Item Detail
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Smoot, Diana Eldridge
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1837-1914
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MSS 896
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Biography
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Diana Eldridge Smoot was born on March 28, 1837 in Warren County, Indiana to Ira Eldridge and Nancy Black Eldridge. She spent her early childhood on a farm in the suburbs of Indianapolis. In 1840 Diana's father joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in February of 1846, her family joined the Saints in Nauvoo where they began their journey westward. On September 22, 1847, they reached the Salt Lake Valley. In the spring of 1849, they moved onto a farm in Sugar House. Diana was baptized on November 9, 1851 and married Abraham Owen Smoot on May 6, 1855 by President Brigham Young. In March of 1856, Diana bore her eldest son. During the invasion of Johnston's Army, Diana and her family moved to Salem where her daughter Nancy was born. Shortly thereafter, they moved back to Salt Lake City until her husband was called to serve as a stake president in Provo. Diana bore 12 children in total, although three of her children died shortly after birth. On January 29, 1914, Diana died at her home in Provo after suffering from a broken back due to falling on ice.
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This collection includes a twenty-five page fragile holograph life sketch of Diana Eldridge Smoot, which states that 'her life was devoted to the service of her family and friends; to her faith in her church; a truly noble woman.' Also included is a paragraph-long typewritten biography of her life on the last page of a tribute to Margaret Thompson Smoot.
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