  In 1867 Jane was moved to Farmington where she sold dry goods and also did dressmaking to provide for her family.  Our ancestor, Francis Harper Smith, was born to Jane on May 6, 1868 in Farmington.  (Mazie records that Lucy, then 10, was in charge of caring for her three brothers while her mother was recovering with the baby.  Jane did not recover as quickly as planned and they were out of food.  She told Lucy to clean her brothers and bring them to her where they knelt in prayer as their mother asked for food for her children.  Mother told Lucy to prepare for breakfast so Lucy set the table.  A stranger then knocked and gave her a sack of flour.)  Jane got typhoid fever and was taken back to Salt Lake City to recover.  In 1871 Job built a frame home for Jane and leased her a small shop at 47 West 1^st South from which to sell baskets, some which he made and some imported.   In 1874 Job married Sarah Punter, age 19, and he moved to Paradise with her.  Job married Charlotte Elvira Slinge, age 36, in 1885.  Job moved frequently, ranging from Bear Lake to southern Utah.  He took Jane’s son Frank (age 15) to work for him for a few months.  Frank (who started work outside the home at age 8 as a delivery boy and by 11 did a man’s work farming) got a business degree and worked at ZCMI, using half his earnings to help build his mother a home.  When Frank married Eunice they built a small addition to his mother’s home.

 Jane remained in Salt Lake City where her business grew during the 30 years she worked.  Son Frank recalls that his mother worked from 7 am to 8 or 9 pm in her shop then came home and worked into the night sewing.  She served enthusiastically in R.S. and as a Sunday School teacher.  She was sought for by the sick for her faith and care.  She was generous.  When the Logan Temple was built, donations were requested and Jane gave $50, the balance of her ward gave $49.  She gave every missionary from her ward $5 each year.  She also helped support Job financially in his missionary and temple work.  Jane sent Job money in 1881 after selling part of their property.   She was the mother of seven children who were all well educated.  Jane had a stroke and died May 11, 1890 at age 64 at the home of her daughter Lucy, leaving an estate of $6,000 to her children.  Her faith continued strong to the end, despite her life’s many challenges.  

Children of Jane Fowles and Job Taylor Smith:  Henry Job (1856 – 1943); Lucy Fowles (1859 – 1936); Wilford Fowles (1862 – 1946); George Thomas (1864 – 1958); Francis Harper (1868 – 1960).  Jane also had two older children with her first husband:  Susan and Louisa Jane.

JANE FOWLES SMITH – Summary history by Merikay Smith, December 2010

Based on “Biographical Sketch of Jane Fowles Smith,” Elsie and W.H. Pyott, DUP, February 1974 (online).  Diary and journals of Job Taylor Smith.  “Recollections of My Long and Busy Life,” Francis Harper Smith.  

Thanks to Merikay Haws Smith for researching, writing, and sharing this history.