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So You Think You Know How St. George Got Its Name? – Part 3

Issue 48.12

Part 3

The Event:

George A. Smith wrote of his only two children born to his wife Bathsheba: “My son and daughter were good singers; they made our home joyous with song and jest.” This son was his father’s namesake. He was named George A Smith Jr. From the father’s own writings he noted that in 1860, this son was sent on a mission to the Moqui Indians. He was 18 years of age. He was interested in this and apt in learning a new language. After being set apart by the authorities for that mission, he started Sept. 4, 1860, and had traveled about seven hundred miles, when on

Nov. 2, 1860, he was killed by Navajo Indians. This son, named George A. Smith Jr was traveling in the company and under the direction of Jacob Hamblin as well as other missionaries.

The story is recorded by Jacob himself. George’s death was far from an accident. He was shot three times with his own revolver, at close range, and then shot with arrows in his upper body.

He lived for a short time. The others in the missionary party knew they were trapped and had to make an escape. To do so their chances with the dying George were close to impossible. They all were being hunted by the Indians and only by determination and providence did they make their safe escape out of the country into which they had ventured. Young George told the others to leave him and try to escape, but they began to leave with George being held on a mule by another missionary. However, when George died, they wrapped his body and tried to seclude him in a depression just off their trail. In the days of the journey back to Santa Clara, Jacob’s mind and feelings were torched with the knowledge that he would have to report the death, its manner, and its story, to George’s parents and to Brigham Young.

Conclusion: George A Smith had endeared himself to all the saints in the Church. While crossing the trail to the Salt Lake Valley, he fed saints from his abundant crop of potatoes which helped their fight against scurvy. This charitable action, in 1848, long before he lived in Parowan, gained him the moniker of “Potato Saint.” But now, in 1861, Brigham was attempting to ease the pains encountered by the loss of his friend’s son, his namesake, George Jr. This was a loss which Brigham had authorized and which death was so needless and severe. He saw a way to possibly do that by naming the proposed, soon to be appointed, settlement in Southern Utah for his friend. George A. did not become Brigham’s counselor in the First Presidency until

1868. So the settlement was named for George A. and for his deceased son -they both were named George, and they both were saints. This was serious, meaningful, and purposeful. It wasn’t just for recognition of one man, and it wasn’t just because of a nickname or moniker. It was to honor and to heal. In 1872, both George Sr. and his wife, Bathsheba, made a visit to St.

George, and did so again in 1873. They had special reasons to love the settlement. They not only visited St. George but also the other settlements of the Virgin River drainage. It was out of their normal route when they made their way to the area of the Colorado River, approaching the area of their son’s death. That part of their journey could have had only one purpose.

Now, if anyone asks how the city of St. George got its name, you can tell the story of how it was named for a martyr, as well as for his noteworthy father who lived another 15 years after his son was killed. It was named for George A. Smith.

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