Lauritz Smith facts for kids

Lauritz Nicholaisen Smith (October 5, 1830 – June 16, 1924) was an important early leader of the Latter-day Saint church. He was also one of the people who helped start the town of Draper, Utah in the United States.

A New Life in America

Early Years in Denmark

Lauritz Smith was born on October 5, 1830, in Hjørring, Denmark. His parents were Nicolai Smidt Christensen and Karen Marie Christensdatter. They were part of the Lutheran church.

Joining a New Faith

Lauritz worked as a blacksmith, making things from metal. In August 1851, he joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Eight months later, Maren Kirsten Mikelsen, who would later become his wife, also joined the church. Lauritz and Maren did not know each other at this time.

After joining the church, Lauritz helped missionaries in the Hjørring area. This was difficult because there was a ban on church services that were not Lutheran. He later moved to Schleswig.

A Long Journey West

In 1854, Lauritz joined a group of people moving to America. They traveled across the sea to Hull, England. From there, they took a train to Liverpool to get ready for their trip across the Atlantic Ocean.

On January 3, 1854, the group sailed from Liverpool, England on a ship called the Jessie Munn. This was a large sailing ship. Lauritz and Maren Kirsten Mikelsen were married while they were at sea. Lauritz was also asked to help take care of the German church members on the ship.

The ship arrived in New Orleans on March 22. From there, the group traveled by riverboat to the area that is now Kansas City, Missouri. They needed to get supplies for their long journey across the Great Plains to Utah Territory. Sadly, some people in the group died from a sickness called cholera while traveling on the Mississippi River and Missouri River.

Building a Home in Utah

The Smiths arrived in Salt Lake City on October 15, 1854. They settled on about 160 acres (0.65 km²) of land. This land was on the eastern edge of South Willow Creek, near the south end of the valley. Lauritz Smith was known as "the best plow-maker in the [Salt Lake] valley." This meant he was very good at making tools for farming.

A Special Helper

One day, Brigham Young, an important leader of the church, ate dinner with the Smiths. He really liked Maren's cooking. He asked her if she would provide food for his bodyguard, Orrin Porter Rockwell, whenever he was in the area. Maren agreed to help.

Porter Rockwell sometimes used the Smiths' farm fields as a secret place to hide from his enemies. One of Lauritz's children remembered taking a pot of stew to the pasture regularly. They would leave the food and then come back for the empty pot later. The child did not know why they were doing this or who the food was for.

Later Years

Lauritz Smith lived a long life. He died at the age of 93 on June 16, 1924. His old home on Pioneer Road in Draper is now on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical building.