Saturday, September 21, 2019

Looking for the Smith Children

I thought yesterday that I wouldn't be posting any more of my husband's family lines - for a while at least.  While lying abed this morning, thinking, I decided to go ahead and post some of what I have found so far in hope that someone reading would have more information about the Smiths.


John Samuel Smith

I've posted about my trip to Kansas searching for John Samuel Smith.  John and Nancy had three children and I have two photographs of one of them, daughter Fannie, although I have been unable find anything else about her after the city directory listing.  

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Fannie E Smith


Both photos are of Fannie

1880 Missouri, Putnam Co, York Twp, 5-6 July
256/260  Smith, John S, 28, . . .  / Nancy J, 25, . . . Fannie E, 1, dau, b Iowa Kentucky Iowa

1895 Kansas, Montgomery Co, Coffeyville
57/57  John S Smith, 43, . . .  / Nancy J, 40, . . . Fanny E, 16, b Iowa, from Missouri to Kansas . . . 

1900 Kansas, Montgomery Co, Coffeyville, W Fourteenth St, 5 June
131/133  Smith, S, 48, wd . . . Fanny E, dau, b June 1878, 21, single, dressmaker, b Iowa . . . 

1901 Kansas, Montgomery Co, Coffeyville, City Directory
Smith, J S, lab, 208 W 14th
Smith, Fannie E, dressmaking, 208 W 14th

I cannot find a marriage, death or burial record for Fannie, nor any other census records.

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James J Smith 

James is the oldest of John and Nancy's children.  I don't have a photograph and have found only some census records for him.

1880 Missouri, Putnam Co, York Twp, 5-6 July
256/260  Smith, John S, 28 . . . / Nancy J, 25 . . . // James J, 5, son, b Missouri. . . 

1895 Kansas, Montgomery Co, Coffeyville
57/57  John S Smith, 43 . . . / Nancy J, 40 . . . / J J, 20, b Missouri . . . 

1900 try Indian Territory

1905 Kansas

1910 Kansas, Montgomery Co, Coffeyville, 1418 Elm Street, 16 April
83/88  Smith, James J, head, 34, marr 2, m 2 yrs, layer tender - glass factory, b Oklahoma unknown unknown / Josie M, wife, 21, marr 1, m 2 yrs, 1 ch l liv, b Oklahoma Texas Oklahoma // Evertt, son, 1 3/12, b Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma

There is a Find a Grave memorial 81484551 for Everett L Smith, born 30 Sept 1909, died 11 June 1987, in Mound Grove Cemetery, Independence, Jackson Co, Missouri, the same town where James' sister Bertha is buried - different cemetery

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Bertha E Smith

Bertha is the youngest child of John and Nancy.  It was easier to find later records for her since she was the informant on her father's death certificate in 1927: Death certificate John Samuel Smith, . . . Informant: Mrs Dennis Reedy, 3415 Summit, Kansas City, Missouri

1895 Kansas, Montgomery Co, Coffeyville
57/57  John S Smith, 43. . . Nancy J, 40 . . . Bertha E, 14, b Missouri

1900 Kansas, Montgomery Co, Coffeyville, W Fourteenth St, 5 June
131/133  Smith, S, 48, wd . . . Bertha E, dau, b Aug 1880, 19, single, housekeeper, b Missouri . . . Reedy, Dennis, boarder, b July 1880, 19, single, day laborer, b Kansas . . . 

Dennis and Bertha married, but I haven't found a marriage record yet, nor the 1910 census for them.

1920 Missouri, Jackson Co, Kansas City, 18_4 Summit, 3 January
  /54  Reedy, Dennis, head, 40, switchman - RR, b Kansas Ireland Ireland / Bertha E, wife, 39, b Missouri Kentucky Iowa // Clarence, son, 19, school, b Kansas Kansas Missouri

Bertha died in 1929; her death a suicide.  
Missouri Death certificate, 1929: Missouri, Jackson Co, Kaw Twp, Kansas City, General Hospital, Mrs Bertha Reedy, 3415 Summit, female, married, husband Dennis Reedy, age 48 years, 6 months, 16 days, died March 13, 1929, suicide . . . father J S Smith . . . Informant Dennis Reedy, 3415 Summit.  Burial: Mt Washington, 3/15/29. . . . 

Find a Grave memorial 80654452, photo of monument, Mount Washington Cemetery, Independence, Jackson Co, Missouri   REEDY . . . // Mother / Bertha E / 1880-1929 // Father / Dennis J / 1879-1947


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Those are the children of John Samuel Smith and Nancy J Miller.


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Mary Elizabeth Smith

The next oldest child is Mary Elizabeth Smith who married James H Greer.  Mary is a direct line, so I have quite a bit for her.  The family saved Everything.  Mary married James Henry Greer and information about him, with a few photographs of Mary can be found here. (waay down on the page).  Mary lived a long time and appears on plenty of census records:

1860 Iowa, Wayne Co, Howard Twp, Warsaw, 3 June
191/171  J J Smith, 31 . . . / Emelene, 26 . . . // . . . M E Smith, 6, b Kentucky . . . 

1870 Missouri, Putnam Co, York Twp, Unionville, 20 August
216/216  Riddle, Preston, 45 . . . / Emily, 35 . . . // Smith, Mary E, 16, school, b Kentucky . . . 

1880 Missouri, Putnam Co, York Twp, 5-6 July
263/268 Greer, James H, 30 . . . Mary E, 26, wife, keeping house, b Kentucky Kentucky Kentucky // Emma E, 8, dau, school, b Iowa Iowa Kentucky; Millard M, 5, son, school, b Iowa Iowa Kentucky; Altia T, 1, dau, b Missouri Iowa Kentucky

1900 Iowa, Wayne Co, Grand River Twp, ED 148
89/90 304/305 Greer, James H, head, b Mar 1850, 50, m 29 yrs, farmer, b Iowa Kentucky  Kentucky / Mary E, wife, b Oct 1853, 46, 5 ch 5 liv, b Kentucky  Kentucky  Kentucky // Alta, b Mar 1878, 22, b Missouri Kentucky  Kentucky; Harlie A, b Oct 1888, 11, b Missouri Kentucky  Kentucky; Clinton M, b Mar 1892, 8, b Missouri Kentucky Kentucky

1905 Iowa, Wayne Co, Clinton Twp, line 324
Greer, J H, Clio / Mary // Harley; Clinton

1910 Iowa, Wayne Co, Grand River Twp, 16 April 
6/6  Greer, James H, head, 60, marr 1, m 39 yrs, farmer - small farm, b Iowa Kentucky  Kentucky / Mary E, wife, 52, marr 1, m 39 yrs, 5 ch 5 liv, b Kentucky  Kentucky  Kentucky // Clinton M, 18, work - home farm, b Missouri Iowa Kentucky

1915 Iowa, Wayne Co, Grand River Twp, Clio
--card 347, J H Greer, 65 . . . 
--card 348, Mary E Greer, 61 . . . 

1920 Iowa, Wayne Co, Grand River Twp, Ticklegrass Road, January 13
farm 81/81  Greer, James H . . . 69 . . . / Mary E, wife, 66, b Kentucky  Kentucky  Kentucky

1925 Iowa, Wayne Co, Grand River Twp, lines 27-28
Greer, James Henry . . .74 . . .  father William A Greer, b Kentucky, mother Elzira Webb b Kentucky, parents married Illinois / Mary E, wife, 71 . . . b Kentucky, father James J Smith b Kentucky, mother Emily Wilson b Kentucky, parents married Kentucky

1930 Iowa, Wayne Co, Grand River Twp, 18 April

32/32  Greer, James H, head, 80, first marr at 20, farmer - farm 28, b Iowa Kentucky  Kentucky / Mary E, wife, 76, first marr at 17, b Kentucky  Kentucky  Kentucky

Mary and James Greer married in 1871.  For all the wedding or early photographs in this family, there isn't one, or any, for this couple, nor any kind of formal studio photograph of the pair.  This newspaper clipping records the event of their marriage.  I don't have a marriage record other than these clippings.

---Marriage anniversary: Unidentified newspaper clipping
Mr and Mrs Greer are Wed 62 Years
   Mr and Mrs J H Greer of Clio reached another mile stone New Year's day, when they had the pleasure of celebrating their sixty-second wedding anniversary.
   A bounteous dinner was served at the noon hour by the children of this worthy couple in honor of the occasion.  A special item on the menu was a delicious fruit cake given to them by their grandson, Merlin Berry of Vici, Okla.
   The following children were present to enjoy this event; Mrs Alta Berry of Vici, Okla., who is spending the winter with her parents, Harley Greer and family of Humeston and Clint Greer and family of Kansas City, Mo.
   A delightful afternoon was spent visiting and playing games and all present had such a fine time they are looking forward to a similar celebration next year. 
    Mrs Greer is in poor health, but Mr Greer is hale and hearty. We join with their many friends in extending congratulations to this well known couple.

Mary died a few days after this celebration.

---Obituary: Unidentified newspaper clipping: Mrs J H Greer of Clio is Dead
   Mrs James H Greer, 79, of Clio passed away in her home Friday morning, January 6, following a stroke of paralysis which she suffered a few days previous.  The funeral services were held in the Christian Church at Clio, Sunday afternoon, January 8 and were conducted by the Rev Frank T Carter, pastor of the Church of Christ at Humeston.  Burial was in the Clio cemetery. The following is an obituary:
   Mary Elizabeth Smith was born in Owen county, Kentucky, October 3, 1853 and departed this life, January 6th, 1933 at the age of 79 years, 3 months and 3 days.  When three years of age she moved with her parents to Putnam county, Mo, where she grew to womanhood.  January 1st, 1871, she was united in marriage to James H Greer, who survives her.  To this union were born five children:  Emma Fordyce, who preceded her mother in death December 14, 1928, Millard of Eagle, Idaho; Alta Berry of Vici, Okla, Harley of Humeston; and Clint of Kansas City, Mo.  Mrs Greer leaves to mourn their loss, her husband; three sons and a daughter; 19 grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, besides a host of friends.  
   She united with the Christian church at the age of 22 years and has been a conscientious member during all the years and was faithful until the day of her home-going.  January 1st, 1933, the last Sunday of her life, she and her husband, James H Greer, celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary with the immediate members of their family.

Mary had a bit of wealth, but I don't know the source of it.  She had a will which left property to her husband  - - I hereby will, devise and bequeath unto my beloved husband, J H Greer, all property of which I may die seized and possessed, after the payment of the expenses of my last illness and burial, he to have the right to use and spend the same as he may see fit and as his needs may require, and without any limitations except that at his death all of my estate and property then remaining undisposed of by him, after the payment of that expenses of his last illness and burial, shall go to and become the absolute property of the devisees and legatees hereinafter named.  And Mary had a bit of money in the bank in 1932 when the will was drawn up - $600 - which was divided among her children and grandchildren at her death.


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Susan Martha Smith

Third child was Susan Martha Smith, who married Jasper H Crawford.  I didn't know anything about her when I started researching the family, but now have a bit more.  Still looking for information about her, though.

Susan is shown in the large photograph I have on my wall.  For many years I only knew that she married Jasper H Crawford and when.  Period.  After looking for her lately, I have discovered online some of the records for Jasper, which indicate that Susan died before February 1898 which is when Jasper married for the second time.  Jasper and Susan had 4 children - John Harmon, William Walter, Ernest E, and Emily Martha.  I have found some information about them through newspaper obituaries.  But nothing about the death of Susan

1860 Iowa, Wayne Co, Howard Twp, Warsaw, 3 June
191/171  J J Smith, 31, farmer, vope 42, b Kentucky / Emelene Smith, 26, b Kentucky // . . . S M Smith, 4, b Missouri

1870 Missouri, Putnam Co, York Twp, Unionville, 20 August
216/216  Riddle, Preston, 45 . . . Emily, 35 . . . Smith, Susan, 14, school, b Missouri . . . 

1880 Iowa, Davis Co, Salt Creek Twp
181/189  Crawford, Jasper H, 29 . . . Susan M, 24, wife . . . John H, 5, son,b Iowa Iowa Missouri; Wm, 3, son, b Missouri Iowa Missouri; Earnest E, 1, son, b Iowa Iowa Missouri . . . 

1885 Iowa, Davis Co, Union Twp, Twp 69 R12 Sec 1, SW SE SW
89/93  Crawford, Jasper, 34 . . . Susan M, 28 . . . John H, 10, b Vanburen Co, Iowa; William W, 8, b Missouri; Ernest, 6, b Vanburen Co, Iowa; Emily M, 1, b Davis Co, Iowa

That's it.  I have, from a family history, that Susan and Jasper married May 22, 1873, Putnam Co, Missouri, but have not seen the record itself.  In 1898 Jasper married Rebecca Clemens - for which I have the marriage record - and by the 1900 census in Kansas, Chautauqua Co, Jasper has married Phebe. Jasper has more children with one of his other wives and there has been interesting tiny bits of information for those children, but I am searching for Susan's children, rather than the other descendants of Jasper.

Here are obituaries for two of Susan and Jasper's children:



I do have a few other records on these two - census, military, etc, but nothing which particularly applies to their grandparents.
After looking at this again, I've printed out information from my computer to take to the library for research.  The three marriages of Jasper seem out of whack.  The two children, Press and Anna O M, may be children of Susan, after all, but I haven't sorted it out yet.  When - and IF - I do, I will change the information here.


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George Jefferson Smith

George Jefferson Smith was the youngest surviving Smith child.  There appears to have been another child - a daughter - born to Emily and Jeff, who died at an early age.  That's apparent because of the large gap between Susan's birth and his and a note from another researcher.  

I have found very little about George - - 

1870 Missouri, Putnam Co, York Twp, Unionville, 20 August
216/216  Riddle, Preston, 45 . . . / Emily, 35 . . . // Smith, Geo J, 9, school, b Missouri

1880 Missouri, Putnam Co, York Twp
262/267  Smith, George J, 18, married within year, farmer, b Missouri Kentucky Kentucky / Mary M, 21, wife, keeping house, b Kansas Indiana Indiana

---NARA Pension Index
Smith, Jefferson J, Co B, 18th Missouri Infantry / Widow Smith, Emily / Riddle, P, Gdn / 1863 ??  Widow, Application 15,872; certificate 42,026  [Box 31908, #35] / 1870 Mar 28 Minor application 185,306; certificate 142,828
     Item: Increase.  No 42026  Iowa.  Emily Smith, widow of Jefferson J Smith, Sergeant Co B 18th Mo.  Fairfield Agency, rate per month $8 commencing 17 Mch 1862.  Additional sum of $2 per month for each of the following children until arriving at the age of 16 years, commencing July 25, 1866, viz:
John S, 19 July 1867 / Mary E, 2 Oct 1869 / Susan M, 1 Apl 1872 / George J, 14 June 1877 / . . . Certificate dated 12 Nov 1867.  Sent to W E Taylor, Corydon, Iowa.  Act 14th July 1862 Book B Vol 2 Page 52

Every time I read the Item from the pension record, I have to remember that the date noted is when each child will become 16 years old and no longer qualified for assistance.  Please take note of that yourself.

Hunting for George Smith on the internet is a frustrating search, yet some day I will find out about George and his family.

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It wasn't such a great stretch, but the four Smith children ended up pretty much in the same area - Northeastern Oklahoma and Southwestern Kansas.  Nowata and Coffeyville are just a few minutes from each other across the state lines.  Even if George stayed in Missouri, it wasn't but a few hours journey to the homes of the other siblings.