Jane was born May 26, 1831, at Bishops Nympton, England. She was the daughter of George Smith and Ann Bowden.

Her father was a broom maker. Four months before Jane was born, he died at the factory. This situation left Jane's mother with the responsibility of raising her family alone. At the age of nine years Jane was placed in a home where she earned her keep by helping a lady do weaving. This lady was so large, she could not get to the back of the loom to tie the knots, and so tiny Jane did this. As soon as Jane was old enough to do heavier work she was bound out to work for a farmer - here she learned meat cutting, dairy work, cooking, etc. She worked very hard here and she became very discouraged and ran away, but was later caught and put in prison, where they kept her in solitary confinement. The farmer was responsible for this.

Before she ran away she had met a young man at the farm whom she had fallen in love with, and as soon as she was released from the prison she was married to this young man, John Skinner. John was from a well-to-do family, and he made a home for Jane at Temple Point, England. They certainly had great faith to leave their home and all they had to come to this country.

Jane was very faithful to her belief and raised all her children to adhere to the principles of the gospel. She was president of the Relief Society for many years, and also Sunday school teacher. She always found time to help her fellow men in time of sickness. She made clothing for those who were in need. She was a good homemaker and ran a well-organized household. Jane and John lived a full life and were the parents of thirteen children, twelve of who lived to maturity. When their oldest daughter died at childbirth, they took the tiny baby girl and raised her during their reclining years. This child was Jane Peterson Miles. Jane Skinner died June 28, 1914, at Nounan, Idaho.