Aaron Smelser's siblings

I've been waiting to finish this hoping to find more information about, Emma Wright, one of the sisters mentioned in Aaron's obituary.  If I ever find more about her, I'll update.

The key to abbreviations:

• b = born
• d = died
• CoD = cause of death, if known
• bur = buried
• m = married
• m(1) = first marriage; m(2) = second marriage, etc.
• CH = children

Approximate birth order:

ELVA HAINES SMELSER

• b = 22 Jan 1865 in Clinton County, Ohio
• d = 4 May 1931 in Douthat, Ottawa County, Oklahoma
• CoD = according to obituary - pneumonia following a 10 day illness
• bur = Friends Cemetery, Purcell, Jasper County, Missouri
• m(1) = on 2 Apr 1885 in Summersville, Texas County, Missouri to Daniel Boone Garrison
• CH = Paul, William, Cora, Rhoda, Laura, Elnora, Maude, Myrtle, Lloyd, Ralph, and Bert
• m(2) = to Enoch Jones

Elva Smelser-Daniel Garrison family approx 1899

Elva and Enoch Jones

I think Aaron fits here in the birth order (b 2 Mar 1867.)  The 1870 Federal census for Greene County, TN, lists two children in the William Smelser family - 5 year old Elva and 3 yr old "Aron."  No other children are listed in this census.

Martha Ann Smelser

• b = 10 Jun 1869 in Tennessee (as listed on death cert, but this conflicts with 1870 census)
• d = 12 April 1956 in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
• CoD = according to death certificate = "organic heart lesions"
• bur = Citizen Cemetery, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma
• m = on 22 Jan 1888 in Clear Springs, Texas County, Missouri, to Noah William Farrow
• CH = Mary, Rhoda, Donnie, Florence, Dora, Jasper, Irvin, Noah V., Charles, and Willie

Martha Ann Smelser Farrow approx 1954

CHARLES ISAAC SMELSER 

• b = about 1874 in Tennessee
• d = about 1933 (but I haven't seen proof of death date or place - some conflicting information found online)
• bur = Oakside Cemetery, Shannon County, Missouri  (Stone says "Charlie Smelcher"  & no dates)
• m = 6 Sep 1896 in Texas County, Missouri to Susanna Jane Wright
• CH = Vina G., Hazel, James S., Ida, Mary E., Goldie F., and Raymond L.

Charles I Smelser

EMMA SMELSER
I have very little information on Emma, other than she was mentioned in Aaron's obituary, and I found a marriage license. I'm not sure where she fits in the birth order, other than being older than Eliza.  (That's by using the marriage certificate information as a clue.) 

• b = before 1876 - marriage license from 16 Sep 1893 states that Emma Smelser of Hattie, Texas County, Missouri, was "over the age of eighteen years."
• d = ?
• CoD = ?
• bur = ?
• m = 21 Sep 1893 in Hattie, Texas County, Missouri, to P. M. Wright of Hattie.
• CH = ? 

ELIZABETH ("Eliza") SMELSER

• b = 9 June 1877 in Tennessee
• d = 20 October 1925 in Summersville, Texas County, Missouri
• CoD = according to Death Certificate - "adhesion & abcess following operation for appendicitis."  It also states, "duration - 1 yr, 6 mos, 20 days."  Was that from the time of the operation? Death cert also lists Eliza's father as "Harrison Smelcher" (same spelling as Charles Isaac's gravestone.)
• bur = Bethel Cemetery, Summersville, Texas County, Missouri
• m = 13 Dec 1891 in Texas County, Missouri, to William Jackson Cobble
• CH = Meda, William D., Adam, Floyd, Dollie, Perry, and Laura

DAVID SMELSER

• b = 4 Aug 1884 in Missouri
• d = Nov 1968 in Missouri
• CoD = unknown
• bur = Bethel Cemetery, Summersville, Texas County, Missouri
• m = single, as far as I know 
• CH = none known 

SARAH CATHERINE ("Cassie") SMELSER

• b = 7 May 1887 in Texas County, Missouri *
• d = 7 April 1937 in St. Louis, Missouri
• CoD = pneumonia following colon resection for cancer of the caecum
• bur = Woodside Cemetery, Thomasville, Oregon County, Missouri
• m = [date/place unknown] to Erv L Burris
• CH = David L. and Lillian E.

    * Death certificate has birth as 7 May, gravestone has 27 May

 NOTE about obituaries, birth, death, and marriage records - the information on them is not always accurate.  An example of this is the list of siblings in Aaron's obituary.  His survivors included:  brothers Charles of Missouri and David of Michigan, and "a sister Mrs. Elva Jones, Douthat, Okla."  The obit also indicates, "Three sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Cobble, Mrs. Emma Wright, and Mrs. Martha Farrow preceded him in death."

However, Elva had died the month before, (maybe whoever supplied the info for Aaron's obit didn't know that yet.)  Martha Farrow outlived Aaron by 25 years.  And Sarah ("Cassie"), who was not listed in the obit, died six years later.

Elva's obituary listed the three surviving brothers (Aaron, Charles & David), but with the surname "Smelcher."  Sister "Classie" Burris is listed as a survivor, but no mention of Martha Farrow. 

It's always good to compare information in obituaries and vital records with other sources to make sure the information is accurate.

DOCUMENTS (Have or seen)
  A variety of census, birth, death, and marriage records.  Too many to list.  Contact me, if you want further information. (Email link is in right side column.)

DOCUMENTS NEEDED, QUESTIONS UNANSWERED, for a start -

• Elva - verification of birth date & place, death certificate, marriage licenses
• Martha - correct birth date?
• Charles - where and when did he die?
• Was Emma's husband related to Charles' wife?  [edited 1 May 2016]

Happy Birthday, Grandpa Aaron!

According to his obituary, Aaron was born on 2 March 1867 in Tennessee.  

His parents were William Harrison Smelser and Catherine Brown [more on them later.]  And, again according to his obituary, he was survived by two brothers, Charles in Missouri and David in Michigan, and a sister, Elva Jones of Douthat, Oklahoma.   The obit also states that three sisters were deceased:  Mrs. Elizabeth Cobble, Mrs. Emma Wright, and Mrs. Martha Farrow.

NOTE:  I see I failed to mention in the 11 January post regarding the 1900 census that another sister – Sarah C. – is listed in Aaron and Emma’s household (along with the erroneous listing of “Mary, John, and Nora.”)  I’ll comment about Sarah C. in the next post.

I’ve found William & Catherine Smelser and two children:  Elva 5, and “Aron” 3 in the 1870 Federal census for Greene County, TN.   I mentioned yesterday that I have not found the family in the 1880 census – yet.  And, unfortunately, the 1890 census was destroyed in a fire. So, we need to look at other sources for early information about Aaron’s siblings.

Over the past 30+ years I’ve been able to make contact with a few Smelser cousins - descendants of some of Aaron’s siblings - who have shared additional information.  I’ve also found some death certificates and other documents online.

The next post will give an overview of what I know so far about those siblings and their families.

DOCUMENTS (Have or seen):

• 1870 Federal census for Greene County, Tennessee, Civil District No. 6, P.O. Bulls Gap

DOCUMENTS NEEDED, QUESTIONS UNANSWERED:

• Verfication of Aaron’s birth date and place
• 1880 Federal census for the William & Catherine Smelser family

Texas County, Missouri

QUESTIONS:

• When did the Smelsers move to Texas County, MO?
• And, why did they move there?

I have not found the family in the 1880 Federal census.  I’ve tried numerous spellings and misspellings of Smelser to no avail. 

I’ve tried other searches using first name, approximate birth year and birthplace as Tennessee.  I’ve also used Ohio for a birthplace for Aaron (since his older sibling was born there.)  Nothing.  It’s not unheard of that a family was completely missed in a census, but it’s more likely that the enumerator or transcriber messed up the spelling.

I presume the Smelser family was in Missouri by 2 April 1885, when Aaron’s older sister, Elva, married Daniel Boone Garrison in Summersville, Texas County, MO.

And, I presume they were still in Tennessee in 1877 when Aaron’s sister Elizabeth (“Eliza”) was born there (according to her death certificate.)

According to the previous joint obituary, Aaron was 18 when he moved to Missouri.  That information along with Elva's marriage date would indicate they arrived by 1885.
 

A clue as to "Why Texas County?" might be found by reading the book by Julia West Parker, Nan of Tennessee and the Girl Who Was Me (1974.)

Aunt Stella mentioned the book in the 1970s.  It's about several families who moved (at or about the same time) from eastern Tennessee to Texas County, MO.  I vaguely remember reading it back then – and I don’t think there was any mention of the Smelsers.  But, I’ve requested it via Interlibrary Loan to browse through again, and I’ll update if I find anything about our ancestors.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED, QUESTIONS UNANSWERED:

• Where were our Smelsers in 1880?

Aaron and Jessie Smelser died on 5 June 1931

From the Waterloo Courier, 7 June 1931, page 10:

You'll note that they died an hour apart, both from cancer.  The obit also notes that Aaron had moved to Waterloo "four years ago."  That must be why I didn't find him in the city directories from the early 1920s.

Aaron's death certificate, from Johnson County, IA, is recorded in Book 3, page 254, and states the Cause of Death as:  Cancer of  Stomach.

Jessie's Black Hawk County, IA, death certificate lists Cause of Death as:  Carcinoma of descending colon.

Aaron and Jessie are both are buried at the Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery in separate sections:

I previously posted a photo of Jessie's gravestone.  Here is Aaron's:

 According to this he was born in 1866, but I think he might have been born 2 March 1867.  His death certificate states he was 64 and the obituary states he was 64.


DOCUMENTS (Have or seen):

• Aaron Smelser death certificate
• Jessie Smelser death certificate 

DOCUMENTS NEEDED, QUESTIONS UNANSWERED:

• Exact birth year for Aaron

Aaron Smelser & family in the 1930 Federal Census

Newton, Jasper County, IA

• Aaron [A cupola helper in an iron foundry] - renting a room on W 4^th Street North.

• James (Elmer) [A laborer in a foundry], wife Mary, and children: Sultana, and Clifford –on N 9^th Ave East. 

Coon Rapids, Carroll County, IA

• Lula, husband Will Mahan, and children: Beulah, Floyd, Leroy, Charles, Edna, and Reatha – on Sumpter Ave.

Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA

• Jessie [a city fireman], wife Elsie, and children: William A., Clarence N., Edgar E., Melvin L., and Genevieve – on Whittier St.

• Stella, and husband Leo D. Mooney – on Norwood Avenue.

• Melissa, and husband Orie Spicer, and son Billie – on Utica Street.

Washington Twp., Polk County, IA

• Clarence [18 yrs old, no employment listed] – in the household of Dell Garlock, a farmer.

Poyner Twp., Black Hawk County, IA

• Etta [15 yrs old, adopted daughter of William and Elisabeth Weilein] – on River Road.

 

DOCUMENTS (Have or seen):

• 1930 Federal census records for locations noted above.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED, QUESTIONS UNANSWERED:

• When did Jessie & Elsie figure out that their son Edgar’s birth certificate had him as Eugene Edgar?
• I haven’t looked for city directories for Newton, IA, to see how long Aaron and James (Elmer) had been living there.