| 681 Colorado with the same result, she finally succumbed to the disease, and died as related. Her husband said of her: "Never once in all my quarter of a century of ministerial labor in the church, has she ever hindered or sought to prevent me from doing any duty that my office required of me."
In the year 1892, he with others was appointed to the Australian Mission. While on his way to the Pacific Slope, there expecting to remain and labor while waiting for the condition of church finances to justify his going to his distant field, he arrived at Salt Lake City on July 9; and on Sunday the 10th preached two discourses in the chapel; and while returning to his place of lodging after the evening services, he was stricken down with paralysis. Elders A. H. Smith and Joseph Luff being in the city, waited upon him hourly; and though the doctor pronounced that he would not live more than twenty-four hours after the stroke, he partially recovered, sufficiently to be removed to his home at Independence. There he waited, hoping to be restored to health, and at sometimes feeling greatly encouraged because of his apparent improvement.
On December 4, 1892, he espoused Mrs. Sarah Lookabill, of Oakland, California. With her he had been corresponding previous to his affliction, and when stricken down she faithfully continued her devotion to him; and after their marriage demonstrated the genuineness of her affection by careful and tender care and attention to him.
On May 27, 1894, the end came; and he breathed his life away as peacefully as a child passes to slumber.
Soon after Elder Smith's ordination to the office of an apostle, he was made Secretary of the Quorum of Twelve, and his services in that position were performed with skill and accuracy, and the records show evidence of the jealous care bestowed upon them.
The Saints' Herald for June 6, 1894, contains the following account of his death and funeral, showing the respect in which he was held by those with whom he had spent the last days of his life:
"During his last illness he was attended almost constantly by Bro. Luff and a number of the local brethren and sisters,
(page 681) |
