Don Carlos Smith (1840-1841)

Biography
Don Carlos Smith, Son of the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and his wife Emma Hale (1804-1879). Named for Joseph's brother. Died age 14 months.

A year after the Smith’s moved to Commerce, (later named Nauvoo, Illinois), Emma’s seventh baby, Don Carlos was born on 15 June 1840 in the shelter of the Old Homestead. He was named for his uncle, his father’s youngest brother, Don Carlos, who was frequently referred to in writing as ‘Carloss’.

Little Don Carlos thrived and was much adored by his mother, father, older brothers and sister, Julia. Then a dread sickness, prevalent in the summer of 1841, took the life of Uncle Don Carlos Smith on 7 August 1841. A week later, Emma and Joseph’s precious baby Don Carlos died on 15 August. Emma took this loss harder than all the others, because she had him longer, and the family had become very attached to him.