SMITH CHISTINA WILHELMINE SMITH HAWS by J.C. HAWS

HISTORY

of

WILHELMINE SMITH

 by J. C. HAWS

Minie Smith Haws

Wilhelmine Smith was born May 11,1864, in Richfield, Sevier County, Utah to Jorgen Smith and Christine Berkindile.  She had a twin sister by the name of Carolina.  Her father was a shoe maker by trade.  He made many pairs of shoes for the family and for other people. 

After living in Richfield for some time they moved back to Fountain Green.  It was in here and in Richfield that she received her schooling.  She was a hard worker doing anything to help make a living.  She picked gooseberries, worked in homes for neighbors and she worked in the home of Jim Peters for some time. 

She married John Franklin Haws February 17, 1882, at Marysvale, Utah. 

Jobs were few and hard to get.  Money was scarce, so it was difficult for young married people to get a start for themselves.  At last an opportunity came and the young people moved to Old Mexico.  There they procured a tract of land and started in the cattle ranching business with her brother, Jack. 

While in Mexico they had two children born to them, a boy and a girl.  They named the boy Henry Jason, and the girl, Sarah Jane. 

Franklin Haws    Jack Smith

Mexico being a new country and somewhat wild, they had many experiences, as they who were building the West were encountering.  They had trouble with the Indians, cattle thieves and many other discouraging things.  It was here that she learned in order to conquer the West a woman had to be a mother, a good wife, a doctor, a midwife and an Indian fighter.  They must be able to combat whatever circumstances came their way. 

After a number of years, it was decided that their dreams of a fortune were doomed to failure, so they left most of their possessions and moved back to Thurber, Utah. 

It was here in Thurber, Utah, that four more children were born to them, making six in their family.  Their names were Amanda, Sariah, Claud and Frank A. who died and was buried there.  After living here for a number of years, they learned from others a new place was found South East of Thurber that would be a good place for ranching and raising of cattle from a group of men that had been there and saw the place, later called Boulder, Utah. 

They moved to Boulder, took up some land under a Homestead entry.  They would live there during the Summer months, making butter and cheese, then go back to Bicknell, Utah for the Winter where their children went to school.  They decided to sell out in Bicknell and make Boulder their permanent home, which they did. 

While in Boulder three other children were born to them; Mina, Dee and William.  In 1907 they went to Escalante, Utah, where  a baby was born to them.  The baby died and was buried in the Escalante Cemetery. 

In 1911 they bought the home that was built by Charley and Mabel Haycock, and moved to Escalante, Utah.  They bought a ranch from Ambrose Shurtz located about two miles North of Escalante.  They harvested very much hay and grain and raised cattle. 

If there were such beings as angles of mercy, she was one of them.  She was one of the most loveable mothers, wife and grandmother, friend, and neighbor this world ever possessed.  The day was never too long, the night was never too dark, the Winter was never too cold for her love, cheerfulness, and her earthly possessions to help those in need.  She gave the poor, the lonely, the bereaved, to the sick much of her time and energy to lighten their burdens. 

Up to almost the day she died she was administering help to her loved ones who were afflicted with the terrible disease, typhoid fever.  She gave her all for her loved ones. 

She died with the typhoid fever, December 3, 1919 at Escalante, Utah at her home and was buried in the Escalante Cemetery. 

Her devoted husband, who possessed the same characteristics as his beloved wife, carried on the traditions they both had until he passed away o February 17, 1930, at Marysvale, Utah.  The very same date of the month they were married which was February 17, 1882.