The circumstances and surroundings of the elder Joseph were of the humblest, when unto his house was born, on the 23rd of December, 1805, Joseph, the Prophet of the Last Dispensation. The family were still living in the little town of Sharon, in Windsor County, Vermont; and were, at the time, greatly impoverished. Very early, therefore, was the future Prophet compelled to learn the lessons of labor, patience and self-denial. The father was striving, with every faculty, to repair his shattered fortunes, that he might educate his children and provide for their comfort and well-being; but successive disasters consumed his little savings. After a time, he removed from Sharon, and later, in 1815, left the State of Vermont, locating at Palmyra, Ontario County, New York: in which place and the adjoining town of Manchester, whither the family moved four years afterward, they dwelt for several years. Here they engaged in clearing land and farming, the boys, including the young Joseph, giving their constant aid to the family work. With the severest toil they could only compass a frugal mode of life. But they wasted no time in useless repining. They were able to pay their obligations, to maintain their honest name, to live in happiness, and to devote some hours of each week to the rudimentary education of the younger children.
The offspring of Joseph and Lucy Smith, with the dates and places of their birth, are named as follow:[[1]]
Alvin, born February 11th, 1798, at Tunbridge, Vermont.
Hyrum, born February 9th, 1800, at Tunbridge, Vermont.
Sophronia, born May 18th, 1803, at Tunbridge, Vermont.
Joseph, born December 23rd, 1805, at Sharon, Vermont.
Samuel, born March 13th, 1808, at Tunbridge, Vermont.
Ephraim, born March 13th, 1810, at Royalton, Vermont.
William, born March 13th, 1811, at Royalton, Vermont.
Catherine, born July 8th, 1812, at Lebanon, New Hampshire.