_____________________ | _____________________| | | | |_____________________ | _Harry SMITH ________| | (1799 - 1872) m 1826| | | _____________________ | | | | |_____________________| | | | |_____________________ | | |--James R. SMITH | (1833 - 1842) | _George URAN ________+ | | (.... - 1801) | _Joseph URAN ________| | | (1769 - 1862) m 1794| | | |_Mary _____ _________ | | (.... - 1801) |_Betsey URAN ________| (1800 - 1839) m 1826| | _____________________ | | |_Lucy SHEPHERD ______| (1769 - 1815) m 1794| |_____________________
_____________________ | _______________________| | | | |_____________________ | _James Polk SMITH ___________| | (1844 - 1923) m 1866 | | | _____________________ | | | | |_______________________| | | | |_____________________ | | |--James S. SMITH | (1868 - 1931) | _Samuel MCCOY _______+ | | (1797 - 1882) m 1819 | _John Alexander MCCOY _| | | (1825 - 1880) m 1845 | | | |_Sally PILSON _______+ | | (1796 - 1835) m 1819 |_Elmina (Emily?) Jane MCCOY _| (1846 - 1911) m 1866 | | _Edward PERRY _______+ | | (1800 - 1875) m 1821 |_Nancy PERRY __________| (1822 - 1903) m 1845 | |_Lucy HARPER ________ (1802 - 1851) m 1821
Her story is still very murky. One interpretation is that she married first a Francher or Fanshier, then married James A. McCoy. That would account for the step-daughter Alice Francher (born 1859, but her age may not be reported correctly— her presumed mother is on the 1860 census in Johnson Co., IA, still unmarried) living with James and Jane in the 1880 census. In the same household are three "nephews" surnamed Wright and Francher, perhaps children of a brother and sister of Jane's first husband. We have not been able to locate any of these people in the 1870 census.
We are indebted to Brea Mefford for providing information about Jane Smith and her marriage to Bartholomew Hoback. Through this marriage, Jane became a Civil War veteran's wife and then widow, and so information about her and her previous marriage is found in Hoback's Civil War pension file.
There are a few mentions in Brown Co., IL after 1880 of a C. S. Fanshier or Fanschier and a Tryphena Fanshier, his wife, as well as a couple of daughters. However, we have not been able to connect these to Jane Smith. Instead, internet sources identify them as Charles Skaggs Fanshier and his wife Tryphena Ann Fairchild. A brother of Charles Skaggs Fanshier, James W. Fanshier, married Mary Allie Smith, born in Iowa about 1858. James and Mary divorced in the early 1880's, and she remarried to Henry Collins in 1884. Could Mary Allie Smith have been the Alice Francher of the 1880 census? But if so, how is she related to the family of John and Mary McCoy Smith?
The unidentified "nephews" in the 1880 census were John Francher, age 4, and Oliver Francher, age 6 months. These would seem to be the children of James W. Fanshier and Mary Allie Smith who are identified on the internet as James S. Fanshier, born about 1876, and Oliver P. Fanshier, born 20 dec 1879 in Elkhorn Tp., Brown Co., IL. The other "nephew" was Afney Wright, age 18, still a complete mystery.
We speculate that Mary Allie (Alice?) Smith, who married James W. Fanshier, was the daughter (whether by a previous marriage or not) of the present Jane Smith, and thus properly the step-daughter of James A. McCoy. The children of this couple were termed "nephews" in the 1880 census, for lack of a better term to describe their relationship to James McCoy. Does the same convention apply to Afney Wright? We were unable to locate any other reference to him in other censuses, suggesting that he was recorded with some other name in 1870.
_____________________ | _____________________| | | | |_____________________ | _John (Laban?) SMITH _| | (.... - 1868) m 1831 | | | _____________________ | | | | |_____________________| | | | |_____________________ | | |--Jane SMITH | (1838 - 1910) | _____________________ | | | _Alexander MCCOY ____| | | (1770 - 1841) m 1796| | | |_____________________ | | |_Mary MCCOY __________| (1814 - 1880) m 1831 | | _Samuel MCCULLOUGH __ | | (.... - 1804) |_Hannah MCCULLOUGH __| (.... - 1815) m 1796| |_____________________
_____________________ | _____________________| | | | |_____________________ | _Harry SMITH ________| | (1799 - 1872) m 1826| | | _____________________ | | | | |_____________________| | | | |_____________________ | | |--Jason SMITH | (1835 - 1881) | _George URAN ________+ | | (.... - 1801) | _Joseph URAN ________| | | (1769 - 1862) m 1794| | | |_Mary _____ _________ | | (.... - 1801) |_Betsey URAN ________| (1800 - 1839) m 1826| | _____________________ | | |_Lucy SHEPHERD ______| (1769 - 1815) m 1794| |_____________________
_______________________ | _____________________| | | | |_______________________ | _Paul Leslie SMITH __| | | | | _______________________ | | | | |_____________________| | | | |_______________________ | | |--Jed Lee SMITH | | _John Henry NOYES _____ | | (1877 - ....) | _Von Oral NOYES _____| | | | | | |_Edith Jane MCDOUGALL _+ | | (1881 - ....) |_Edith Jane NOYES ___| | | _______________________ | | |_Donna Geddes EAMES _| | |_______________________
_Reuben SMITH _______ | (1767 - 1840) m 1788 _Joseph SMITH _______| | (1798 - 1867) m 1824| | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __ | (1773 - 1834) m 1788 _Joel SMITH ____________| | (1825 - 1890) m 1852 | | | _John NEWMAN ________ | | | | |_Rebecca M. NEWMAN __| | (1803 - 1875) m 1824| | |_Hanna FOSTER _______ | | |--Jerome SMITH | (1863 - ....) | _____________________ | | | _____________________| | | | | | |_____________________ | | |_Mary Elizabeth WARNER _| (1832 - 1865) m 1852 | | _____________________ | | |_____________________| | |_____________________
[6076] m. a Mr. Scribner or Scrivener, lived in Bellingham, WA. Birthdate from Reuben P. Smith pension application, 22 mar 1915.
_____________________ | _Reuben SMITH _______| | (1767 - 1840) | | |_____________________ | _Reuben Plummer SMITH _| | (1837 - 1924) m 1859 | | | _Frederick STARN ____+ | | | | |_Maryann STARN ______| | (1794 - 1850) | | |_Mary Ann _____ _____ | | |--Jessie E. SMITH | (1872 - ....) | _____________________ | | | _O. HUFF ____________| | | (1811 - 1860) | | | |_____________________ | | |_Mary Ann HUFF ________| (1841 - 1933) m 1859 | | _____________________ | | |_____________________| | |_____________________
Will copy filed at Grant Co., Indiana shows the date of the will as 14 oct 1849, written at West Union, OH, and witnessed by G. W. Nixon and R. H. W. Peterson, naming wife Isabelle A. Smith, children Reuben C., John M., Joseph A., Mary A. Wilson, and Sarah C. Rees. The will was admitted to probate in Adams County, Ohio 30 dec 1876. It notes that the sons are under bond regarding the disposition of the family farm and payments to the daughters. Terms of the bond are not stated. The will copy was made in 1879, likely when questions arose about the terms of the estate. For the text of the will and the probate proceedings, click here. The probate records for Adams County were lost when the courthouse burned in 1910, so it is a happy accident that the text of the will is preserved in Grant County.
[5373] 1860 census, Adams Co., OH. In 1858, John B. Smith's son Reuben P. Smith says his uncle Joel was living in Brush Creek, Adams Co., OH, and will copy (Grant Co., IN, ?? sep 1879 notes township. But he may have died Grant Co., IN.
[5374] Age at death 81 years, 9 months, 21 days, consistent with birthdate from bible records.
[14783] marriage book 2, p. 41, and marriage license book 2, dated 17dec1822 (listing` bride as Isbel McDow).
__ | __| | | | |__ | _Reuben SMITH _______| | (1767 - 1840) m 1788| | | __ | | | | |__| | | | |__ | | |--Joel SMITH | (1794 - 1876) | __ | | | __| | | | | | |__ | | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __| (1773 - 1834) m 1788| | __ | | |__| | |__
1860: Lawndale Tp., McLean Co., IL. 1870: Onarga, Iroquois Co., IL. 1880: Lawndale Tp., McLean Co., IL. Not found in 1900 census in California, so probably dead by then.
[5442] Joseph Smith family bible, among the list of the children of Joseph and Rebecca Newman Smith, thus proving that this Joel is not "Joel Smith, Jr." in the usual sense, and that he is correctly placed.
[5443] He is listed on the 1890 Great Register for Tulare Co., CA.
__ | _Reuben SMITH _______| | (1767 - 1840) m 1788| | |__ | _Joseph SMITH _______| | (1798 - 1867) m 1824| | | __ | | | | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __| | (1773 - 1834) m 1788| | |__ | | |--Joel SMITH | (1825 - 1890) | __ | | | _John NEWMAN ________| | | | | | |__ | | |_Rebecca M. NEWMAN __| (1803 - 1875) m 1824| | __ | | |_Hanna FOSTER _______| | |__
[5401] Computed from age at death.
_Reuben SMITH _______ | (1767 - 1840) m 1788 _Joel SMITH _________| | (1794 - 1876) m 1814| | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __ | (1773 - 1834) m 1788 _Joseph A. SMITH ____| | (1825 - 1913) m 1849| | | _____________________ | | | | |_Isabelle A. MCADOW _| | (1792 - 1875) m 1814| | |_____________________ | | |--Joel B. SMITH | (1852 - 1899) | _____________________ | | | _____________________| | | | | | |_____________________ | | |_Martha Ann HOGGATT _| (1828 - 1887) m 1849| | _____________________ | | |_____________________| | |_____________________
He chose Josiah I. Earhart, former probate judge in Davis Co., IA, to be his guardian 21 sep 1851, implying that he was still under age 21 on that date. On 31 mar 1852, he filed a petition in his own name to show cause why there should not be a final settlement of his father's estate, thus by that date over age 21. He is still in Davis Co. for the 1860 census, single at that time, and his whereabouts after that are unknown. One mention in connection with his father's probate includes the middle initial.
__ | _Reuben SMITH _______| | (1767 - 1840) m 1788| | |__ | _John B. SMITH ______| | (1792 - 1849) m 1815| | | __ | | | | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __| | (1773 - 1834) m 1788| | |__ | | |--Joel J. SMITH | (1830 - 1860) | __ | | | _John CHAPMAN _______| | | (1763 - 1850) m 1788| | | |__ | | |_Elizabeth CHAPMAN __| (1797 - 1853) m 1815| | __ | | |_Rebecca PEACE ______| (1767 - ....) m 1788| |__
Name listed in cemetery record as Joel C. Smith.
[14787] Bk. 3A, p. 297.
_Reuben SMITH _______ | (1767 - 1840) m 1788 _Joel SMITH ________________| | (1794 - 1876) m 1814 | | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __ | (1773 - 1834) m 1788 _John M. SMITH _________| | (1817 - 1907) m 1845 | | | _____________________ | | | | |_Isabelle A. MCADOW ________| | (1792 - 1875) m 1814 | | |_____________________ | | |--Joel L. SMITH | (1845 - 1928) | _____________________ | | | _William NESBITT ___________| | | (1798 - 1877) | | | |_____________________ | | |_Elizabeth Ann NESBITT _| (1825 - 1904) m 1845 | | _____________________ | | |_Dorcas (Dorothy) SPURGEON _| (1808 - 1875) | |_____________________
Slain by Indians in Hatfield Meadows....
__ | __| | | | |__ | _Samuel SMITH _______| | (1602 - 1681) m 1624| | | __ | | | | |__| | | | |__ | | |--John SMITH | (1637 - 1676) | __ | | | __| | | | | | |__ | | |_Elizabeth CHILEAB __| (1602 - 1686) m 1624| | __ | | |__| | |__
[11308] Sources differ as to what happened during the French and Indian Wars...one says Capt. Smith was taken to France and stayed there two years. Another says he was taken to Quebec as a prisoner and finally made his way to England. Ltr from Jean Cloud of Redwood City, CA, dtd 29 Jul. 1982, mentions that Smith was sent to England after his capture. "He appears in many record of the House of Burgesses in Virginia and in Quebec records".
The early records of Augusta, Rockingham and Botetourt counties in Virginia contain many references to John Smith and his family. Not all agree on the number of children and the following list, compiled from printed genealogies and church records, may contain some discrepancies.
There seems to be little doubt that John Smith was a very patriotic man and this trait was carried on by his sons.
Smith Family of Augusta and Rockingham Counties, VA.
Capt. John Smith proved his importation at Orange on the 26th of June, 1740, he having come from Ireland through Philadelphia with his wife, Margaret, and their sons Abraham, Henry, Daniel, John and Joseph, together with Robert McDowell. Capt. Smith settled first in Chester Co., PA, from which he removed to Augusta.
Will dtd 26 April 1779, Botetourt Co., VA. Will proved by 1783. There was an earlier will, dtd 1753, that appears in "Settlers of the Long Grey Trail", naming sons who later were killed during the French & Indian wars.
BVV offers evidence that Margaret was the daughter of William Clark. August Co. VA. Records need to be rechecked.
__ | __| | | | |__ | _John SMITH _________| | (1698 - 1779) m 1719| | | __ | | | | |__| | | | |__ | | |--John SMITH | (1730 - 1756) | __ | | | __| | | | | | |__ | | |_Margaret CLARK _____| m 1719 | | __ | | |__| | |__
_Reuben SMITH _______ | (1767 - 1840) m 1788 _John B. SMITH ______| | (1792 - 1849) m 1815| | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __ | (1773 - 1834) m 1788 _Henry C. SMITH _____| | (1819 - 1878) m 1839| | | _John CHAPMAN _______ | | | (1763 - 1850) m 1788 | |_Elizabeth CHAPMAN __| | (1797 - 1853) m 1815| | |_Rebecca PEACE ______ | (1767 - ....) m 1788 | |--John SMITH | (1840 - ....) | _____________________ | | | _____________________| | | | | | |_____________________ | | |_Sarah Ann JUNKINS __| (1821 - 1856) m 1839| | _____________________ | | |_____________________| | |_____________________
It is not at all certain that I have located the right Smith family.
What seemed to be a clue was found on the 1880 census, where in Elkhorn Tp., Brown Co., IL (p. 488C), we found James A. Smith (39) with his wife Jane (41), mother-in-law Mary Smith (65), step-daughter Alice Francher (21), and nephews Afney Wright (18), John Francher (4), and Oliver Francher (6 months).
At first, we concentrated on the children associated with Mary Smith (b. MD, parents b. IRE and VA) in the 1880 census of Brown Co., IL. Published transcripts of Brown Co. cemeteries seem to indicate a family with the same names belongs with a Joseph Smith. Also, 1860 census of Mt. Sterling, IL shows Mary Smith as a widow born in Kentucky, with apparent children L., Caleb, Parthena, and Margaret. We were unable to locate Caleb in the 1850 census, so the family remained mysterious.
The transcript from the Mt. Sterling City Cemetery includes a listing as follows:
Children of J. and M. Smith, George, John Wesley, Joseph, Lorenzo, Caleb, Eliza, Mary Ann, Parthenna, and Margaret.
Joseph Smith (Nov. 6, 1848, aged 58 yrs.)
Mary wife of J. Smith (Apr. 25, 1874, aged 74 yrs.)
Caleb Smith (1831-1868)
Parthena (1822-1891)
Margaret Smith (d. about 1900)
If this has been interpreted correctly, we see that the Mary Smith who was the mother of Parthena and Margaret died before 1880, and so the Mary Smith living with the James A. McCoy family in 1880 is someone else, and thus the Mary Smith who was the mother of Parthena is not of immediate interest to our research problem. The L. Smith of the 1860 census must be Lorenzo. Presumably the other children (George, John Wesley, Joseph, Eliza, and Mary Ann) were buried somewhere else. This discovery led to finding Mary Smith (47, KY) and her children Parthena (26, KY), Lorenzo (24, IL), Caleb (22, IL), and Margaret (17, IL) on the 1850 census in Morgan Co., IL (p. 312 B, no townships listed).
That leaves the problem of where the "real" Mary Smith was living in 1870, as well as the "Francher" family and James A. McCoy himself. The Brown County cemetery records contain several entries under Fanshier, the closest approximation of Francher, but none seem to correspond to the ones found on the 1880 census. No burial for James A. McCoy has been found. (The most likely spellings of this unusual surname appear to be Fancher and Fansher. These spellings occur in several counties in Iowa.)
At length, a family was found in Big Grove, Johnson Co., IA that looks promising. In 1850, the family consists of John Smith (41, OH), Mary (36, MD), Rosana (17, OH), Eliza (14, OH), Jane (12, OH, and the correct age and birthplace for the Jane who married James McCoy), Sarah A. (8, IA). They are also on the 1856 census, which shows them in Big Grove Township with a modest farm and the notation that John Smith had been in the county for 16 years, while his wife and daughters had been there for the past 15 years. He must have come earlier to buy land and build a house before the rest of the family traveled to join him in about 1841. The children in 1856 are Eliza, Jane, and Sarah A. In 1860, the family is John Smith (52, OH), Mary (48, MD), Eliza (23, OH), Jane (21, OH), and Mary A. (3, IA). They have still not been located in the 1870 census.
We infer from the records of the Alexander McCoy Jr. estate in Brown Co. that Mary's husband John Smith was dead by the time she received her share of the estate (about 1868), because her husband was not named anywhere in the estate records. The other married women among the heirs-at-law were all listed with their husbands.
In hopes that someone will recognize this family and help us prove Mary's identity, we include them in our database.
[6489] because husband does not sign receipt for share of estate of Alexander McCoy Jr. in that year.
[14852] Marriage book 3, p. 269, and marriage license book 3 dated 22 dec 1831. Also permission from Alexander McCoy dated 21 dec 1831 -- the only surviving document that he definitely wrote.
[6314] listed in 1880 census as grandson of John A. McCoy, Mt. Sterling Tp., #529
_____________________ | _______________________| | | | |_____________________ | _James Polk SMITH ___________| | (1844 - 1923) m 1866 | | | _____________________ | | | | |_______________________| | | | |_____________________ | | |--John A. SMITH | (1867 - 1952) | _Samuel MCCOY _______+ | | (1797 - 1882) m 1819 | _John Alexander MCCOY _| | | (1825 - 1880) m 1845 | | | |_Sally PILSON _______+ | | (1796 - 1835) m 1819 |_Elmina (Emily?) Jane MCCOY _| (1846 - 1911) m 1866 | | _Edward PERRY _______+ | | (1800 - 1875) m 1821 |_Nancy PERRY __________| (1822 - 1903) m 1845 | |_Lucy HARPER ________ (1802 - 1851) m 1821
Several records, including the 1850 US Census mortality schedule entry for John B. Smith, give his birthplace as New York. Other records, including the "father's birthplace" column on later censuses, just as frequently indicate Pennsylvania. The mortality schedule is probably the best available record.
When the family left Ohio has not been established, but it was probably about 1830. John's son Andrew is the last one that all available censuses agree was born in Ohio. There are too many John Smiths in the 1830 census to be sure. The John B. Smith family was in Posey Tp., Rush Co., IN for the 1840 census. This is confirmed because the same census shows Henry C. Smith with his wife and first child, and Rush Co. marriage records show Rebecca Smith marrying Hugh "Abbernathy" 25 nov 1835, Henry C. Smith marrying Sarah Ann Junkins 01 aug 1839, and "Ruebin" Smith marrying Mary Abernathy 25 jul 1844. The 1840 census reading for "John Smith" in Posey Tp., Rush Co., IN shows: Males: 1 (0-4), 1 (5-9), 1 (10-14), 1 (15-19), 1 (20-30), 1 (30-40, this last one misclassified, as John Smith would actually be about 48). Females: 2 (0-4), 1 (5-9), 1 (10-14), 1 (30-40, also misclassified, Elizabeth would actually be about 43). Based on the marriage dates, the family must have been in Rush Co. at least by 1835, and they probably left for Iowa about 1845. Based on this information, the last 4-5 children of John B. Smith are believed to have been born in Indiana, even though the birthplace is given as Iowa on some census records. Another possible scenario would have the family making a more complicated journey. An item in the records of the Van Buren Co., IA "Old Settlers' Association" (1871) indicates that H. D. Smith of Jackson Tp. arrived in the county in October, 1839. That would have to be Hugh Darius Smith, son of John B. -- and if the date is correct, it would indicate that the family traveled first in 1839, then returned to Indiana the next year, probably leaving some family members in Iowa. In fact, it is likely they were visiting friends and relatives in Iowa in 1839.
It appears that the family moved first into Highland Co., OH before moving to Rush Co., IN. Reuben P. Smith's military discharge papers say he was born in "Highland, Ohio", and the two earliest land patents for "John Smith" in Rush Co. say he was "of Highland County, Ohio".
The 1847 census of Davis Co., IA, apparently taken 20 aug 1847, shows both John B. Smith and H. C. Smith on the same page, as well as R. Smith, who might be Reuben P. Smith. Land entry records (internet) show John B. Smith 25 may 1846 and Henry C. Smith 22 dec 1853 "entering" land in Prairie Tp., the date probably referring to the issuance of the patent (T68N, R12W).
Reuben P. Smith's statement in Fifteen Years among the Mormons (1858) gives his father's death date as 1847. This appears to be a typographical error, the printer misread 1849 as 1847. Not only is John B. Smith still alive for the 1847 census, he is also clearly listed on the 1850 census mortality schedule, and his probate records give his death date as September, 1849. His estate first came to the attention of the probate court in Davis Co., IA on September 20, 1849.
The 1850 census shows John's widow Elizabeth with her children either at home, or living with their spouses adjacent to her. One neighbor is James Abernathy, age 60, with his son William T. Abernathy age 21, and a Mary Smith age 26 with her daughter Rebecca Smith age 4. Since John's daughter Rebecca married Hugh Abernathy, apparently James' son, the most logical explanation is that "Mary Smith" is a daughter of James Abernathy, and that she has married someone in the Smith family who was not present at the time the census was taken. The only missing member of the Smith family in that census is Reuben, who was probably on his way to California then. The marriage record for "Ruebin" Smith and Mary Abernathy has been found in Rush Co., IN, confirming this interpretation.
The mortality schedule for 1850 does not give house numbers, but it appears to have been taken in approximately same sequence as the main population schedules. After the entry for John B. Smith, which shows he died of "Flux" after an illness of 14 days, in September, 1849, the next 3 entries are certainly related Smith's, but which families do they belong to? The additional entries are:
There is a gap between the other children of Henry C. Smith, so the most obvious place for the twins is in his family, which already has another set of twins born in 1845. It is also possible that they belong to Reuben P. Smith, but it is hard to believe he would sell his land (May, 1849) and make preparations to go to California when he had infant twins to provide for. The only other possibility is that they belong to Andrew M. Smith, but he already has a son Thomas L. Smith born in 1849.
The remaining unplaced Smith from the 1850 mortality schedule is Ann E. Smith. She probably does not belong in Henry's family, since there is already a son James born in 1842. The only possibility left seems to be that she was a daughter of John B. Smith, and that they contracted the "Flux" and died about the same time.
The Davis Co., IA probate records appear to be incomplete—the Probate Record volumes are labeled B, D, E, F, and K, and only a few pages of Book E were microfilmed, suggesting perhaps that the rest of the that volume contains some other kind of record—but they do contain a number of documents relating to the estate of John B. Smith and his wife Elizabeth. John B. Smith is stated to have died in September, 1849 (and before September 20, the first date on which the estate comes before the county probate judge). The final report, filed in 1857 by his son Henry C. Smith, administrator, identifies nine heirs-at-law, all of them John's children. This fact means that no additional children had died and left heirs. (There is also an index to probate minutes covering this period, but the page numbers seem to refer to some other set of minutes, not filmed!)
During the course of the probate of John B. Smith's estate, $2.50 was paid to an attorney to obtain a military land warrant on behalf of his minor heirs John C. Smith and Hugh D. Smith. The warrant bore the number 65,197, and entitled the holder to 120 acres of land. The only statute for military bounty land that included a provision for an allotment of 120 acres was the act of March 3, 1855, 10 Stat. 701, and that act is cited in the probate minutes, which note that warrant relates to service in the War of 1812.
The bounty land warrant application file from the National Archives reveals two separate transactions. First, the testimony of Joel Smith and his wife Isabel of Adams Co., OH was taken by their relative Isaac Wittenmeyer, J.P. 03 apr 1851, to the effect that Elizabeth Smith was the widow of John B. Smith, and that he had served in Capt. Davidson's company in the War of 1812. He had been drafted 28 jul 1813 and served until he was discharged 03 sep 1813 at Franklinton, now Franklin Co., OH. The birthdates of both are given from "the family record", and John B. Smith's death date is given as well. Elizabeth used this testimony to request a bounty land warrant for 40 acres under the act of 28 sep 1850.
The patent corresponding to the bounty land warrant number 65,197has been identified. The patent was issued 01 oct 1860 to Edmund B. Swens (or Swen) for 120 acres, SE 1/4 SW 1/4 and W 1/2 SW 1/4 Sec. 14 T 2 R 11of lands for sale at Kickapoo, Kansas. The original warrant was assigned by John Cassady, guardian of Hugh D. Smith, and by Henry C. Smith, guardian of John C. Smith, minor children of John B. Smith deceased, to John H. Sibert, and by him in turn to Edmund B. Swens. From the documents at hand, it appears that the original request for 40 acres was superseded by the request for 120 acres, so only one warrant was finally issued.
Then, after the death of Elizabeth in 1853, and the passage of another act providing bounty land for prior military service, March 3, 1855, the application for an additional 120 acres was made on behalf of John C. Smith and Hugh D. Smith, minor heirs. The file includes a document signed by H. C. Smith, Hugh Abernathy,and A. M. Smith, 14 may 1855, consisting of a "true copy" of a family record, giving the birthdates for John B. Smith, his wife, and their sons Hugh D. Smith and John C. Smith. The birthdate of the latter is given as 08 apr 1837, even though the census records make him a year younger. The "family record" was said to be kept by John B. Smith, and then by Henry C. Smith his son.
The probate records also reveal that John B. Smith had advanced sums to his children in lieu of their inheritance, and records of these advances were deposited with the probate court "and recorded" on two different occasions, September 28, 1851, and May 15, 1852. These documents were not copied into the microfilmed Probate Record volumes, at least not in a recognizable form, but they may have been filed in an estate packet with other papers.
During the process of settling the John B. Smith estate, Henry C. Smith bought out his sister Rebecca and her husband Hugh Abernathy (Deeds vol. C, p. 56, December 24, 1850), his brother Andrew M. (Deeds vol. C, p. 112, January 28, 1851), and his brother Joel (Deeds vol. D, p. 124, April 10, 1852). Later deed volumes have not yet been checked.
The John B. Smith probate records in Davis County show payments of school taxes in Van Buren Co. as late as 1856. This reflects his ownership of property in Van Buren Co. as well, so the early deeds and probate records of that county will also need to be investigated. The list of real property mentioned in the report of the commissioners for setting off the widow's dower (Book D, p. 4) is as follows:
The last of these parcels is in Jackson Tp., Van Buren Co.
Since John B. Smith was said to reside at Stringtown, it seems likely he should be buried at the Stringtown Cemetery, also known as Richardson Cemetery. The town was abandoned well before 1880, and there seem not to be many tombstones still standing. A private graveyard on the Abernathy farm was identified in deed records, but it proved to have only a single stone, that of James Abernathy.
Land records for Rush Co., IN:
22 mar 1827, patent from United States: John Smith of Highland Co., OH, W 1/2 NE 1/4 Sec. 20, T 14 S, R 9 E.
03 mar 1828, patent from United States: John Smith of Highland Co., OH, E 1/2 NE 1/4 Sec. 20, T 14 S, R 9 E.
26 dec 1829 (vol. C, p. 15): John Smith of Rush Co. and his wife Elizabeth (recorded copy of deed says Eliezabeth E. Smith, her mark) sold the entire NE 1/4 Sec. 20, T 14 S., R 9 E, to Frances B. Finley for $200.
13 jan 1831, patent from United States: John Smith of Rush Co., IN, E 1/2 SE 1/4 Sec. 21, T 14 S, R 9 E.
09 aug 1839 (vol. K, . 125): John B. Smith of Rush Co. and his wife Elizabeh to Isaac Stone of Rush Co., $2,050, SE 1/4 Sec. 21 T 14 S, R 9 E (except a reserve of 20 acres already sold to James McCreary?). This parcel includes the land entered in 1831. The rest of this quarter-section was entered in 1827 by Gustavus Cowgar and purchased by John Smith for $200 on 14 nov 1828 (vol. B, p. 323). (The Hugh Smith in Rush Co. turns out to be from Hamilton Co., OH, according to a patent recorded in the same volume.)
Thus, all of their land in Rush Co. had been sold by the summer of 1839, and they would have been ready to travel to Iowa. They probably returned in 1840 to spend a few years with other members of their family.
[5287] Date from bible records. 1850 mortality schedule says John B. Smith was born in NY. If true, this sheds new light on the migrations of the Smith family.
[5288] Exact date is found in the military bounty land warrant application made by his estate, based on a "family record".
[14780] marriage book 2, p. 57, and marriage license book 2, dated 15may1815.
__ | __| | | | |__ | _Reuben SMITH _______| | (1767 - 1840) m 1788| | | __ | | | | |__| | | | |__ | | |--John B. SMITH | (1792 - 1849) | __ | | | __| | | | | | |__ | | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __| (1773 - 1834) m 1788| | __ | | |__| | |__
He is listed out of order in the 1850 census with his mother and brother. In 1860, John C. Smith born in Indiana is living with the Henry C. Smith family, again listed out of order. He is living in the same family in 1870, age 34. The 1850 and 1860 censuses specify "idiotic". During the probate of his father's estate, he is described as "a minor over the age of 14 years but not of sound mind".
[5366] So listed in bounty land warrant application file of the estate of John B. Smith, copied from the "family record" of John B. Smith. However, census records are more consistent with a date in 1836.
__ | _Reuben SMITH _______| | (1767 - 1840) m 1788| | |__ | _John B. SMITH ______| | (1792 - 1849) m 1815| | | __ | | | | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __| | (1773 - 1834) m 1788| | |__ | | |--John C. SMITH | (1837 - ....) | __ | | | _John CHAPMAN _______| | | (1763 - 1850) m 1788| | | |__ | | |_Elizabeth CHAPMAN __| (1797 - 1853) m 1815| | __ | | |_Rebecca PEACE ______| (1767 - ....) m 1788| |__
_____________________ | _____________________| | | | |_____________________ | _James E. SMITH ______| | (1839 - 1880) m 1865 | | | _____________________ | | | | |_____________________| | | | |_____________________ | | |--John E. SMITH | (1867 - ....) | _____________________ | | | _David Allen DRAPER _| | | (1813 - 1875) m 1843| | | |_____________________ | | |_Almedia Jane DRAPER _| (1847 - 1880) m 1865 | | _John WHEELER _______ | | (.... - 1850) |_Minerva J. WHEELER _| (1825 - 1912) m 1843| |_Mary _____ _________ (1787 - 1850)
In the 1880 census, this family is in Lee Township, Fulton Co., Illinois (Sarah's middle initial here is G). In 1900, John F. Smith is in the same township, living alone, divorced. In 1910, he is living with, or possibly next to, his son Francis M. Smith and his family, in Harrald Township, Hughes Co., South Dakota.
[5447] Joseph Smith family bible
[5448] Place of death acc. to Evelyn M. Smith, Gettysburg, SD. Date from John Earl, San Diego, CA. Information confirmed from his obituary.
__ | _Reuben SMITH _______| | (1767 - 1840) m 1788| | |__ | _Joseph SMITH _______| | (1798 - 1867) m 1824| | | __ | | | | |_Sarah Beach CLARK __| | (1773 - 1834) m 1788| | |__ | | |--John Foster SMITH | (1830 - 1917) | __ | | | _John NEWMAN ________| | | | | | |__ | | |_Rebecca M. NEWMAN __| (1803 - 1875) m 1824| | __ | | |_Hanna FOSTER _______| | |__