Utah Since State: Historical and Biographical. Volume IV.
Utah was still in the period of its earliest development when Isaac Smith entered upon life's pilgrimage within the borders of the state. He was born at Brigham city, December 31, 1857, a son of Samuel and Sarah Jane (Inghram) Smith, who were natives of England, the former born in London and the latter in Worcester. Becoming pioneer residents of Utah, the father was for many years county judge of Boxelder county and was a very prominent and influential citizen, connected with many public enterprises.
Utah Since State: Historical and Biographical. Volume IV.
Isaac Smith when fourteen years of age had largely mastered the cabinetmaker's trade and then went out with a surveying party as peg boy. He soon was advanced to the position of rod man and in that capacity went on a surveying trip with Joseph A. West when the Utah & Northern Railroad Company was making a survey through Bear River canyon to Soda Springs. When about sixteen years of age he had charge of the level party under Joseph A. West in making the preliminary survey for the railroad to Black Rock and to E. T. City, west of Salt Lake. On his return to Brigham city he was given charge of the Brigham Cooperative Lumberyard and served in that capacity until the fall of 1876, when he went to Salt Lake to attend the university. He there pursued his studies during the first and last quarters and during the two winter quarters taught school in order to earn the money to meet the expenses of his course. On account of impaired health, however, he was obliged to seek outdoor work and during that summer was employed at the Brigham Cooperative Steam Mill, shipping lumber and acting as bookkeeper.
Utah Since State: Historical and Biographical. Volume IV.
On the 14th of August, 1869, Mr. Smith was baptized as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and on the 13th of February, 1876, was ordained a priest by William Box. On the 11th of August, 1877, the Boxelder stake was organized with Oliver G. Snow as president and Elder Box as first counselor, while Isaac Smith, then only nineteen years of age, was made second counselor. At that time Mr. Smith was also ordained high priest and set apart to the office named by Apostle Lorenzo Snow.
Utah Since State: Historical and Biographical. Volume IV.
On the 28th of December, 1877, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Harriet Camilla Ensign, a daughter of Martin L. and Mary (Dunn) Ensign. At the April conference of 1878 he was called on a mission to Great Britain, leaving home on the 5th of May. He was assigned to the Herefordshire and Bedfordshire districts, where he labored until the spring of 1879, and was then sent to the Channel islands, spending about three months on the island of Jersey. Later he was appointed president of the Leeds conference, where he remained until April 10, 1880, when he returned to Brigham city. In the spring of 1881 he moved to Logan and accepted a clerkship in the wholesale department of Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution. On the 5th of June, 1884, he was then called upon for active church service, being appointed bishop of the seventh ward. In secular affairs, too, he made his life one of usefulness to the community. He was invoice clerk with Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution, having charge of the grocery, hardware and crockery departments and later of the clothing department. He also went upon the road as traveling salesman for the house for five years and later conducted a branch store on Main street in Logan. On the 3d of August, 1890, he was sustained as second counselor to Orson Smith, president of the Cache stake. In February, 1891, he was given charge of the Logan branch of Zion's Cooperative Mercantile Institution, which position he filled until the business was closed out in 1897. For several years he filled the office of president of the Cache stake and in 1913 was made a patriarch, so continuing until his death, which occurred on the 30th of March, 1914.
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