Jane Smith, daughter of George Smith and Ann Bowden was born 26 May 1831 at Bishop's Nympton England. Her Father was a broom maker. Four month before Janes birth, He died at the factory. This left Jane's mother to raise her family alone. At the age of nine years Jane was placed in a home where She earned her keep by helping a lady do weaving. This lady was so large she could not get back of the loom to tie the knots, So Jane did this. As soon as Jane was big enough to do heavier work, She was bound out to a farmer to work. Here she learned meat cutting, diary work, and Cooking, etc. She worked hard and became discouraged. So she ran away but was caught later and but in prison where they kept her in solitary confinement. The farmer was responsible for this. Before she ran away, she met a young man at the farm whom she had fallen in love with. As soon as she was released from prison, she married this young man: His name was John Skinner. John was from a well to do family and he made a home for Jane at Temple Paint Bristol England. While living here their their first three children were born, namely Hyrum, George, Brigham. While living at Bristol this family was visited by the Missionaries (one being Orson Pratt) they were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The ambition of John and Jane was to go [to] Zion as soon as they could save enough money. They went to Liverpool England where they could take a boat to the United States. They had great faith to leave their home and all they had to come to this country. In order to save as much as possible for this aventure, John decided to take the two older boys and go to Liverpool by boat, which was much cheeper. Do to the fact that Jane was pregnant, he insisted the [that] she and the baby go by rail. Upon arrival at Liverpool, Jane was informed that the boat had sunk. This was a great shock and she did not know what to do. Later in the day she learned that this was a false report, so her heart was gladdened and she was anxious to be on her way. With 223 saints in the company, the Skinner family left Liverpool, Nov 18, 1856, sailing on the Columbia with J Williams as their leader. Since the Columbia was a sailing ship they were not alway on the right route, and some time they were sailing backward. After they had been at sea for a month, Jane's baby was born abord ship, Dec 11. They named him John Alexander. They were short of fresh water on the ship, so the baby was washed in salt water which made his body very sore. Jane was so thin and sick by the time they reached New York that [she] was not allowed on deck with the rest of the company for inspection. After the family reached New York they did not have enough money to go west. So they [went] up State and John worked for farmers until he could save enough to rent a farm for himself. While in New York State the following children were born, William Henry, Mary Jane, Elizabeth Ann, Harriet Eliza, and Emily Eugenia. After spending about 10 or 12 year in New York John had done well financially. He wanted to buy a farm but Jane had other ideas. She explained to John that it was her desire to go west because that had been their goal when they left England. In 1868 they left New York for Zion. When they reached Larimie Wyo [Wyoming], they joined the Company under Captain William S Sealy, with a company of 272 saints and a 39 wagon train they started for Utah Aug 1, 1868. Many times they were alerted by scouts that the Indians were on the war path, but they were blessed in such a way that they were not attacked. The Skinners family settled in Providence Utah, Where John bought a farm. While in Providence, Joseph Alma, James Albert, and Alice Amelia were born. I[t] was while the family was living here they lost James Albert who died with measels Sept 13, 1873 at the age of two years. At that time the measles was a dreaded disease that no one would come to the home at the time of his death, and Jane had to wash and dress her baby and wrape him in a blanket and hand him through the window to a man who burried him. John realized that his farm was to small to furnish employment to his large family of boys, so he sold it and when the church called the saints to help settle Bear Lake valley he left for Idaho. He with one other family by the name of Chugg were the first settlers of Nounan where they homesteaded a farm. This was the birth place of their last child Nephi Aaron. Later more familys moved into the little valley, and a small Church was built, and John was sustained as Bishop by this time he was using a cane and was not two well, but he was a faithful church worker and kept his books by memory and never made a mistake. The Stake President complimented him on the accuracy of his records. Jane was very faithful to her belief, and raised her children to adhere to the principals of the gospel. The was president of the Relief Society for many years, and also teacher in the Sunday School. She always found time to help her fellow men in time of sickness. She made clothing for those in need. She was a good home maker, and had a well organized home. Jane and John lived a full life, and were the parents of 13 children 12 of whom lived to maturity. When their oldest daughter died at child birth, They to [took] the little girl and raised her during their declining years. This child was June Peterson Milio, the only daughter of their first daughter. Jane died 28 June 1914 at Nounan Idaho age 83.
Transcribed from a copy of a handwritten "Personal Record" geneology sheet. The author is unknown. Transcribed by Matt Young on January 1, 1998. Spelling and punctuation are mostly original, with a few small corrections for readability.
