Nauvoo in Hancock County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Smith Family Cemetery
Photographed By Jason Voigt
1. Smith Family Cemetery Marker
After Joseph and Hyrum were assassinated at the Carthage jail on June 27, 1844, their bodies were returned to Nauvoo where they laid in state in the dining room of the Mansion House. Fearing for the safety of the bodies, the coffins were emptied and buried in a tomb near the temple while the bodies were secretly buried between the foundation walls of the Nauvoo House. When construction of the Nauvoo House resumed in 1845 they were secretly reburied under a small building (now reconstructed) southwest of the Homestead.
In 1928, Frederick Madison Smith, president and prophet of the church from 1915-1946 and grandson of Joseph Smith Jr., hired Kansas City, Missouri, surveyor W.O. Hands to locate the unmarked graves of Joseph and Hyrum. Once located, they were moved a few feet north and reburied for the final time.
Erected by Community of Christ.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion. A significant historical date for this entry is June 27, 1844.
Location. 40° 32.445′ N, 91° 23.538′ W. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Joseph, Emma and Hyrum Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith (within shouting distance of this marker); Nauvoo Survey Stone (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith Family Homestead (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph and Emma Smith's Mansion House (within shouting distance of this marker); Bidamon Stable (within shouting distance of this marker); Nauvoo House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nauvoo.
More about this marker. As of March 2024, it is the only marker that was placed by Community of Christ still up, as there were several markers put up by them before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took ownership of some of the properties (the cemetery is still owned by the Community of Christ).
Also see . . . Smith Family Cemetery on Wikipedia. (Submitted on April 7, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Photographed By Jason Voigt, March 28, 2024
2. Smith Family Cemetery Marker
Marker is at the entrance of the cemetery.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 7, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 40 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 7, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
