Emma Hale was born 10 July 1804 in Harmony Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States to Isaac Hale (1763-1839) and Elizabeth Lewis (1767-1842) and died 30 April 1879 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, United States of unspecified causes. She married Joseph Smith (1805-1844) 18 January 1827 in South Bainbridge, Chenango County, New York, United States. She married Lewis Crum Bidamon (1806-1891) 23 December 1847 in Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, United States.
Emma Hale Smith was the first wife of the Mormon Church Prophet and Founder, Joseph Smith. She participated in many key events in the early history of this new religion, including editing the first church hymnbook and being first president of the LDS Church Relief Society.
Marriage and Children with Joseph Smith
Adopted Children
In addition to their own children, several of whom died quite young, Joseph and Emma adopted the two Murdock children.
- Joseph Murdock Smith (1831-1832) -
- Julia Murdock Smith (1831-1880) - married to John J. Middleton
Children
Siblings
Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
Jesse Hale (1792-1874) | |||
Alva Hale (1795-1881) | |||
David Hale (1797-1878) | |||
Phoebe Hale (1798-1836) | |||
Elizabeth Hale (1800-1874) | |||
Isaac Ward Hale (1802-1892) | |||
Emma Hale (1804-1879) | 10 July 1804 Harmony Township, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, United States | 30 April 1879 Nauvoo, Hancock County, Illinois, United States | Joseph Smith (1805-1844) Lewis Crum Bidamon (1806-1891) |
Tryael Hale (1806-1860) | |||
Reuben Charles Hale (1810-1891) |
Close Associates
- Savilla Durfee Gifford was a helper to Emma Hale for many years. She was a dear friend of Emma’s and when her babies died she was allowed to bury them Smith Family Cemetery. Sevilla was the neice of Edmund Durfee (1788 - 1845) who was murdered on the Morley Settlement by anti-Mormon mobs in Nov 1845.
Vital Records
Burial Site

Smith Family Cemetery, in Nauvoo, Illinois, is the final resting place of this person and several other historical figures in the early LDS Church including the prophet Joseph Smith (1805-1844), his wife Emma Hale (1804-1879), brother Hyrum Smith (1800-1844) and several family members. Additionally their parents are buried there.
Overlooking the Mississippi River, the cemetery is located on Water Street, and is open 24 hours a day to visitors.
External Links
- Biography of Emma Smith - Primary Wikipedia Article
- JosephSmith.net - Official Website of the LDS Church about Joseph Smith, husband of Emma Hale
- The Joseph Smith Papers - Online archives of every written document relating to Joseph Smith.
- JosephSmithJr.org - Family History Website and Genealogical Association
- JosephSmithJr.com - Family History Website and Genealogical Association
- JosephSmithSr.org - Family History Website and Genealogical Association
- JosephSmithSr.com - Family History Website and Genealogical Association
- Biography of Emma Hale Smith - Mormon Wiki Project
- Joseph Smith's Many Wives - MormonThink.com project to historically document the family of Joseph Smith Jr.
- Remembering the Wives of Joseph Smith - More history about the women and children in Joseph's life.
- Emma Smith Mormon Woman - Many resources about the life and times of Emma Smith.
- Emma Hale - At the Pulpit: 185 Years of Discourses by Latter-day Saint Women / Jennifer Reeder and Kate Holbrook.
Residences
Footnotes (including sources)
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