Of all the siblings of LDS Church founder Joseph Smith, only one, Katherine Smith Salisbury, lived to the 20th century.
Katherine was born in 1813, about 7½ years after her brother Joseph. She was the second daughter, between Sophronia and Lucy, and the seventh surviving child of Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith.
In 1831, Katherine married Wilkins Salisbury. She always believed in the mission of her prophet-brother and the fruits of his ministry. Later in life, she commented with regard to the Book of Mormon: “Many times I have wept like a child when I read its sacred pages.”
Wilkins passed away nearly half a century before Katherine, leaving her with the difficult task of providing for her family in a society that still bore ill will toward her because of her brother. On more than one occasion, her family received aid from Brigham Young out in Utah.
Katherine passed away in Webster, formerly Ramus, Illinois, in 1900. She is buried in the local cemetery seen in these images.