Name of ANCESTOR: x James Ayer Smith Name of ANCESTOR: Born 1807, possibly 24 June In or near Paris Hill, Oneida County, New York, United States Died 22 July 1875 Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States 1 2 3 Cemetery and Location: Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States Married 1828/1829 4 Likely in Oneida County, New York, possibly in Waterville Ancestor s SPOUSE (+ maiden name): Marcia Mahala Swetland Born 18 September 1808 In or near Waterville, Oneida County, New York, United States Died 15 June 1885 Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States 5 6 Cemetery and Location: Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States Married 1828/1829 7 8 Likely Oneida County, New York, possibly in Waterville 9 DATE Ancestor settled in Chicago or Cook County: between 15 May 1835 and 5 July 1835 WHERE did they settle? Chicago10 11 Name of Ancestor s FATHER: Charles Smith 12 Name of Ancestor s MOTHER: Sarah Ayer James A. Smith Pioneer Certificate Application Page 1 of 8
CHILDREN of Ancestor (Please use separate sheet if necessary) Name Birth Date & Place Death Date & Place 1 Charles Benjamin Smith 13 Probably 1828, possibly on 18 October, Chenango Point (Binghamton), Broome County, New York 14 2 Julius Smith 16 About March 1830, Binghamton, Broome County, New York 17 3 Henry Smith 19 On or bef 27 March 1832, Binghamton, Broome County, New York 20 4 James Thomas Smith 22 Likely 1833-1834, possibly in Waterville, Oneida County, New York 23 5 Francis Marion Smith 25 Possibly 27 September 1836, Chicago. 26 21 Mar 1908, Chicago 15 9 July 1831, Broome County, New York 18 3 April 1832, Broome County, New York 21 18 February 1863, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan 24 13 October 1909, Chicago 27 6 William Wirt Smith 28 4 April 1839, Chicago 29 16 January 1903, Chicago 30 7 Marcia Cornelia Smith 31 11 June 1845 [calculated], Chicago 32 25 March 1853, Chicago 33 8 Cornelius Smith 34 Date unknown, Chicago 35 Date unknown, Chicago 36 James A. Smith Pioneer Certificate Application Page 2 of 8
Direct Lineage Chart Generation 1: ANCESTOR Generation 2: Child - James Thomas Smith Born Likely 1833-1834? Possibly in Waterville, Oneida County, New York 37 Died 18 February 1863 Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States 38 Married 18 September 1856 Peoria County, Illinois, United States 39 Spouse (+ maiden name) Margaretta Ballenger Grant Generation 3: Child - Louise Grant Smith Born 1 April 1861 Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, United States 40 Died 1 May 1941 Saybrook, Ashtabula County, Ohio, United States 41 Married 14 April 1885 Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois, United States 42 Spouse (+ maiden name) Allen Chapman Richardson Generation 4: Child - Owen Richardson Born 2 December 1899 Baltimore City, Maryland, United States 43 Died 5 December 1993 Edinboro, Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States 44 Married 29 May 1926 Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States 45 Spouse (+ maiden name) Margaret Jourdan [Subsequent generations removed for privacy reasons] James A. Smith Pioneer Certificate Application Page 3 of 8
Citations (Web addresses were current as of 6 March 2019.) 1. For possible birth date, see "Obituary: James A. Smith," Chicago Tribune, 23 July 1875, p. 4., cols. 6-7; digital image, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/image/349740584/). [Document 1] The year agrees with information from numerous sources, including, for example, Louise Grant Smith Richardson, Memories ([Fort Lauderdale, Florida?]: The Author, 1933), 1, 27; copy inscribed "To Owen & Margaret and their children with Mother s love" privately held by the author [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE], 2018. [Document 2] A 12 January 1808 birth date appears in American Ancestry: Giving the Name and Descent, in the Male Line, of Americans Whose Ancestors Settled in the United States Previous to the Declaration of Independence, A. D. 1776, Vol. IX (Albany, New York: Joel Munsell s Sons, 1894),132; digital image, Google Books (https://books.google.com/ books?id=7ew7aqaaiaaj) may be a baptismal date. [Document 3] 2. Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, "Deaths 4, Jan. 1, 1875 to May 31, 1876," p. 120, line 13, James A. Smith (1875); digital image, "Illinois, Cook County, Chicago, death registers, 1871-1879," FamilySearch (https:// www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3q9m-csyx-r311-k?i=122&cat=3157227 : accessed 7 March 2019). [Document 4] Also, obituaries. For example, "Obituary: James A. Smith," Daily Inter-ocean (Chicago, Illinois), 23 July 1875, p. 8, col. 5; digital image, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/image/33459316/). [Document 5] 3. Rosehill Cemetery Office (Chicago, Illinois), plat record, James A. Smith lot, entry no. 9402, James Ayer Smith. [Document 6] 4. For 1828 marriage year, see Louise Grant Smith Richardson, Memories, 1. [Document 2] For 1829 marriage year, see American Ancestry, 132. [Document 3] No contemporaneous record of the marriage has been found. However, James opened a store in Binghamton in April 1828 ("New Hat Store," Broome Republican (Binghamton, New York), 9 May 1828, unpaginated [fourth page], col. 5; Old Fulton New York Post Cards (https://fultonsearch.org/papers/) > Broome Republican > 1828-1835 > image 209) [Document 7] and purchased land there in December 1828 (Broome County, New York, Book of Deeds, v. 11, 332, Collier and Merrill to James A. Smith, 26 December 1828; digital image, FamilySearch (https:// www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3qs7-99w8-4wf8) > New York Land Records, 1630-1975 > Broome > Deeds 1828-1830, vol. 11-12 > image 196). [Document 8] These two actions would be consistent with setting up a new household. James and Marcia s first child, Charles Benjamin, was likely born October 1828. [See citation 14] It is likely James and Marcia married before his birth, perhaps in early January 1828, but if not, then probably soon after. This fits with an 1828/1829 marriage date. 5. For an exact date (18 September 1809) see Mabel Ward Cameron, "Florilla (Swetland) Pierce: Representing Patriot Families Swetland-Hancock," Chapter sketches, Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution; Patron Saints, Mary Philotheta Root, editor ([New Haven, Connecticut?]: Connecticut Chapters, Daughters of the American Revolution,1904), 257; digital image, Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/chaptersketchesc00conn/page/ 256). [Document 9] The birth information likely came from Marcia s older sister Florilla who would have had firsthand knowledge of Marcia s birth. For corroboration of birth month, see age at death on Cook County, Illinois, death certificate no. 64870 (15 June 1885), Marcia Mahala Smith; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/004004149? i=983&cat=42925). The image is only viewable at a Family History Center or an affiliate library. [Document 10] The history and death certificate show conflicting birth years. However, consistent ages for Marcia in 1860 U. S. census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, Chicago, First Ward, p. 36 (penned), dwelling [illegible], family [illegible], Marcia Smith; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33s7-9ybt-ky2? i=35&cc=1473181), citing NARA microfilm publication M653, roll 164 [Document 11]; 1870 U. S. census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, Chicago, 4th Ward, Chicago Post Office, p. 223 (penned), dwelling 1481, family 1632, Marcia M. Smith; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:s3ht- XCMC-9G9?cc=1438024); citing NARA microfilm publication M593, Roll 200 [Document 12]; and 1880 U. S. James A. Smith Pioneer Certificate Application Page 4 of 8
census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, Chicago, Enumeration District (ED) 14, sheet18-b (penned), dwelling 1010, family 1010, Mrs. J. A. Smith; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/ 61903/3:1:33S7-9YB6-36Y?cc=1417683); citing NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 185 [Document 13] suggest she was born in 1808. It is possible Marcia added a year to her age, but it is more likely the year in the history was incorrect whether for lapse of memory or printing error. For birth place, see Cook County, Illinois, death certificate no. 64870 (15 June 1885), Marcia Mahala Smith. [Document 10] Also, Louise Grant Smith Richardson, Memories, 1, which gives Marcia s birth place as "Sangerfield, now maybe Waterville." 6. Cook County, Illinois, death certificate no. 64870 (15 June 1885), Marcia Mahala Smith. [Document 10] 7. Rosehill Cemetery Office, plat record, James A. Smith lot, entry no. 19211, Marcia M. Smith. [Document 6] 8. See citation 4. 9. See Jno. M. Smith, Binghamton, to "Dr. Brother [James A. Smith], Paris, New York, 11 May 1835; James A. Smith Papers, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul. [Document 14] And, Jno. M. Smith, Binghamton, to "Dear Brother [James A. Smith], Chicago, 5 July 1835; James A. Smith Papers, Minnesota Historical Society, St. Paul. [Document 15] 10. Ibid. The close timing of the two letters suggests James moved directly from New York State to Chicago. 11. For relationship between James Ayer Smith and Charles Smith, see, for example, "Died," obituary for Charles Smith, Waterville (New York) Times, 29 February 1872, unpaginated [third page], col. 5; Waterville Public Library. [Document 16] 12. For relationship between James Ayer Smith and Sarah Ayer, see, for example,"died," obituary for Sally Ayres [sic], wife of Charles Smith, Waterville (New York) Times, 23 July 1868, unpaginated [third page], col. 3; Waterville Public Library. [Document 17] 13. For relationship to mother, see Cook County, Illinois, probate case file no. 4-2790, Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885; Cook County Circuit Court Archives, Chicago. [Document 18] For relationship to parents, see First Presbyterian Church, Binghamton, New York, Earliest Records 1817-1838 Session Records & Rolls [cover title], Records of the Church at Chenango Point [inside title], n.p. [p. 19 and p. 21], household record of James A. & Marcia Smith, entry for Charles, 9 July 1831; "U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970," database with images, Ancestry (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61048) > New York > Binghamton > First Presbyterian Church > Records > 1817-1837 > image 382. [Document 19] 14. See Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, death certificate no. 17087 (21 March 1908), Charles B. Smith; digital image, "Chicago death certificates, 1878-1915," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/004004645? i=255&cat=42925). The image is only viewable at a Family History Center or an affiliate library. [Document 20] Age at death calculates to an 18 October 1829 birth date. The year isn t feasible given that his brother Julius was probably born in March 1830. [See citation 17] It is more likely Charles was born in 1828 as suggested by Cook County, Illinois, probate case file no. 4-2790, Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885 [Document 18] and 1850 U. S. census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, Chicago, First Ward, dwelling 275, family 293, Charles Smith; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:s3hy-6qn7-vy4?cc=1401638); citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 102, [Document 21] and 1860 U. S. census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, Chicago, First Ward, p. 36 (penned), dwelling [illegible], family [illegible], Chas B Smith. [Document 11] censuses. 15. Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, death certificate no. 17087 (21 March 1908), Charles B. Smith. [Document 20] 16. For name and relationship to parents, see First Presbyterian Church, Binghamton, New York, Earliest Records 1817-1838, n.p. [between 19 and 21], household record of James A. & Marcia Smith, entry for Julius, 9 July 1831. [Document 19] James A. Smith Pioneer Certificate Application Page 5 of 8
17. Birth date calculated from age at death (1 year 4 months). See First Presbyterian Church, Binghamton, New York, Earliest Records 1817-1838 Session Records & Rolls [cover title], Records of the Church at Chenango Point [inside title], p. 419 (pencil), deaths, Julius of James A. & Marcia Smith, 9 July 1831; "U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970," database with images, Ancestry (https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61048) > New York > Binghamton > First Presbyterian Church > Records > 1817-1837 > image 409. [Document 22] 18. Ibid. 19. For name and relationship to parents, see First Presbyterian Church, Binghamton, New York, Earliest Records 1817-1838, n.p., household record of James A. & Marcia Smith, entry for Henry, 27 March 1832. [Document 19] 20. Ibid. Henry was baptized on 27 March 1832. 21. First Presbyterian Church, Binghamton, New York, Earliest Records 1817-1838 Session Records & Rolls [cover title], Records of the Church at Chenango Point [inside title], n. p. [following p. 419], deaths, Henry of J. A. & M. Smith, 3 April 1832; "U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970," database with images, Ancestry (https:// search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=61048) > New York > Binghamton > First Presbyterian Church > Records > 1817-1837 > image 410. [Document 23] 22. For name and relationship to parents, see Cook County, Illinois, probate case file no. 4-2790, Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885. [Document 18] 23. First Presbyterian Church, Binghamton, New York, Earliest Records 1817-1838, n.p. [between 19 and 21], household record of James A. & Marcia Smith. [Document 19] Family entry does not include James Thomas. 24. "Died," Mr. Thos. Smith, Free Press (Detroit, Michigan), 19 February 1863, p. 2, col. 4.; digital image, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/image/118137465/). [Document 24] Also Rosehill Cemetery Office, plat record, James A. Smith lot, int. no. 3195, James T. Smith. [Document 6] 25. For first name and relationship to parents, see Cook County, Illinois, probate case file no. 4-2790, Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885. [Document 18] For middle name, see American Ancestry, 132. [Document 3] 26. Cook County, Illinois, probate case file no. 4-2790, Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885. [Document 18] Frank states his age is 48. Also, "Frank Smith Passes Away," Chicago Tribune, 14 October 1899, p. 7, col. 1; digital image, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/image/349269502/). [Document 25] Frank s age is given as 63. And, "Chicago, Illinois, Voter Registration, 1888," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/ interactive/5997/cvr_30-1787_00000141?pid=149567), entry for Frank M. Smith born in Illinois. [Document 26] Length of residence in precinct, county, and state, probably as of the 16 October 1888 registration date, is 52 years. 27. Cook County, Illinois, death certificate no. 18070 (13 October 1909), Francis M. Smith; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/004004364?i=1264&cat=42925. The image is only viewable at a Family History Center or an affiliate library. [Document 27] 28. For relationship to parents, see Cook County, Illinois, probate case file no. 4-2790, Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885. [Document 18] 29. For exact birth date, see [Edna Valentine Smith?], "William Wirt Smith," unpublished history; James A. Smith Papers, Chicago History Museum, Chicago. [Document 28] Also, Thomas Weston Valentine, The Valentines in America, 1644-1874 (New York: Clark & Maynard, 1874), 162; Google Books (https://books.google.com/books? id=xytyaaaamaaj). [Document 29] For birth month and year, see 1900 U. S. census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, South Town, Chicago, (ED) 98, sheet 4-B, dwelling 46 [from previous page], family 62 [from previous page], William W. Smith; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:s3ht-68dt-ld?i=6&cc=1325221 : 4 November 2018); citing NARA microfilm publication T623. [Document 30] And, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, death certificate no. 18955 (16 Jan 1903), William Wirt Smith; digital image, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/ James A. Smith Pioneer Certificate Application Page 6 of 8
004004504?i=1360&cat=42925). The image is only viewable at a Family History Center or an affiliate library. [Document 31] 30. Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, death certificate no. 18955 (16 Jan 1903), William Wirt Smith. [Document 31] 31. For name and relationship to parents, see Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885. [Document 18] Also, "Died," death notice for Cornelia Marcia Smith, Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 March 1853, unpaginated [second page], col. 5; digital image, Newspapers (https://www.newspapers.com/image/370371279/). [Document 32] 32. For age, see "Died," death notice for Cornelia Marcia Smith, Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 March 1853, unpaginated [second page], col. 5. [Document 32] Birthdate calculated from age at death using "Tombstone Birthday Calcuator, webpage, Ancestor Search (http://www.searchforancestors.com/utility/birthday.html). Also, 1850 U. S. census, Cook County, Illinois, population schedule, Chicago, First Ward, dwelling 275, family 293, Cornelia Smith. [Document 21] Cornelia s age (5) was likely recorded as of the enumeration date (August 19) and not the census date (June 1). If so, it is consistent with the calculated birth date. 33. "Died," death notice for Cornelia Marcia Smith, Chicago Daily Tribune, 28 March 1853, unpaginated [second page], col. 5. [Document 32] Also, Rosehill Cemetery Office, plat record, James A. Smith lot, int. no. 3196, Marcia C. Smith. [Document 6] The death date is recorded as 27 March 1853 (not 25 March 1853 as indicated by the death notice) but this is likely the date of her first burial; she was reinterred at Rosehill on 18 July [--?--] after the February 1863 death of her brother James Thomas Smith. 34. For existence, see Cook County, Illinois, probate case file no. 4-2790, Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885. [Document 18] An unnamed eighth child is mentioned as an "infant." The interviewer refers to the baby as "her" but it might be a transcription error or uncorrected interviewer error. The informant states the child died "twenty five or thirty years ago" placing the death at 1855-1860. For name, see American Ancestry, 132. [Document 3] 35. Ibid. These two sources suggest Cornelius was the eighth child. However, he might have been born in the gap between William Wirt Smith and Cornelia Marcia Smith. 36. See Cook County, Illinois, probate case file no. 4-2790, Marcia Smith, proof of heirship, 2 July 1885. [Document 18] The informant places the child s death between 1855 and 1860 ("died twenty five or thirty years ago"). This child is not buried with family members at Rosehill. See Rosehill Cemetery Office, plat record, James A. Smith family lot. [Document 6] 37. See citation 27. 38. See citation 28. 39. Peoria County, Illinois, marriage license and return, Thomas J. Smith-Miss Ballie M. Grant, 18 September 1856; Peoria County Clerk, Peoria. [Document 33] 40. Louise Grant Smith Richardson, Memories, 5. [Document 34] 41. Ohio Department of Health, death certificate no. 27907 (1941), Louisa [sic] Grant Richardson; digital image, "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33s7-9pkg-94tx? cc=1307272); Ohio Historical Society, Columbus. [Document 35] 42. Peoria County, Illinois, marriage license and return, Allen C. Richardson-Louise G. Smith, 14 April 1885; Peoria County Clerk, Peoria. [Document 36] 43. Baltimore City, Maryland, birth certificate no. 5733 (1899), Owen Richardson; Maryland State Archives, Annapolis. [Document 37] 44. Pennsylvania Department of Health, death certificate no. 107724 (1993), Owen Richardson; Bureau of Health Statistics & Registries, Division of Vital Records, New Castle. [Document 38] James A. Smith Pioneer Certificate Application Page 7 of 8
45. Erie County, Pennsylvania, marriage license application no. 131 (1926), Owen Richardson-Margaret Jourdan; Clerk of Records, Erie. [Document 39] James A. Smith Pioneer Certificate Application Page 8 of 8