Wayne County
History & Genealogy
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WAYNE COUNTY’S SMITH FAMILY
Much of the information on these
pages came from my Grandmother Hazel (SMITH) Lane (pictured left). She had an
incredible collection of pictures, letters and other documents that she had
received and saved throughout her lifetime. For years I have struggled
trying to put names on the pictures and finding a useful way to share her
collection so that others can enjoy it. My hope is that this web site is the
answer.
Anyone wishing to add information or sees something I need to correct let me know I greatly appreciate any help I can get. Thanks Laurie lselpien@msn.com
JOHN R. SMITH, THE FIRST KNOWN SMITH
History of Wayne and Clay Counties 1884.
p.248
John R. Smith was the first man to settle in what is now Four Mile Township, about whom much is known. He came from Kentucky, but in what year we could not learn. He was the biggest man in the County, weighing upward of 300 pounds, and was fond of performing a variety of feats requiring great strength and nerve. He always claimed to be very illiterate, but was brimful of jokes, and marvelously well posted on points of Scripture. He could not only quote profusely from any writer in the Book of books, but was able, if some passage was read to him, to immediately tell the verse, chapter and author with remarkable precision. He raised a large family here, and died here himself at a good old age. Two sons, William H. and Daniel, and a daughter, Betsy, are yet living, the latter the wife of William Collins, a resident of Hamilton County…
p. 260
The first mill of any description in Four Mile Township was put up by John R. Smith, and was situated on section 35 or 36. It was the old stump arrangement with horsepower, and it ground meal for all the surrounding county for many years.
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Dorman Wright, Smith Family of Wayne Co, IL, p. 97.
John R. Smith is listed on the rolls in three different Kentucky Companies during the War of 1812. They are;
1) August 15, 1813 to November 19 1813 in Captain Richard Matson's Kentucky Mounted Infantry
2) May 14, 1814 to July 9, 1814 in Captain William Davis' Kentucky Militia
3) September 10, 1814 to October 9, 1814 in Captain James Ellis Kentucky Volunteer Militia
The final resting place of John R. Smith is clearly Baltimore Cemetery (Olive Branch) near the grave of his oldest son, Seaman Charles Smith and his wife Lydia Bond....In Support of this belief I have the words of Muriel Jones of Fairfield, Illinois who is John R. Smith's great granddaughter. She said that she remembers being in the cemetery with her grandfather, Daniel Smith, John R. Smith’s son, and often said " I wish I knew exactly which grave is my dad's." He knew it was in the same vicinity.".
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John R. Smith married Polly Myers on November 17, 1818 in Carmi, White County, Illinois recorded in Vol. 1 marriage records
They had four children;
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B. March 2, 1825 D September 9, 1858 |
B. November 17, 1840 D. March 5, 1923
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B. April 12, 1844 D. March 8, 1927 |
Mary Elizabeth “Betsy” D. September 1884 Coming Soon |
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Married: 1) Elizabeth Miller Sept. 6, 1819-Oct. 6, 1849 Children: Chester 1846 Lucinda 1847 |
Married 1) Lydia Bond Apr. 29, 1834 -Oct. 27, 1863 Children: Charlie Sept. 9, 1861-Dec. 27, 1932 Calvin Oct. 16, 1863-Sept. 27, 1943 |
Married Mary Harshbarger Jan. 8,1847 – Mar. 20, 1917 Children: Gregg 1868 – 1949 Ellen 1870 – 1872 Emma 1873 – 1945 Dovie 1876 – 1934 William Oscar 1879 – 1920 Sara 1882 Grover 1885 – 1962 Adda 1888 – 1919 Roscoe Conklin 1891 - 1954
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Married: 2) Lydia Bond Apr. 29, 1834 -Oct. 27, 1863 Children: Sally Dec. 17, 1852-Jan. 22, 1877 Mary J. 1856 Elizabeth 1856 |
Married 2) Hannah Anne Harshbarger Children: Oliver Maurice 1871-1949 William Walter 1874 – 1947 Ruben Riley 1876- 1954 Mary Anne 1879 – 1944 Erlie 1883 – 1962 Tamer 1886 - 1947
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All Rights Reserved