Pioneers of Ellis County
The Smith Family
"In this history, I want to relate some of the events, experiences, and
hardships that our ancestors endured, so that the future generations may
know of their struggles." So began the introduction to Elmer Smith's "The
Ellis County Smiths" written in 1965.
The first ancestor, John Smith, born November 13, 1790 in Georgia, migrated
to Alabama before 1819, and to Louisiana between 1839 and 1842 where he died
September 12, 1870, in Union Parish. He married Fannie (last name unknown)
ca 1817, in Alabama. She was born Feb. 16, 1798, in Georgia; and died December
12, 1864, Union Parish, La. Both are buried in Liberty Cemetery, Union Parish. Issue:
1. Joseph W. Smith, [more later]
2. Claiborne M. Smith, born July 4, 1821
3. Eliza Smith born ca 1822/23
4. Samuel Smith born March 27, 1824
5. John A. Smith born 1826 Ala; died June 13, 1877; buried Liberty Cemetery,
Union Parish, La;. married Matilda Hewitt Oct. 19, 1850. No issue recorded.
6. William C. Smith, born November 6, 1828, in Ala.; died and buried in
Farmerville, Union Parish, La.; married Elizabeth A. Manning March 21, 1856.
No issue recorded.
7. Harriett Smith, born 1830; died and probably buried in La.. She married
William H. Plummer.
8. George W. Smith [more later]
9. Benjamin F. Smith, born July 17, 1833; died Aug. 11, 1868; buried Liberty
Cemetery, Union Parish, La.; married Ann Glosson. No issue.
10. Oliver Perry Smith, born 1839, Alabama; died Aug. 11, 1868, buried
Liberty Cemetery, Union Parish, La.; mar. Ann Glosson. No issue recorded.
Joseph W. Smith
Joseph W. Smith was born March 13, 1819, in Alabama, and died December
21, 1890, in Avalon. He married Mary Jane Kelley about 1842 in Union Parish,
La. She was born October 3, 1825, and died May 6, 1906 in Avalon. Both are
buried in Hughes Cemetery. This family came to Texas in 1867 in wagons drawn
by oxen, and (as told by his grandson, Elmer), some of these were "really
mean critters'." "They could only make a few miles in a day, on account
of the slow critters', mud and deep ruts. Often they would have to
cut new roads when the ruts were too deep for the wagons. Sometimes they
would camp two or three days to graze their animals, repair their equipment,
hunt and fish for meat, and gather berries and other edible plants." When
they came to the prairie land of Ellis County, they fell in love with its
deep, black, fertile soil, and its climate. Joseph W. and his son, John W.
A. Smith, were in the Confederate Army, but did not get into the great battles;
thus they were able to return to their families after the War. Issue:
(all but Eugenia b. La.):
1. |
Elizabeth Smith, born 1844; died 1870, probably La.; married Sam
Love. |
2. |
John W. A. Smith, born Jan. 24, 1847; died March 13, 1935; bur. Italy
Cemetery; married Charlotte Turner (b. Feb. 22, 1856; d. Dec. 9, 1937, Italy).
All of the children listed below were born at Avalon. |
|
(1) |
Mary E. Smith, born in 1875. (No other information) |
|
(2) |
William B. (Willie) Smith, born August 25, 1877, in Avalon, died January
31, 1948; s buried Hughes Cemetery;.m/1 Lula Dodson. Issue: |
|
|
I. |
Russell Smith, born August 25, 1901, married 1st Daisy McNorton, married
2nd Eileen Harper, no issue. |
|
|
II. |
Ruby Dan Smith, born September 23, 1909. |
|
|
III. |
William Sam Smith. born October 24, 1911. |
|
|
William B. Smith m/2 Grace ________ . (According to Elmer Smith in 1965,
her name was then Mrs. Grace Clemens and she was in a rest home in Arlington,
Texas.) |
|
(3) |
Otis Smith, born in 1879. |
|
(4) |
Pearl Smith, born September 26, 1884.. |
|
(5) |
Clyde Wilson Smith, born August 14, 1866. |
|
(6) |
John F. Smith, born ca 1890/91, died in 1964; married ____ Brantley
in Dallas, Texas. |
3. |
George Byron Smith, born 1849 Union Parish, La., married Mollie Harris
of Italy, Texas. They died the same day in May, 1928, San Angelo, Tom Green
County, Texa., and are buried in Miles Cemetery, Runnels County, Texas.
Issue: |
|
(1) |
Edna Earl Smith, born January 26, 1886. |
|
(2) |
Roy Byron Smith , born 1887, Ellis County; never married and died
1929 in a VA Hospital, El Paso, Texas. |
4. |
Marcellus Augustus (Gus) Smith, born November 12, 1851, Union Parish,
La.; moved to Ellis County in 1867 and to Shackelford County January 1, 1907.
where he died May 12, 1932.; married Mary Jane Stovall November 12, 1885,
Ellis County. (She born October 1, 1858, Hardin County, Kentucky; died May
3, 1950 Graham, Young County, Texas.) Both buried Albany Cemetery, Albany,
Texas. Issue: (all born Ellis County): |
|
(1) |
Eva Smith, born July 8, 1887, died July 25, 1925, Shackelford County;
buried Albany Cemetery. |
|
(2) |
Elmer Smith, born January 31, 1889. |
|
(3) |
Jessie Blanche Smith, born March 7, 1891. |
|
(4) |
Joseph Luther Smith, born November 7, 1893, died of influenza October
17, 1918, Camp Albert Mills, Hempstead, L. I., buried Albany Cemetery. |
|
(5) |
Carroll Perry Smith, born October 1, 1895. |
|
(6) |
Gussie Mary Mavis Smith, September 29, 1899. |
|
(7) |
Effie Mae Smith, born September 6, 1901. |
5. |
Thomas F. Smith, born March 21, 1855, in Union Parish, La.; came with
parents to Ellis County 1867, and lived in Avalon area until his death November
7, 1935. He owned about 600 acres of land, all of which were fenced, and
350 acres were conducted by tenants. He m/1 May 1882 Amanda I. Hughes, daughter
of Jerry Hughes (who came to Texas about 1855 and settled near Avalon). Amanda
was b. Sept. 23, 1850, Ellis County and died June 15, 1902. Both are buried
in Hughes Cemetery. Issue: (all b. Avalon, Ellis County): |
|
(1) |
Thomas William Franklin Smith , born December 5, 1884. |
|
(2) |
Lallie Mae Smith, born June 10, 1887. |
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(3) |
Mary Kate Smith, born ca 1888/9, died at 6 months of age. |
|
(4) |
Lorena Margaret Smith , born July 29, 1891. |
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Thomas F. Smith m/2 Nora (Pafford) Comer. Issue: |
|
(1) |
Anna Lois Smith , born July 5, 1906. |
6. |
Joseph Claiborne (Clabe) Smith, born March 21, 1857, Union Parish,
La.; mar. Emma ______ Dec. 5, 1894 at Avalon. She was born April 18, 1878
and died July 7, 1941. Both died at Moran, Texas, and are buried in Albany
Cemetery. They had five children, all but Mildred Edith born in Avalon. She
was born in Stephens County, Texas. [other names not given] |
7. |
Francis Marion Smith, born September 2, 1859, Union Parish, La., died
Ellis County. He married Sarah Jamima ______. |
8. |
Margaret E. Smith, born February 3, 1862; married ca 1885 John Boyles
Hemphill. Their children born at Avalon. [names not given] |
9. |
James Henry Smith, born December 15, 1865, Union Parish, La.; died
July 30, 1942, at Avalon; married Nov. 15, 1896 Lenora Maria Fuston ( born
November 14, 1873; still living at Avalon when Elmer Smith wrote the Smith
history in 1965.) Issue: |
|
(1) |
Roger Glenn Smith, born September 19, 1897. |
|
(2) |
Aubrey Delwin Smith, born April 15, 1899, married Ronnie Ward; lived
McKinney, Texas. No issue. |
|
(3) |
Cleo Vern Smith, born August 24, 1900. |
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(4) |
Lee Vogel Smith (twin), born and died August 24, 1900. |
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(5) |
Herschel Henry Smith, born March 16, 1910. |
10. |
Eugenia (Sis) Smith, born 1870, Avalon, Texas; died 1950 San Angelo,
Tom Green County, Texas; buried in Miles Cemetery, Runnels County, Texas;
m. ca 1888 Thomas Manning of Avalon. He died San Angelo, Tex. and is buried
at Italy, Ellis County. All their children were born at Avalon except Thomas
Olin who was born in Tom Green County, Tex. Issue: |
|
(1) |
Eunice Smith, born May 2, 1890. |
|
(2) |
Mamie Smith, born September 12, 1895. |
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(3) |
Rena Smith, born March 27, 1898. |
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(4) |
Thomas Olin Smith, born May 9, 1906. |
George W. Smith
George W. Smith was born February 27, 1831 in Alabama and died December
7, 1879. He had moved to Texas by 1850 and he and his brother, Joseph,
settled in a section of land south and west of Avalon. Later, all seven
sons of Joseph W. Smith, their families, and their great uncle, George W.
Smith, lived on adjoining farms.
George Smith m/1 Abbey Pace (no issue) and m/2 in 1882 Amanda
I. Hughes (Sept. 23, 1850-June 15, 1902 ) Both bur. Hughes Cemetery. (George
was a nephew of Thomas F. Smith). Issue 2nd marriage:
1. George Gurley Smith m. Berta John
Mrs. A. L. Feltenberger copied this Bible record in 1963. It was
then in the possession of Berta Smith, Waxahachie, Texas.
. Family Bible of G. G. Smith
Holy Matrimony
G. G. Smith and Berta John
At J. D. Martin on the 20th of Oct. In the year of our Lord One Thousand
(Eight Hundred) and 95 in the presence of S. E. Kennon, Jim Hughes, Maud
Moberly, W. S. McKinsie, Linnie Faucett.
Family Record
Grandparents
Name Born Died
G. W. Smith (1831) (Avalon)
Father's Mother - A. L. John Mississippi June 15, 1902
Mother's Father - W. M. John Apr. 7, 1836 Apr. 4, 1898
McMinn Co., Tenn
Mother's Mother - Dec. 15, 1842, Mo. Feb. 15, 1913
Nancy (Nannie) L. John
Parents
Father - G. G. Smith June 17, 1872 - Feb. 24, 1937
Forreston, Tex (Avalon)
Mother - Berta Smith Aug. 10, 1878 - Avalon, Tex.
Children
Wm (Willie) Smith Nov. 8, 1896
Baby Boy June 27, 1898 - June 28, 1898
Alberta Smith Aug. 13, 1899 - Mar. 24, 1960
Lela Smith Mar. 2, 1902
Jim Bo Smith Mar. 12, 1904 -June 10, 1906
Wayne Smith Dec. 2, 1905 - Dec. 2, 1905
Weldon Smith Mar. 15, 1908
Family Record Continued
Name Born Married Died
William John 1878
[End of Bible record]
References
1. "The Ellis County Smiths," compiled by Elmer Smith,
1965; located in vertical files at Sims Library, Waxahachie, Tex.
2. Memorial & Biographical History of Ellis County,
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Ill. 1892.
3. Ellis County History, compiled by DAR
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