Diana (Bingham) Smith (1857 - 1935)

Born 17 Jul 1857 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, USA

Ancestors

Wife of William George Smith — married 7 Aug 1876 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake , USA.

Descendants

Died 11 Dec 1935 at age 78 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jewell Meadows [send private message]

Biography

From "The Descendants of Erastus Bingham and Lucinda Gates", The Erastus Bingham Family Corp, Ogden, Utah, 2nd Edition, June 1977, pages 196-197: Diana Bingham Smith was not a pioneer according to the rules of the Daughter of Pioneers, but she was very close to being one. She was the daughter of two of the early pioneers of Utah, was herself a pioneer of Huntsville, and later married a pioneer. Diana Bingham was the daughter of Erastus Bingham Jr. and Olive Freeman Bingham, who crossed the plains with the first Pioneer Company in 1847. Erastus Bingham, Jr. was born 30 September 1822 at Concord, Vermont. He died 5 Apr 1906. Olive Hovey Freeman Bingham was born 8 January 1820 in Waterford, Caladonia County, Vermont. She was the daughter of Isaac F. and Lydia Farr Freeman. She died 22 July 1905 in Lewisville, Idaho. Mr. Bingham was a Colonel (sic) in the Mormon Battallion Mention is made in the history of Huntsville of Erastus Bingham having had cattle in Ogden Valley in the early years of occupation. By the year 1857, he had built a cabin in Middle Fork River about 1 1/2 miles east of the town of Eden. Diana Bingham was born in Ogden City, 17 July 1857. At the age of 6 years, she moved to Huntsville with her parents. (This must have been in 1863 or 1864 which is in effect only 3 or 4 years after the first settlement was made near Winter's Grove.) She died 11 December 1935. At the age of 7, her mother taught her to crochet and knit; also, at an early age she learned to card and spin wool. She was excellent in reading and spelling and one of her favorite sports was horseback riding; also, she enjoyed dancing. She pioneered Ogden Canyon when the road was narrow, and at various places the wagon in which they rode had to be held by the men while the women got out and walked. The Indians were mean in those days, and in the wilderness the men had to build forts to protect themselves and their families from attacks. Diana Bingham was married to Wm. G. Smith on 7 August 1876. They moved to Farr West where they lived for two years, moving to Ogden in 1878 and then back to Huntsville in 1880. Before and during the earlier years of their marriage, Mr. Smith owned and managed a large freighting outfit, hauling freight by mule teams from Corrine to Montana. During these years, Mrs. Smith lived alone much of the time, doing the work on the farm with the help of her small children. She was first counselor in the Mutual serving with Mary Bingham, President, (1858). Also, she taught in the Primary for several years starting about 1909 during which time she worked with Julia Nielson, President and Moselle Renstrom, counselor. She was also chairman of the Old Folks' Committee for many years working with John Grow and Charlie Crammer. Diana B. Smith was the first captain of Camp Olive, Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, the camp being named in honor of her mother. She was a very efficient captain for two terms, for four years She was class teacher in the Relief Society for years, conducting lessons in all departments. Mrs. Smith was always progressive and a tireless worker in any project that she felt was a move for betterment in the community. She was the first president of the women's section of the Farm Bureau organized in Huntsville. During this time the move was started to install a cooperative water system. From this grew the present town water system. Diana Smith was the mother of eleven children, and she has 36 grandchildren. After Mr. Smith's health failed so he could no longer work on his farm, Mr. and Mrs. Smith sold their farm and home in Huntsville and moved to Ogden. This was in November, 1930. After moving to Ogden, Mrs. Smith was severely ill several times, but she was so determined that she must live to care for her husband, that through sheer force of will power, she recovered. Then in the early winter of 1935, she contracted pneumonia following a prolonged cold, and her death occurred 11 December 1935. When I think of Mrs. Smith, I see her walking down the south lane, going to Relief Society or to church, with her perfect posture and her beautiful gray hair, which was always immaculately dressed. She had the ability to walk on a country road without getting dust on her shoes. She was an expert seamstress, an excellent house and cook - neat, industrious, and a jolly and friendly mother and hostess. Along with Mrs. Smith's keen sense of humor, she possessed such charm and stateliness that she was a real asset to the community. We feel that her place will be hard to fill.

Sources

• USA Census 1860.

Diana Bingham United States Census, 1860 Name: Diana Bingham Event Type: Census Event Date: 1860 • Event Place: Ogden City, Weber, Utah Territory, United States • Event Place (Original): Ogden City, Weber, Utah, United States Sex: Female Age: 3 Race: [Blank] Race (Original): [Blank] Birth Year (Estimated): 1857 Birthplace: Utah • Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Erastus Bingham Male 36 New Hampshire Olive H Bingham Female 40 New Hampshire Enos P Bingham Male 14 Illinois Lucinda M Bingham Female 12 Utah Lydia R Bingham Female 10 Utah Mary A Bingham Female 6 Utah Lorenzo Bingham Male 4 Utah Diana Bingham Female 3 Utah Opalia S Bingham Female 0 Utah

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH24-C6D : 18 February 2021), Diana Bingham in entry for Erastus Bingham, 1860.

Event Type Census Name Diana Bingham Sex Female Age 3 Event Date 1860 Event Place Ogden City, Weber, Utah Territory, United States Event Place (Original) Ogden City, Weber, Utah, United States Birth Year (Estimated) 1857 Birthplace Utah Race [Blank] Page 110 Other People on This Record Erastus Bingham M 36 New Hampshire

Olive H Bingham F 40 New Hampshire

Enos P Bingham M 14 Illinois

Lucinda M Bingham F 12 Utah

Lydia R Bingham F 10 Utah

Mary A Bingham F 6 Utah

Lorenzo Bingham M 4 Utah

Opalia S Bingham F 0 Utah

• USA Census 1870.

Diana Bingham United States Census, 1870 Name: Diana Bingham • Event Type: Census Event Date: 1870 • Event Place: Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, United States • Event Place (Original): Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, United States Sex: Female Age: 13 Race: White Birth Year (Estimated): 1857 Birthplace: Utah • Page Number: 22 Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Erastus Bingham Male 70 Vermont Lucinda Bingham Female 72 New Hampshire Diana Bingham Female 13 Utah

"United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNC1-9WN : 29 May 2021), Diana Bingham in entry for Erastus Bingham, 1870.

Event Type Census Name Diana Bingham Sex Female Age 13 Event Date 1870 Event Place Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, United States Birth Year (Estimated) 1857 Birthplace Utah Race White Page Number 22 Other People on This Record Erastus Bingham M 70 Vermont

Event Type Census Name Erastus Bingham Sex Male Age 70 Event Date 1870 Event Place Ogden, Weber, Utah Territory, United States Birth Year (Estimated) 1800 Birthplace Vermont Race White Page Number 22 Lucinda Bingham F 72 New Hampshire

• findagrave.com