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George Andrew Smith was born 12 April 1873 to Noah Smith and Mary "Molly" Yarger at Orangeville, Oneco Township, Stephenson County, IL. Noah, a native of Prestlow, Union County, PA, was born on 14 June 1825 to Michael Smith.
Noah Smith moved to Stephenson Co, IL about 1848. Noah married Mary/Molly Yarger 23 June 1852 at Spring Grove, Wisconsin. Molly was born 4 October 1834 in Union Co., PA to William 'Capt Bill' Yarger and Mary Goodman. George had 11 brothers and sisters. The Noah Smith family moved to Downs, Osborne, Kansas in March of 1884 for a short period of time.
With the exception of those years spent in Downs, Kansas in the late 1880's, George grew to manhood in Stephenson County, IL. Noah Smith died 23 September 1909 and Molly Smith died 12 June 1912 both in their youngest daughter’s, Angeline Ebby Smith Van Sicke Siedel, home near Lena, Stephenson Co., IL.
George met Minnie May Kreps, born 10 September 1875 at Lanark, Carroll County, IL, while working for her parents, Joseph Kreps (bn 15 March 1834 Greencastle, PA d. 5 Dec 1904 Lena, IL) and Sarah McCune (bn 9 Aug 1838 Mercersburg, PA d 16 January 1910 married 4 Oct 1855). Minnie's paternal grandparents, William and Anna Mariah Charlotte (Russell) Kreps were married in Hagarstown, MD. William died 1872 in Cavetown, MD and Anna Mariah died in 1835 in Greencastle, PA and is buried next to Jacob and Catherine (Hedrick) Kreps, her parents in law. Minnie's maternal grandparents, William H. and Nancy (Emmert) McCune, resided in Washington Co., MD and Mercersburg, PA.
George and Minnie were married 15 January 1896 at Lena, Stephenson County, IL. In June 1897, they both became Christians and attended the Waddams Grove Church of the Brethren in Stephenson Co., IL. Eight children were born to George and Minnie, the eldest, Flossie, dying at only a few months of age. The children of George and Minnie (Kreps) Smith follow: Flossie b. Smith 18 Oct 1896 d. 11 Jan 1897; Harry Leroy Smith b. 29 Nov 1897 d. 31 Jan 1983 m. Clara Alice Walker; Leslie Luvern Smith bn 13 Oct 1899 d. 15 Oct 1980 m. Lula Elliot; Mabel Ellen Smith b. 22 Jan 1904 d. 5 Dec 1935 m. Vern Leroy Kingery; Bernice Alberta Smith b. 29 Dec 1905 d. 28 Oct 1983 m. Hugh Holmes Frazier; George Clifford Smith b. 24 Nov 1908 d. 14 Sep 1983 m. Henrietta Alice Fink; Galen Allen Smith b. 26 Oct 1910 d. 22 Apr 1994 m. Erma Nadine Shook; Thelma Lucille Smith b. 25 Jan 1918 d. 10 Mar 1992 m. Granville Stewart Osborn.
 George and Minnie Smith moved to Floyd County Iowa January 25, 1913 from Stephenson County, Illinois. In 1914 they moved to Butler County, IA near Greene to be close to The Church of The Brethren in Greene. They farmed in a number places near Greene until 1940 when they moved to 405 High St., Greene. This home was purchased in 1970 by their son and daughter in law, Galen and Erma Smith. George Andrew Smith died 8 April 1957 at the age of 83 while hospitalized in Charles City, Iowa. Minnie Kreps Smith died 2 October 1952 at the age of 77 at their home in Greene, Iowa. George and Minnie and all of their children with the exception of the two eldest, are buried at the Rose Hill Cemetery, Greene, IA.  Ella Smith b Mar 1856 m John H Ginrich, William Yarger Smith b 1 Jul 1859 m Mary Sansenbach; Laura Amanda Smith b 17 Jun 1862 m Daniel Richmond Kaufman Hull; Nettie Alma Smith b 4 May 1863 m Carmi Oscar Skinner Front row: George Andrew Smith b 12 Apr 1873 m Minnie Mae Kreps; John Franklin Smith m Candace Ardell Cameron; Mary/Mollie (Yarger) Smith b 4 Oct 1834; Angeline Eby Smith b 13 Sep 1878 m (1) James VanSickle (2) Frank Sidel; Noah Smith b 14 Jun 1824/5; Henry Luther Smith b 14 Apr 1877 m Anna Marie/Mary Berndt; Lois Catherine 'Katie' Smith b 26 Nov 1867 m William W Starr; Charles E Smith b 11 Oct 1871 d 3 Nov 1884 |
