Those Places Thursday - Jefferson County Courthouse x 5 - Mt. Vernon, Illinois

Most people who are from, or who have lived in, Jefferson County, Illinois know a little something about the County Courthouse located in the town square in Mt. Vernon.  In the nearly two-hundred year history of the Mt. Vernon/Jefferson County area there have actually been five courthouses constructed throughout these two centuries.  The first, a log building 18 feet by 20 feet by 13 feet high, was erected in 1819 for a total  of $160.00 by John Sanders.  

That building soon became obsolete and in 1821 county commissioners contracted for a second building to be built.  That courthouse was not actually completed until 1829 by builder McBride.  The building was made of brick, twenty by thirty feet, two stories high and the total cost was $780.93.  In 1839 a portion of the courthouse fell down and the entire town came together and razed the entire structure.  By the end of 1841 a third courthouse had been constructed for a cost of $5500.  This 40 feet square structure had a cupola supported by pillars and surrounded by a railing.  This courthouse was destroyed by the great tornado/cyclone of 1888.

A fourth courthouse was erected after the disaster (see postcards#1, #2 and #3 below) and was in use until 1939.

Jefferson Co Courthouse - Postcard Postmarked Sep 1912

Jefferson Co Courthouse - Postcard Postmarked Sep 1913

Jefferson Co Courthouse (note steeple removed) circa1935

A fifth and final courthouse was erected in 1939 (see postcards #4 and #5 below).  Please note Civil War canon at Northwest corner of the square.

5th & final Jefferson Co courthouse erected 1939

5th & final Jefferson Co courthouse erected 1939 postmarked 1949

Sources:

1.  Mt. Vernon A Pictorial History by Thomas A. Puckett, 1991, G. Bradley Publishing.

2.  Facts and Folks, A History of Jefferson County, Illinois, 1978, Jefferson County Illinois Historical Society, Taylor Publishing company, Dallas, TX.

Workday Wednesday - Photographers - Unknown Mt. Vernon, IL Girl 1886

I have been sadly missing from this blog for sometime now, but life just seems to get in the way - there are only so many hours in the day and days in the week!  I recently posted this cabinet card from 1886 on my other blog, ForgottenFacesandLongAgoPlaces, of an unknown young woman who had her picture taken by well-known Mt. Vernon photographer James Hitchcock.  Although this girl is most likely no relation to me I decided to re-post to this blog.  Who knows, perhaps someone will recognize her and we can solve the mystery of her identity!

When I saw this cabinet card come up for sale on eBay, I knew I had to have it. This beautiful young woman with the winsome look on her face had her photo taken by Mr. & Mrs. Jas. Hitchcock of Mt. Vernon, Ills, my hometown. I am fascinated with the photography of Major James Hitchcock who lived and worked in Jefferson County, Il from about 1870 until his death in 1916. I have collected a few of his photographs, but this is by far my favorite to date.

When I received this photo in the mail I was excited to see that there was handwriting on the back and thought that the subject was identified. Upon closer examination, sadly it appears that the words say, "got home from Bonnie (or Rome) this AM Aug 30th 1886." Such a disappointment, but at least it helps to date the photograph.

Major James Hitchcock was a well-known Mt. Vernon citizen, coming to the city in 1870 from Indiana after the Civil War. He was born in Gibson County, Indiana in December 1843 to John William and Margaret (Brasher) Hitchcock. In 1862 he enlisted in the 71st Indiana Infantry, Company E, and transferred to the 6th Indiana Cavalry in February 1863. In 1864 in a disastrous attempt to release prisoners held at the notorious Andersonville, GA prisoner of war camp, he and 2,000 others were captured by Confederate troops and was himself held as a P.O.W. for nine months. He was taken from Andersonville to "somewhere in Florida" along with other prisoners where they were able to make their escape along the way.

In May of 1868 in Richland County, IL he married Annie E. Gardner and by 1870 they were living in Jefferson County, IL with a one year old daughter Barbara (Ruby). A son Ray was born in 1873 and a daughter Ethel in 1879. For many years he and his wife operated an extremely successful photography studio at 219 South Tenth Street in Mt. Vernon, IL (Jefferson County). He was well respected for his craft and his photos documented most of the history of Jefferson County and the surrounding areas between 1870 - 1910. His wife died in 1912 and Hitchcock was reported to be grief-stricken. He died four years later on 2 Jan 1916 and he and his family are buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Vernon.

Those Places Thursday - Downtown Mt. Vernon, IL

Another postcard that I purchased of my hometown of Mt. Vernon, IL - this one is from the West side of the square.  This is the Third National Bank and it is postmarked 1909.  According to Thomas Puckett's book "Mt. Vernon, A Pictorial History, 1991 the address is 101 South Tenth.

This is what this site looks like today:

According to Wall's History of Jefferson County (thanks to cousin Jim Smith for sending me the Google search on this):

The bank was formed by a company of prominent citizens, John R. Allen, A. C. Johnson, D. H. Warren, R. J. Bond, W. C. Arthurs, I. G. Gee Morris Emmerson., L. L. Emmerson and F. E. Patton, who became the directors with others, purchased the Evans and Gee Banking Company and organized the Third National Bank, an institution of which Mount Vernon is justly proud.  John R. Allen was chosen president; A. C. Johnson, vice-president; L. L. Emmerson, cashier; F. E. Patton, assistant cashier, and Charles H. Patton, attorney.  It was organized with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars and began business February 4, 1902.

In 1903, the Banking Company purchased the Harvey T. Pace Corner, removed the “old land marks" and erected the present magnificent three-story building, in the first floor of which the Third National Bank makes its home, with all the modern improvements of banking.  The building is an ornament to the city, the bank occupying the entire first floor, except an office in the west end occupied by the Electric, Light, Gas, Heat & Water Company.  The second and third stories contain twenty handsome office, the whole outfit being lighted , heated and watered from the city light, heat and water plants.  It is by far the most prominent and commodious business house in the city, and is continuously and fully occupied by many of our best business men.  Other business houses have followed in the wake of the Third National and have taken on the light, heat and water utilities.

The lot where the bank was erected was originally settled by the Maxey family in 1823.  Mr. Maxey built a log house on the site now occupied by the Third National Bank.  Additons were later added and the house stood where it  was originally bult unitl about 1902, when the old building were wrecked to make way for the new building of the Third National Bank. 


Source:  http://www.archive.org/stream/wallshistoryofje00wall/wallshistoryofje00wall_djvu.txt

Those Places Thursday - Appellate Court House - Abe Lincoln & Clara Barton Stopped Here

My hometown of Mt. Vernon, IL is located in Jefferson County with a population of 15,277 according to Wikipedia.  One of the jewels of this town, is the Appellate Court House, a building which I have seen all my life.  It's one of those things you just take for granted and is located at 14th and Main; a beautiful stone building with twin wrought iron stairways, the 5th District Appellate Courthouse was built around 1857 and is famous for when Abraham Lincoln came to town to try a court case for the Illinois Central Railroad. It took three weeks to bring the iron stairways for the front of the building from St. Louis to Mt. Vernon via ox-cart.

On February 19, 1888 the "Great Cyclone" of  Mt. Vernon struck and destroyed over five hundred buildings, killed thirty citizens and injured several hundred other residents of Mt. Vernon.  An appeal went out for help to relief committees and medical providers.   Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross came to town to help the citizens of Mt. Vernon and an emergency hospital was housed in the Appellate Courthouse under her supervision.  Today the courthouse looks much as it did one-hundred and fifty years ago when it was first constructed.

Sunday's Obituary - Sarah Eva Talley Bruce - Mt. Vernon, IL

Sarah Eva Talley Bruce 1914

Sarah Eva Talley Bruce
23 Sep 1870 - 23 Mar 1953

My great-great-grandmother, Sarah Eva Talley Bruce was born 23 Sep 1870 Wabash County, IL to Richard Henderson and Jane Frances (Williams) Talley.  She died 23 Mar 1953 in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, IL.


 

Sunday's Obituary - Verna A. Merritt Smith

Verna A. Merritt

Verna Anna Merritt Smith 17 Jan 1889 - 29 Mar 1972

My Great-Grandmother, Verna Anna Merritt Smith was born in Wilson County, TN 17 Jan 1889 to Obidiah J. and Florence (Sewell) Merritt.    The family moved to Jefferson County, Illinois around 1900.  Verna was the second of six children and her mother Florence died when Verna was just thirteen years old.  From all accounts, times were hard for the Merritts after their mother died.  In 1909, Verna married Robert Calvin Smith and they had eight children, one of those being my grandfather, Diamond Milton Smith.  They raised their children in Mt. Vernon, Illinois where great-grandpa Bob was an auto mechanic.

Verna A. Merritt Smith

Great-grandma Verna was quite a character and had a wicked sense of humor.  She was full of gumption right up until the end.  I like to think she got this from her grandmother, Amanda J. Martin.  Verna's husband Bob Smith died in October 1958, Verna 29 Mar 1972 in Fort Lauderdale, FL where they had lived for a number of years.  The following obituary is from the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Tombstone Tuesday - Robert Calvin & Verna Smith

My Great-Grandparents Robert Calvin and Verna Anna Merritt Smith
Cemetery - Williams

Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, IL

Car Craziness - 52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History - Week 3

When I first saw the topic for this week‘s “52 Weeks of Personal Genealogy & History" I didn’t think I would have much to write about.  I mean, I’m female; a car’s a car, right?  But when I really started thinking about it I realized how much this subject really calls to me.  I’ve written before about my family’s automotive history in Jefferson County, IL.  

My great-grandfather, Robert C. Smith was one of the first auto mechanics in Mt. Vernon, IL and several of his sons followed him in the business.  Although he never became rich, the business kept his family of eight children fed and clothed.  Great-grandma Verna was often seen driving about town in one of the many cars her husband provided for her.  I’ve heard many times that Grandma Verna loved to drive so much she would go to the grocery store three times a day!  I hate to grocery shop so much my husband begs me to go at least once every three weeks!

 

When my husband and I first became engaged in 1972, I was still a senior in high school.  We decided to pool our money – I was working at a grocery store.…hmmm…there’s that grocery store again.  Anyway, I had my eye on an AMC Gremlin which I thought was just the cutest little car.  My husband-to-be sold his 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air to cover his share.  Can you image?  That was a HOT car. 

 When we got to the car dealer all of a sudden my eye landed on a silver blue 1973 Javelin and that was all she wrote!  The only thing out of my mouth was, “I.  WANT.  THAT.”  That car was to be the forerunner of cars to come.  I looked all over for a picture of that car and cannot believe this is the only picture we ever took! 

It was such a beautiful car.  I found this picture of a similar Javelin on Wikipedia. 

Unfortunately, the Javelin had some weird problem that caused it to stall all the time and no one could seem to fix.  We married in February 1973 and after we had our first child in May 1974 decided to trade it in on something more economical.  The next couple of cars after that were unexciting and not worth mentioning.  In 1986, with two kids, we were again in the market for a family car and decided on a nice, four-door Honda Accord.  Off to the dealer we went and lightening struck twice!  My eyes landed on a black Honda Prelude.  Again my mouth opened and I said, "I.  WANT.  THAT.”   

This two-door sports car was not exactly what you would call a family car.  However, buy it I did, and I drove it for eight wonderful years.  I squeezed two growing boys and all their sports equipment, etc. in that car and hauled them all over the place.  I LOVED that car!  However, all good things must come to an end and I traded it in on a Ford Explorer, the first of three Explorers I would drive.  Why, I don’t know, because I am not particularly crazy about them.

 

 However, in between Explorer number two and number three, my eye saw this and yep, I had to have it.  It was a dark green 1998 Mitsubishi 3000GT.  It was so much fun to drive and no one could believe that I picked out a car like that.  Loved, loved, loved that car and why I got rid of it for another Explorer I will never know.  

When I decided to get rid of Explorer number three in 2005 I wanted another sporty car, but with a then one year old grandson I decided it was time for something a little more practical.  What to do, what to do.  And my eye landed on this 2006 Chrysler 300.  I have had this car for six years now, it only has 36,000 miles, its paid for and I love it.  I may drive it forever.  

Of course, I did just see a beautiful little red ………….No.

Tombstone Tuesday - Surprise Grandfather - Gilbert Hayse

Ancestors can just pop up where you least expect them.   While on my annual visit to see my parents this summer, I asked my father to take me to the usual family cemeteries to take pictures of the ancestor stones I may have missed in the past.  Dad is pretty good about visiting these cemeteries to make sure that our family member headstones are kept up and he was in a talkative mood and told me some stories I had never heard as we drove around.  I also pointed out to him in one cemetery his great-great grandparents' stones and he was not even aware that they were his great-great-grandparents!

Family Farm in Bonnie, IL

As we left that cemetery he continued talking as we drove along the back country roads and showed me the sights including his old home site in Bonnie, Illinois which I was very familiar with - it was built by my great-grandfather Otis Green Wilson.   He then pulled into a small cemetery I had never seen before called Cubb Prairie Cemetery.   I thought I had heard of all the cemeteries in Jefferson County so I was pretty surprised.  We got out and walked around and I noticed a few stones with some familiar names, but they didn't really ring too many bells so I took a few pictures and we left.  When I got home to Florida I uploaded all the pictures I had taken and have gradually over the past few months been sorting and processing what I had taken last summer.

Just a few weeks ago, for some reason I was looking at my father's ancestry, in particular his 3x great-grandfather Gilbert Hayes (Hayse) and bells started going off in my head!!!  I opened up my photo program and sure enough, there was a picture of his headstone in Cubb Prairie Cemetery.  My mouth just fell open in shock that I had been standing there in front of that grave and didn't even realize who that was!  I have researched every cemetery in Jefferson County using the local genealogical society website and somehow have missed that.  It just goes to show that you  never know what you will find!

Now for a little background history - Gilbert Hayes born about 1783 North Carolina, married to Frances A. (unknown), came to Jefferson County, Ill from Rutherford County, TN with his wife and family sometime between 1840 and 1850.  His son John, was the father of my civil war great-great-grandfather George Washington Hayes who I discussed in a previous post.  Gilbert Hayse died 15 May 1854.  I can't wait to go back to Illinois next summer and take another look at that cemetery!

Wednesday's Child - Samuel & Josephene Hayes

My great-great grandparents George Washington and Margaret (Howard) Hayes were the proud parents of nine children, but sadly as often happened in those times, only three lived to adulthood.  Brutus, Bristol, Dollie and Ollie all born between 1866 and and 1872 died as infants and if there are headstones they have not been found.  Samuel died at age 2 and Josephene at age 6.  It is unknown how these six children died, and as parents of the twenty-first century we can only imagine the grief and horror of losing six children so young and tragically.  They are buried at South Hickory Hill Cemetery in Jefferson County, IL.

Samuel Carey Hayes (Son of George W. & Margaret)

Josephene Hayes (Daughter of George W. & Margaret)

Tombstone Tuesday - George Washington Hayes

George W. & Margaret (Howard) Hayes - South Hickory Hill Cemetery, Jefferson County, IL

Military Monday - George Washington Hayes - My Civil War Gr-Gr Grandfather

George Washington Hayes

Born 4 Jul 1841 Rutherford County, TN

Died 14 Oct 1927 Jefferson County, IL

Parents - John and Rebecca (Mathis) Hayes

George W. Hayes 1861

My 2nd Great grandfather enlisted as a Private in the 15th Illinois Cavalry on 10 Dec 1861 at the age of twenty, under the service of Col. Bacon, Company E, Capt. Hutchins.  In the spring of 1862, they moved with the army from Cairo up the Tennessee river to Fort Henry and later participated in the battle of Shiloh. In the spring of 1863, the companies were organized as the 15th regiment and during the following year did post duty and severe scouting. By expiration of term of service it was mustered out Aug. 25, 1864, and the recruits who were enlisted in 1862, were consolidated with the 10th Ill. cavalry.  They fought in the following battles:

5 Feb 1862 at Fort Henry, TN.
4 Jun 1862 at Hickman, KY.
29 Jul 1862 at Anthony's Lane, TN.
10 Apr 1863 at Greenville, MS.
23 Jan 1864 at Vicksburg, MS.
Fought on 21 Mar 1864.
Fought on 12 Apr 1864.
14 Apr 1864 at Helena, AR.
24 Jul 1864 at Atlanta, GA.
6 Aug 1864.
19 Oct 1864 at Trenton, AR.²

George mustered out on 26 Jan 1865 at Brownsville, Arkansas.  He was referred to as Big George although I am not sure why; his pension papers state that at enlistment he was 5' 6'' tall with light complexion, blue eyes and dark hair.  His occupation was farmer.  This picture was taken at the end of his service:

"Big" George Hayes 1865

  

After returning home to Spring Garden, Jefferson County, IL, he married Margaret Howard on 24 Oct 1865.  They had nine children, but sadly only three lived to adulthood, Lillie Dora (my great grandmother), Willie Arthur and Charles.  They later lived in the new town of Bonnie, IL, four miles southeast of Spring Garden, which was created when a rail depot was built there and George donated some of the land for the new town to be built.³ 

When George died on 27 Oct 1927 he was receiving $72 month in pension for his Civil War service.  In 1920 at age 79, "Declaration for Pension" papers filed state he suffered from "very poor eyesight, can hardly see his way, must be led most of the time if he gets away from the house.  Unable to dress or undress himself, requires aid in eating and dressing.  Very hard of hearing, can only hear loud sounds.  Very feeble.  Totally unable to do any kind of physical labor, bothered much with rheumatism."  When he died he was the last Civil War Veteran residing in Bonnie.

George Washington Hayes 1920's

¹ The Union Army, Vol 3.

²Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Regiments [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.

Original data: Data compiled by Historical Data Systems of Kingston, MA from the following list of works. Copyright 1997-2000
Historical Data Systems, Inc.
PO Box 35
Duxbury, MA 023.

³Personal family history and Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonnie,_Illinois. 

Tombstone Tuesday - Otis Greene Wilson - Jefferson Co, IL

My paternal great-grandfather, buried next to his ex-wife (my great-grandmother), Dora Hayes Wilson Moore and their son Leslie Wilson.  Otis was born in Jefferson County, IL on 23 Apr 1872 and died 16 May 1958 in Napa, CA.  Dora was born 20 Sep 1873 in Jefferson County, IL and died 19 Jan 1941 in the same county.  Their son Leslie was born 18 Sep 1906 and died 14 Jun 1938, both in Jefferson County, IL.  They are buried in South Hickory Hill Cemetery.

Tombstone Tuesday - Diamond M. & Doris C. Smith

My Grandparents - Diamond Milton and Doris (Wade) Smith

Diamond Milton Smith
Born 28 Mar 1910 Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., IL
Died 11 Aug 1997 Mt Vernon, Jefferson Co., IL

Doris Charlotte (Wade) Smith
Born 27 Aug 1913 Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., IL
Died 18 Feb 2005 Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., IL

This post partners with my previous post about  my grandfather's skill as a mechanic.  When he died, a headstone was purchased with a old car etched on the stone in tribute to his many years as a mechanic.  The words on the right read, "Going Home."

Talented Tuesday – Mechanic in the Making

My Grandfather - Diamond Milton Smith

 My Grandfather, Diamond Milton Smith’s destiny was to be a skilled auto mechanic - a trade he worked at his entire life.   He was born on the 28^th of March, 1910 in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, Illinois to Robert Calvin and Verna Ann (Merritt) Smith. His father, Robert (Bob), owned and ran, for a number of years,  one of the first auto mechanic shops in Mt. Vernon.  My grandfather, as well as several of his brothers, worked with their father and learned their trade in the early beginnings of the automobile business.

 I just love this old picture (circa 1920) of my grandfather as a young boy posing in front of an early car.  In the 1960's, he and my grandmother, Doris, moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL where he continued his trade at Slaton Chevrolet on Federal Highway until his retirement in the mid 1970's.  About 1975 they moved back to their hometown in Mt. Vernon, Illinois where he died on 11 Aug 1997.

Surname Saturday - Wade - Posey County, IN

Wade Genealogy

1.  My Grandmother – Doris Charlotte Wade was born 27 Aug 1913 in Mt Vernon, Jefferson County, IL.  She married Diamond Milton Smith 31 Aug 1934 in Mt. Vernon; they were the parents of five children. She died 18 Feb 2005 also in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, IL.  Children are:

i.                    Mildred Yvonne Smith 1935 - 2003

ii.                  Living Smith

iii.                Living Smith

iv.                Living Smith

v.                  David Glen Smith 1945 - 2006

2.  Her father was Joseph Washington Wade born 7 Sep 1875 Carmi, White County, IL.  He married Charlotte Ruth Banks, daughter of Sarah Eva Talley and Sherman Banks on 24 Apr 1919 in Chester, Randolph County, IL and he died 14 Jan 1942 in Madison County, IL. They were the parents of three children:

i.                    Doris Charlotte Wade 1913 - 2005

ii.                  Mildred Wade 1917 - 1995

iii.                Hugh Joseph Wade 1919 - 1967

3.  Joseph’s father was Joseph R.H. Wade born 1834 in Posey County, IN, married to Elizabeth Pelt, daughter of James and Elizabeth Little Pelt in Posey County, IN 28 Jun 1855.  He died after 1910 probably in Posey County, IN.  They were the parents of ten children:

i.                    Nancy E. Wade 1856 - 1948

ii.                  William E. “Archie” Wade 1858 -

iii.                James Henry Wade 1860-1931

iv.                Sallie J. Wade 1862 -

v.                  Elizabeth Clarissa Wade 1865 –

vi.                Harriett J. Wade 1867 –

vii.              Cornelius Wade 1870 –

viii.            Mary Victoria Wade 1872 –

ix.                Joseph Washington Wade 1875 – 1942

x.                 John R. B. Wade 1879 – 1906

 
4.  Joseph’s father was Zachariah Thomas Wade born about 4 Mar 1797 in Posey County, IN.  He married Nancy Harriett Underwood, on 5 Nov 1817 in Posey County, IN and they were the parents of eight children:

i.                    Henry Riley Wade 1819 - 1864

ii.                  Thomas C. Wade 1820  - 1877

iii.                Joshua E. Wade 1823 - 1895

iv.                William David Wad 1825 - 1904

v.                  Mary E. Wade 1825 - 1902

vi.                Isaac George Washington Wade 1829 - 1899

vii.              John R. B. Wade 1831 - 1906

viii.            Joseph R. H. Wade 1834 –

ix.                Levi Monroe Wade 1835 – 1913

In 1838 he married Margaret Ann Axton and they were the parents of two children:

x.                   Lucy Ann Wade 1838 –

xi.                1845 - 1868

Wedding Wednesday - Howard M. Wilson & Alpha Laura Neibel

Howard Mathis Wilson & Alpha Laura Neibel 

My paternal grandparents, Howard Mathis Wilson and Laura Alpha Neibel who married in Kankakee, IL 17 May 1930.
 
Howard was born 12 Apr 1909, a son of Otis Greene and Lily Dora Hayes Wilson, in Bonnie, Jefferson County, IL.  Alpha was born 30 May 1910, a daughter of Fred Ulysses and Lucy Jane Hunter Neibel, in Harrisburg, Saline County, IL.  Both were working in the Chicago area when the married.  They later returned to the family home in Bonnie, IL.

Surname Saturday - Smith - IL

Diamond M. Smith 1910

Updated March 2018
1.  My Grandfather - Diamond Milton Smith was born 28 Mar 1910 in Mt Vernon, Jefferson County, IL.  He married Doris Charlotte Wade 31 Aug 1934 in Mt. Vernon; they were the parents of five children. He died 11 Aug 1997 also in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, IL. 

i.  Mildred Yvonne Smith 1935 - 2003
ii. Living Smith
iii. Living Smith
iv. Daniel Gale Smith 1945 - 2011
v.  David Glen Smith 1945 - 2006

2.  His father was Robert Calvin Smith born 16 Sep 1888 Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, IL, married Verna Ann Merritt 1909 (IL) and died 31 Oct 1958 in Ft. Lauderdale, Broward County,  FL. They were the parents of eight children:


i.  Diamond Milton Smith 1910 - 1997
ii.  Floyd Richard Smith 1911- 2002
iii. Sidney Robert Smith 1914 - 1916
iv. Claude John Smith - 1915 - 1987
v.  Wilbur Alva Smith 1917 -2005
vi.  Roy Edwin Smith 1921 - 2009
vii. Ralph Smith  1924 - 2016?
viii. Roberta  Smith 1925 - 2017

3.  The father of Robert was Milton Albin (Pappy Dick) Smith born 6 Dec 1863 DeKalb County, IN, married to Mary Frances Scott in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, IL 2 Mar 1886.  He died 9 Mar 1954 in Mt. Vernon, IL, Jefferson County, IL.  They were the parents of five children:

i.  John Smith 1887 -
ii.  Robert Calvin Smith 1888- 1958
iii.  Milton McDonald Smith 1891-
iv. Dollie Ann Smith 1893 - 1923
v.  Fannie V. Smith 1898 - 1980

4.  Milton's father was Daniel Smith born about 1815 in Pennsylvania.  He married Barbara Ann Wade, daughter of Thomas Noble Wade in June 1847 in Ashland County, OH.  They were the parents of eight children:

i.  Mary Jane Smith 1848 -
ii.  Samuel Thomas Smith 1850 -
iii. Anna M. Smith 1851 -
iv. Franklin Pierce Smith 1854 - 1936
v.  James B. Smith 1856 -
vi. William Smith 1860 -
vii. Milton Albin Smith 1863- 1954
viii. Rosa A. Smith - 1866

Daniel Smith died 24 Jul 1896, Barbara died 28 Mar 1892 both in Mt. Vernon, Jefferson County, IL.  As yet, nothing further has been discovered about Daniel's origins or parents.