http://barrycountyhistoryportal.org/files/original/39/918/Smith_Family_Genealogy.pdf fc639b103c8bfdb04e3c0ffdad8d5585 PDF Text Text (SMITH FAMILY) FAMILY HISTORY WRITTEN BY CLARA BURNHAM COWLING DATE UNKNOWN We older ones have been asked to write as much of the history of our branch of the Smith family as we may be able to gather at this late day. The first record we have was when George Smithr our great grandfather, was given by England, what was called a Tory Grant, on the shore of the Bay of Quinty, in the township of Sidney, county of Hastings, in Canada, west. This included Lot 15 in the first concession, together with Lot 15 in the broken front conces­ sion, which extended from the Bay of Quinty to the second concession. The farm was cleared from the bay back, so the clearing comprised the whole of the broken front, and half of. the lot in the first con­ cession. The house, barn and orchard were on the lot in the broken front concession. The two lots, including the road allowance between the two, had always been used as one farm. He died January 6, 1847, leaving his wife, Peggy Smith and five sons; John, Peter, William, Jacob and Philo Smith, and three daugh­ ters; Peggy Bell, Amarilla Fraser and Jane Farrer. William Smith, our grandfather, married for his first wife, Eve Banderberg, sometime in the 1820’s, I think. They had three child- . ren; Katherine married William Thompson, Amarilla Huff and Edward Smith. For his second wife, Phebe Lansing, and to them were born six children; John E., George Silvester, Mary, Harriet Sophronia, Samantha Jane and Marshall. Mary died.while they still lived in Canada. William Smith lived in Sidney many years. He was a good blacksmith and also practiced medicine under the Reformed Botanic or Thomsonian System, using only roots and herbs, no minerals of any kind. Be­ came to Michigan in 1845 and bought of William Lusk in Oshtemo, Kalamazoo County, eighty acres, the east side of the northwest quarter of section one, town two south, range twelve west, which remained in the family until a few years ago, when his grandson, William Smith sold it on account of ill health. While living in Canada they spun the yarn and wove home spun cloth for all their clothes, bed blankets, and lovely patterns of woolen bedspreads, making all the clothes for the whole family, and doing all of this -sewing by hand. Women must have kept quite busy in those days without having bridge parties and movies for amusement. Our grandmother was the dearest old lady who ever wore a cap and *neckerchief. The grandchildren who were fortunate enough to live with her say that she never scolded them and we always enjoyed going to her room for a visit. She lived to a good old age, nearly 82, and the old minister who preached her funeral sermon said, "I do not know if she ever belonged to any church or made any profession of religion, but I feel sure she was a good Christian woman". He had been a neighbor of theirs for many years. She always went about doing good. �CLARA BURNHAM COWLING Page Two When grandfather bought the place in 1845 he meant to move to Mich­ igan as soon as he could get his business in Canada settled up, but things happened to prevent, and the best way to tell it is to read a copy of an undated letter to William Lusk written probably three years later. ’’Dear Sir: I now take my pen in hand to perform that which I had deferred from time to time, with the expectation of soon being able to let you know the time when we should come to live with you. But a succes­ sion of unavoidable occurences have prevented us until the present time. I suppose you have long since come to the conclusion we did not intend to come, but I assure you it is not the want of disposi­ tion to come that has prevented us. Two years ago the first part of March we started and came as far as the township of Whitby, about eighty-five miles, where my wife’s friends are living, with the intention of coming on as soon as the roads should get good. But I became involved in an unexpected law­ suit which did not get terminated until the ninth of last May. Since then we have been detained in consequence of our daughter ’s being taken sick about the time I had to go to court and she has been confined to the house and most of the time to her bed ever since. I feel thankful to God that she is yet alive and her health slowly improving, and hope by the time *the weather becomes fine she will be able to perform the journey by steamboat and railroad. We have had an unusually hard long winter here. Winter set in about the 14th of November and the sleighs still continue to run; Very few have yet begun making sugar in consequence of the snow being too deep and the weather too cold. I wish you would write to me as soon as you can after receiving this and let me know how you all are, how the times are there, and whether the house is still standing on the place and alright or not. Please give my regards to Mrs. Lusk and all the family, and all the neighbors with whom I became ac­ quainted while there. And I hope I shall be there with my family soon after the weather becomes favorable. If you write direct to Dr. William Smith, Whitby C.W. Columbus P.O. as there are three other P.O. in Whitby township and another William Smith.” He had evidently left money with Mr. Lusk for taxes for as long as he thought is would take him to get his business settled in Canada and getting moved to Michigan. But the best laid plans do not always work out according to plans. Aunt Mary never got well, but died some time later of consumption. The next news we have about the place is a letter from Alonzo Wyman dated November 17, 1852, answering a letter from grandfather dated the 10th asking about his land. �CLARA BURNHAM COWLING Page Three "Dear Sir: Rec’d your letter requesting immediate information about your land. I got Mr. Baker to see Mr. Lusk. He told him it had been sold for taxes, he had bid it in, and it was in his possession. Said if you came on here and did something handsome, he would let you have it again. I went and saw him and showed him your letter. I told him it looked dishonest in him. He said that he had written several times to you, that the taxes were not paid, and received no answer. Mr. Flinn said Mr. Lusk told him you had left money to pay the taxes. I wish you would come as soon as you can. There is a steam saw mill within a hundred rods of your land. Perhaps Mr. Lusk thinks your land is more valuable than when you bought it and is thinking to get the rise of it. I think it will come out alright when you come. We are all well and it is a very healthy around here. We had a severe drouth last summer which makes fodder scarce, but we will get along very well. No more at present. Alonzo Wyman" Grandfather evidently came out shortly after this to straighten out the taxes and get the house repaired and ready to move into. Here follows a letter to grandmother, written January 27, 1,853. "Dear Wife and children: I now take my pen in hand to write a few lines to inform you I ar­ rived safely on Grand Prairie in enjoyment of good health and when this reaches you I hope it will find you enjoying the same blessing.1 I have delayed writing for some time expecting to be able to give you more particulars regarding the land. When I first came here Mr. Lusk said he was willing to do what was right, but it was several days before I could get him to say what he would do. When he wanted me to pay him one hundred dollars, I offered him fifty, and at length offered him seventy-five dollars, rather than to have any further trouble. He would not take that. I went to an attorney and took counsel. He told me to make him a lawful tender of fifty dollars and if he did not accept it to take possession of the place. I did so and am now fixing the house to put a family into it. Since I took that stand Lusk has become more pliable. Night before last he offered to take seventy-five dollars, but I did not see fit to give it. He then agreed to leave it to an arbitration last night. But when he saw what witnesses I had he would not go into it. The neigh­ bors here are very much displeased with his proceedings, expecially Mr. Wyman. I am boarding with Mr. Wyman. I cannot tell you when I will start for home as there is a great deal to do to the place yet before it will be fit to go into. I want you to make calculations for moving here as soon as we can after I return. I want John or Silvester to write to William Thompson and tell him, if he can sell our place in Sidney and get one or two good horses in payment, I want him to do so, and we will come by land as good horses sell very well here. If you should wish to, write direct to Kalamazoo P.O. Mich. �CLARA BURNHAM COWLING Page Four Your affectionate husband and father 9 Wrlliam Smith” So after seven years delay, they came to their home in Michigan. John and Silvester drove the team through, the rest of the family coming on the train. They found many good friends in their new home and all remained in Michigan except Silvester. He went back to Canada that fall and later to New York State, where some of grand­ mother’s people lived and later enlisted in the war of the Rebellion. Some time after the close of the war he returned to Michigan and settled on the home farm where he lived most of the time until his death. Marshall also lived on the lived on an adjoining farm many years. John bought a home place, where he lived 1904. farm many years. Aunt Sophronia Dustin and Aunt Jennie Russell in Kalamazoo for farm about thirteen miles from the old until he quit farming about the year of Grandfather died in November 1873, aged 75 years and grandmother in the fall of 1890, nearly 82 years old. I do not know the date of Uncle Marshall’s death. Aunt Jennie Rus­ sell died September 26, 1908, my father John Smith, June 6, 1909 and Uncle Silvester March 1, 1910. Aunt Sophronia was the last of the family to go. There are 11 grandchildren living, 34 great grandchildren and quite a goodly number of great great grandchildren, but we are sorry to relate that when this, the 4th generation is gone, there will be none left by the name of Smith. Harriet Smith Leonard The preceding document is a copy of a family history, as compiled by Hattie Leonard (Aunt Hattie) and George Smith and read at the Smith family reunion on August 20, 1933 and goes back to George Smith who died January 6, 1847 leaving five sons and three daughters, one son being William Smith whose lineage I am attempting to trace. His children were John E., George Sylvester, Harriet Sophronia, Samantha Jane, and Marshall. Mary died while yet in Canada. John E. Smith came to Michigan with his folks at age 18 leaving three children in Canada by a previous marriage to Phoebe Lawson or Lansing. After being here some time he married Magdalene Williams and they had three daughters; Mary Ett, Harriet Jane (Aunt Hattie), Grace Josephine (Aunt Joe) and a son Frank Ezra. Mary Ett married Frank Wilson and had three children; Lena May, John E. and Frank S. As a child Grandpa Wilson lived on a farm just south of Cooper part of which is now owned by Maude Wilson, widow of John E. Grandpa had a truck farm and raised especially fine melons and berries. My favorite was a melon he called Banana Muskmelon and I still have a �1 CLARA BURNHAM COWLING Page Five few each year in my garden and my grandchildren like them very much. Mary Ett died young leaving three children, the youngest Lena May 9 years of age. Lena May Wilson born August 16, 1886, married Lloyd Golden Burnham on April 16, 1903, died April 20, 1930. Lloyd Burnham born November 10, 1881 died April 8, 1938. Clarence Myrle Burnham born May 6-, 1904, married Florence Haussler November 25, 1925, born at Summit, Illinois, October 23, 1902. Their children: Betty Lou born August 25, 1927, died August 28, 1927. Dolores Mae born June 30, 1932, married July 11, 1953 to Phillip Frances Pugh born March 14, now Captain in the U.S. Army stationed at Niagara Falls. They have three children; Philip Alexander born April 20, 1954 at Kalamazoo, Patrick Alan born April 7, 1955 at Tampa, Florida, John Richard born July 11, 1957 at Rochester, Minnesota. Richard Arlan born October 23, 1936, married on November 11, 1957 to Marilyn Louise Sanford born May 18, 1935. Children; Julie Ilene born September 23, 1958, Jodie Elizabeth born July 31, 1960 and Jeanine Annette born August 26, 1963. Ti|&. Clarence Burnham died December 6, 1964 of heart trouble and pneumonia, v.Clara May Burnham born August 31, 1906; married Frank J. Cowling September 17, 19?7, born December 2, 1885. One child: Harriet Dorothy born February 6, 1929 at Three Rivers, married George Wilson Hopkins born September 10, 1928, on May 12, 1951. Their children; Barbara Sue born May 17, 1952, Douglass Wilson born October 17, 1955. Frank Cowling was the first patient to undergo a pacemaker implant (mechanical heart) in Kalamazoo on April 8, 1964 and it is thought to be very successful. Hazel Esther always called Esther Burnham born January 12, 1909, married Wilmer Lawson Bailey.born August 27,. 1904, on October 19, 1926 at Goshen, Indiana. Their children: Jim Lawson bora June 26, 1928 married Virginia Anne McGowan born November 24, 1931, on June 16, 1950 at Manton, Michigan. Children are Robert Lawson born April 6, 1951 at Cadillac, Michigan, Marjorie Sue born March 15 at Kalamazoo, Gregory Lee born June 17, 1955 at Kalamazoo, David Owen born February 17, 1960 at Kalamazoo and Glenn Alan born April 1962 at Kalamazoo. I Joanne Bailey born May 15, 1932 married John Lovell Harrison on May 24, 1950, born May 24, 1910, at Manton, Michigan. Their children; Esther May born September 6, 1953, John Lovell born November 5, 1953, Alan Dean born January 5, 1955, Lois Anne born April 20, 1956 and Doris Dianne born January 28, 1959. �CLARA BURNHAM COWLING Page Seven Barbara Jean Bailey born January 11, 1938, married on August 25, 1956 to Ralph Denton Soliday born December 15,.1929. Children are Melody Kay, August 1, 1957, Steven Lawrence, May 22, 1959 and Donna Jean, February 25, 1965. Lloyd Byron Bailey born November 8, 1942, married on June 2, 1962 to Jacqueline DeHollander born October 10, 1944. One child: Kelly Kay Bailey, September 26, 1963. John E. Wilson born in 1888, died in 1948, married Maude Black of Charlevois, Michigan. Their only child, a foster child named Geraldine married to Al Rice living at Long Lake, south of Kalamazoo. Frank S. Wilson born June 10, 1894, married on August 8, 1914 in Wray, Colorado to Alta May Heasten born August 9, 1894. Frank S. died on April 1, 1947. Children: Verner Frank Wilson born May 25, 1918, married on August 31, 1946 in Los Angeles, California, to Marjorie M. Girvin born October 2, 1918. Children are Lisa Ann born April 7, 1954 and Lora Lee born November 1, 1955. Leila May Wilson born September 14, 1922, living at Ault,- Colorado, with her mother. Harriet Jane Smith (Aunt Hattie) married William Leonard and lived at Delton on a brickyard near a lake. When we visited there we often had a fish fry and I remember when one the boys tied Aunt Hattie’s mouth shut so she couldn’t eat any more, not knowing she held her fingers in her mouth while he tied so she went on eating anyway to; -. . v everybody's amusement. We also enjoyed family reunions at her home. 1 Harriet Jane Smith b. February 24, 1866, d. December 7, 1934 Married February 29, 1888 William Leonard b. June 6, 1856, d. June 1937 l-(2) (3) (4) (3) (4) 1 Florence May Leonard b. December 13, 1888 Married August 3, 1922 Henry William Kroes b. September 22, 1883 2 Leonard George Kroes b. January 3, 1924 Married March 21, 1947 Jimmie Lou Pierce b. September 6, 1927 3 Allan Leigh Kroes b. September 27, 1947, d. September 30, 1947 Larry Edward Kroes b. August 26, 1948 Harriet Jane Kroes b. October 14, 1950 Rodney James Kroes b. December 24, 1952 Jeffrey Lynn Kroes b. December 7, 1954 Melanie Ann Kroes b. January 4, 1958 2 Henry William Kroes b. January 5, 1925 Married June 6, 1948 Lydia DiBartolemeo b. June 5, 1924 3 Derek Jan Kroes b.*March 21, 1950 Jason Scott Kroes b. March 20, 1953 Angela Maria Kroes b. May 28, 1955 Brian Leonard Kroes b. May 27, 1959 �CLARA BURNHAM COWLING Page Eight (3) 2 Keith Edward Kroes b. September 16, 1926 Married April 19, 1949 Delores June Burpee b. May 30, 1929 (4) 3 Linda Jeanne Kroes b. March 9, 1950 Nancy Anne Kroes b. March 24, 1952 Dee Ann Elizabeth Kroes b. July 3, 1953 Keith Alan Kroes b. December 12, 1957 Karin Fay Kroes b. May 3, 1960 (2) 1 Charles Leon Leonard b. December 27, 1889, d. February 17, 1956 Married August 29, 1923 Eloyse Amanda Rogers b. September 10, 1897 (3) 2 Barbara Eloyse Leonard b. December 15, 1925 Married June 12, 1947 James Harrison Burchell b. May 31, 1924 (4) 3 Dolores Jean Burchell b. May 6, 1948 Jacqueline Burchell b. September 23, 1949 David James Burchell b. June 27, 1951 Margaret Ann (Peggy) Burchell b. July 25, 1952 Donald Leon Burchell b. December 14, 1954 Mary Beth Burchell b. November 22, 1956 Barbara Irene Burchell b. June 16, 1959 Thomas Daniel Burchell b. December 23, 1961 (3) 2 Lois Elizabeth (Betty) Leonard b. July 18, 1929 Married December 20, 1948 William Frank Glenn b. August 2, 1927 (4) 3 Douglas James Glenn b. September 3, 1949 Laurie Ann Glenn b. February 3, 1953 Charles Stuart Glenn b. February 19, 1964 (3) 2 Aleathe Ann Leonard b. September 20, 1932 Married October 19, 1957 Carl Louis Storm b. November 5, 1931 (4) 3 Jill Elizabeth Storm b. June 3, 1960 Joy Marie Storm b. February 5, 1962 (3) 2 William Leon Leonard b. December 8, 1933 Married June 6, 1959 Sandra Gail Swenson b. March 28, 1935 (4) 3 Patricia Elizabeth Leonard b. April 3, 1961 James William Leonard b. February 12, 1962 (2) 1 Mabel Magdalene Leonard b» August 7, 1891 Married October 15, 1921 Emil Herman Bayer b. August 26, 1888, d. June 17, 1949 (2) 1 George William Leonard b. December 14, 1892, d. November 10, 1971 Married February 9, 1924 Fay Louisa Reynolds b. February 2, 1902 (3) 2 George Reynolds Leonard b. August 22, 1925 Married May 27, 1949 Doris Jean Beavan b. December 29, 1922 (2) 1 Lois Mary Leonard b. September 9, 1896 Married May 14, 1922 Loyal Kellogg Flower b. November 5, 1895, d. November 16, 1951 �CLARA BURNHAM COWLING Page Nine Grace Josephine Smith (Aunt Joe) married Charles Henry Layton and we spend many happy times at their house since she had taken our mother to live with her after the death of her mother. We often spent Christ­ mas there with many relatives on hand and a goodly amount of food with oyster stew being made in a wash boiler. We also had family reunions there in the grove down the lane. Many were the times we visited in the summer and went home with all the watermelon, sweet corn.or nuts, etc. we had room to get in the car since cars did not have trunks in those days. Their children were: Mary Magdaline (Marie) who married Orlo Norton in 1924, and we still enjoy visiting them in the old home just south of Cooper. John William Layton who married Lida Bennet and had two children; Norris J. who married Vivian Moke and has three children, Nora Ann Tavia, Jan and Annie Lorrie. Phillis Marie married to Morris John­ son, living on a farm just north and west of Cooper a couple of miles. They have four children, Patricia Joy, Garrey, Dale and Chris. Frank Ezra Smith married Florence Abbey and for his second wife he married Nora Link Peterson and had no children by either wife and is now dead. George Sylvester Smith (Uncle Vet) married Liza Lusk and their children: George L. married Hellen Strong and they had a boy that died. Jennie never married and died in 1962. Mildred married Irving Biscome who works in the Post Office in Kalamazoo. They had twin boys that both died. William L. Smith married Maggie Pifer and had one daughter, Linnie Mary who never married and is now dead. Charles L. married Bertha Root and they had a daughter Marian who married a man by the name of Irving and had four or five children who I don’t seem to be able to learn about, after his death she married a Mr. Bennet. Ida who died several years ago leaving no children. Hellen who married and had twins, Donald and Gordon, both died. Jennie died at age sixteen and it was said she tipped hot tea on her chest and was badly scalded which caused tuberculosis and finally her death. Elmer L. Smith married a woman named Orfa and they had no children. Byron L. Smith married Mabie and after her death he married Lillian Knowlton now living at Richland and they had Mary who died at age sixteen and Edith now*living in Richland. Harriet Sophronia Smith (Aunt Phrone) married Orrin C. Dustin and had one son: Lou C. Dustin born July 28, 1875, died June 21, 1959, married on February 24, 1904 to Geraldine Peck. They lived near us on a road now called G.H. Avenue and raised fruit and vegetables which they took into Kalamazoo to sell and as a small girl I picked raspberries, currants and peas. They also had an orchard and I have never seen such beautiful apples as they raised and loaded in freight cars to ship. These cars were loaded at the brickyard at the end of the road west of where they lived. Their children were: �CLARA BURNHAM COWLING Page Ten Evelyn E. born July 17, 1905, married Elmer Grinde, no family. Orrin P. Dustin born June 4, 1909, married Madelain Mitchell. One child; Gail E. born May 27, 1935, married Robert Sikkema, and had three children, Craig born May 1, 1955, Todd born February 9, 1958 and Sydney Ann born January 9, 1960. Vivian Dustin born February 4, 1912, not married. Dudley M. Dustin born May 20, 1914, married Betty J. Paul. Two children; Deanna born December 8, 1945 and Dan born January 23, 1951. Dorothy M. Dustin married Albert Alves. Two children; Buddy Wayne born March 1, 1948 and Karen Dorothea born November 22, 1949. Marlin 0. Dustin born December 19, 1920, married Jane E. Reidlinger Children are; Susan Carol, August 5, 1947, Richard Marlin, November 10, 1948, Paul Rupert, July 4, 1950 and Sherry Jane, March 10, 1958. Samantha Jane Smith married Ellahue Russel and their children were: Lilly who married and she and her first child both died at birth. Mary (Mammie) married E. Lee Miller and their children were Lillie born January 1, 1895 in Kalamazoo and married Hiram Paul in Chicago on July 3, 1929, who survives. Lillie died at Kalamazoo, September 19, 1963, leaving a son Leland and two grandsons in Kalamazoo. And a sister, Avis married to I. C. (Bill) Hicks and they live at Crooked Lake near Kalamazoo and used to have us there for family reunions. We always enjoyed a warm greeting and a wonderful time. Marshall Smith married Bell Lusk and lived in a reddish brown house just west of William Smith's house, gone for some time. They had twins who both died. She had by a former marriage two children; Ida Parmalee who married a Mr. Sampson and had two children, Raymond and Gladys, Ida later married Claude Church and had two more children, Maude and Claude. Cleon Parmalee now living in Alamo and his wife is a sister to Mrs. John (Lida) Layton. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Family Histories Subject The topic of the resource MI.BarryCounty.FamilyHistory Description An account of the resource A collection of family history documents for families with connection to Barry County, MI. All histories were donated to the library and are presented "as is" with no guarantee to accuracy or completeness. HPL cannot ensure the authenticity of any specific data point. Users should validate their research and cross-reference available information. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Smith Family Genealogy Subject The topic of the resource MI.BarryCounty.FamilyHistory Description An account of the resource Smith Family Genealogy. Note page 6 is missing. Type The nature or genre of the resource PDF Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource text Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Carla Burnham Cowling Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource unknown Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/UND/1.0/ Rights Holder A person or organization owning or managing rights over the resource. Carla Burnham Cowling and Hastings Public Library