Mary Ann Athya, long lost first wife of George Durie Athya

Mary Ann Athya, daughter of Isaac Athya and Elizabeth McClelland, was born in Bellshill, County Lanarkshire, Scotland about 1896. She had at least 10 siblings—Elizabeth Athya, Isaac Athya, Andrew Athya, James Athya, Jeannie Wylie Athya, William McClelland Athya, Robert McClelland Athya, (Mary Ann Athya), John McClelland Athya, Margaret Athya (twin), and Hugh Athya (twin). 

In 1901, the Athya family lived in Bellshill at New Orbiston Rows, apartment housing built in 1892 for the coal miners. According to the Scottish Mining Website, the housing community consisted of “1 three-apartment house, 74 two-apartment houses with rental of £9 19s, one storey [sic], stone built, brick back, erected about 18 years ago – no damp-proof course – walls strapped and lathed – wood floors, ventilated – condition of walls generally good; no overcrowding – apartments large; no garden ground – wash houses – coal cellars; 4 ashpits and 8 privies, between front and rear row; outside sinks for front row – one for every 4 house; surface channels for back row; gravitation water from 4 standpipes; and was scavenged daily – within a special district.” Her father’s occupation was “Cothery Lampman.” Mary was a scholar.

On May 27, 1918, Mary married George Durie Athya (pictured left), son of James Wylie Athya and Jemima Durie, in an “irregular” marriage by declaration that took place at 50 Wellington Street in Blythswood, Glasgow, County Lanark, Scotland. In an irregular marriage, the couple would make a declaration in front of two witnesses, in this case, George’s sister Elizabeth Durie (Athya) Anderson and her husband Alexander Anderson. Once they provided proof of the marriage to a sheriff or sheriff-substitute, they could obtain a warrant “to have the marriage registered by the local registrar.” According to ScotlandsPeople, “Churches disagreed with these marriages in principle, but accepted them for fear that couples would otherwise ‘live in sin’.” Mary and George’s marriage was registered at Glasgow on May 29, 1918 after obtaining a warrant from a sheriff-substitute. Mary was a 22-year-old spinster; George a 25-year-old bachelor, riveter, and Corporal with the Cameron Highlanders. Mary and George were first cousins—their fathers Isaac and James were brothers. I don’t know, but this may have been a common practice at the time.

On October 30, 1920, George sailed from Bellshill, Glasgow aboard the S.S. Columbia headed for Steubenville, Ohio in the United States of America. He declared his wife Mary, who he left behind in Scotland, as the “nearest relative or friend in country whence alien came.”

S.S. Columbia manifest (click to enlarge)

On June 24, 1924, Mary set sail aboard the S.S. Montlaurier headed for Canada. A passenger declaration form showed that Mary was 28 years old, single, and unaccompanied by a husband. She traveled 3rd class, planning to settle permanently in Canada and look for suitable work as a domestic. She declared her religion as Baptist. Mary paid her own passage at £5, spoke the English language, and had never been to Canada. Mary’s sister Jeannie (Athya) Lay lived in Montreal, which was where Mary was going. She listed her father Isaac Athya of 13 Mauldslie Street in Crossgates, Bellshill, Scotland as the nearest relative in the country from which she came. Mary further declared that she had no mental, tubercular, or physical detects. 

Ten days prior to Mary leaving Scotland, George married Bertha Edna Smith in the Ingram Borough of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on June 14, 1924. George and Bertha are my husband’s grandparents. 

So, the big question for our family is—what happened to George and Mary’s marriage. Did they divorce? Was the marriage dissolved? We don’t have a clue. When my mother-in-law shared her father’s immigration papers with me years ago, I remember asking her if she knew what happened to Mary. She didn’t. Now thanks to a hint another researcher posted on her ancestry.com tree and who then shared where she got the information when I contacted her, I’ve been able to solve the mystery of the wife George left behind in Scotland. But there are still questions to answer so the search isn’t over. By the way, George and Bertha named their only daughter Mary.

References

• 1891 Scotland census, registration district Bothwell, civil parish Bothwell, County Lanarkshire.
• 1901 Scotland census, registration district Bellshill, civil parish Bothwell, County Lanarkshire.
• Athya-Smith marriage license no. 20342, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 
• Flag of Scotland, none known, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Scotland.svg.
• George Athya, List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival.
• George Durie Athya/Mary Ann Athya marriage, Statutory Registers Marriages 644/10 1036, National Records of Scotland.
• John Athya, Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924.
• John McClelland Athya, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.
• Mary Athya, Declaration of Passenger to Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A), 1919-1924.
• New Orbiston Rows, Housing Conditions of Miners, Scottish Mining Website; http://www.scottishmining.co.uk/236.html.
• Our Records: Irregular Marriage in Scotland, ScotlandsPeople; https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/article/irregular-marriage-scotland.
• William McClelland Athya, Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. 

Josephine Larimer

Josephine Larimer, daughter of William Larimer and Magdalene Neley, was born in Pennsylvania on August 21, 1838. I can document seven children in this family—Harriet Larimer, Amanda Larimer, Washington Larimer, Elizabeth Larimer, William Larimer, Josephine Larimer, and Robert Larimer. Josephine is the 2nd great grand aunt of my husband. Their nearest common relatives are her parent, William Larimer and Magdalena Neley.

Josephine comes from a line that I felt needed a deeper dive into. I was specifically interested in finding out more about her mother, Magdalene. Josephine’s sister, Elizabeth Larimer Horne, is my husband’s direct ancestor. Elizabeth’s death certificate listed Magdalene’s birthplace as Ireland so I wanted to know more. What I found was census records that listed her birthplace as Pennsylvania, which I tend to believe more accurate than the death certificate. Magdalene would have provided the information for the census record whereas the informant on Elizabeth’s death certificate was her daughter, Lydia Horne, who wouldn’t have had first hand knowledge. I don’t have enough information yet to tell Madgalene’s story so instead decided to write about Josephine, who was easier to track through time.

On August 10, 1850, Josephine and her family lived in the Peebles Township of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Her father worked as a house carpenter. Both of her parents were 50 years old. A 19-year-old male named David Patterson lived in the home. He too was a carpenter so probably worked with Josephine’s father. The house was full with seven of the Larimer children living there, three of them adults—Harriet (age 25), Amanda (age 23) and Washington (age 20). Josephine (age 12) and her brother Robert (age 10) were the only children attending school.

On June 11, 1860, Josephine, her parents, and brothers Washington and William continued to live in the Peebles Township. Her father, and now Washington, worked as a carpenter. Josephine’s father had a personal estate valued at $200.

I have been unable to find Josephine in the 1870 census but it appears that she married William Alexander Thompson, son of David Thompson and Susan Larimer, about 1870. I have yet to determine if his mother, whose maiden name was Larimer, had any connection to Josephine’s family. It wasn’t long before their family began to grow with daughter Harriet Lewella Thompson’s birth taking place in 1871. A second child was born in Pittsburgh on February 17, 1873—a son they named James L. Thompson. Unfortunately, Harriett only lived three years, dying on June 24, 1874 from scarlatina anginosa, better known as scarlet fever. They buried Harriet at Allegheny Cemetery on June 26. The following year, Josephine found herself pregnant again and gave birth to a son in Pittsburgh on September 7, 1875. They named him William, perhaps after his father.

Record of Harriett Lewella Thompson's death (click to enlarge)

The Thompson family lived on Hiland Avenue in Pittsburgh in 1874 but by June 12, 1880, had moved and lived on Pennsylvania Avenue in Pittsburgh. Her 81-year-old mother lived in the home. She was enumerated as Maggie Larimer and widowed. Like her father, Josephine’s husband was a carpenter. She and her husband had two children at the time, James and William. At age 7, James was attending school. William, just 4 years old, was not. Josephine gave birth to a fourth child they named Joseph, I assume after her, on March 31, 1883. Sadly, he died from diphtheria on October 14, 1885 at the age of 2 years, 6 months, and 13 days. They buried Joseph the next day at Homewood Cemetery in Pittsburgh.

On June 1, 1900, Josephine, William, and their son William lived in a rental home on St. Andrew Street in Pittsburgh. She was enumerated in the census as having had three children, two of which were living. Josephine, her husband, and son were all able to read and write. The family now had at least a third generation of carpenters with both William and son working in that profession. 

On May 6, 1910, Josephine and William lived on Pace Street in Pittsburgh. The census enumerator noted that they had been married for 49 years, which doesn’t sync with the 1880 census. I really need to find them in the 1870 census records. The 1880 record shows that Josephine had given birth to five children, with only one living. I have yet to find a record to document the fifth child. There was a James L. Thompson and his family living on Princeton Place which appears to be adjoined to Pace Street. Josephine and William lived at house number 207 and James lived at house number 209. The age for James is right so I feel pretty certain he is her only surviving child. James and his wife Margaret had five children at the time—Joseph W. Thompson, Margaret J. Thompson, Marie A. Thompson, Ruth D. Thompson, and Helen G. Thompson. They had lost one child. James was a carpenter, the same occupation as William. 

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania census, 1910 (click to enlarge)

Josephine’s husband William died from a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 73 years, 7 months, and 10 days on June 21, 1911. A private funeral service was held at the River Avenue home of their son James on June 23, with burial following at the German Lutheran Cemetery in Pittsburgh. William’s “Record of Burial Place of Veteran” on file with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs notes that he was buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery. Unfortunately, I can’t figure out if the cemeteries named are the same, just different names for them. Josephine’s husband served as a Sergeant with Company B of the 123rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry from May 13, 1863 to July 1, 1865. She filed for a widow's pension on July 5, 1911.

Record of Burial Place of Veteran for William A. Thompson

On January 7, 1920, Josephine was enumerated as an inmate at the Ladies Grand Army Home on Woodstock Avenue in Swissvale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The Ladies Grand Army Home provided care to Civil War widows. She died there on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1925 from chronic myocarditis (“an inflammation of the heart muscle”) contributed by arteriosclerosis (commonly called “hardening of the arteries”). She was 87 years old. Josephine was buried on January 2, 1926 at German Lutheran Cemetery (again, is this St. Peter’s Cemetery?) in Pittsburgh. She was survived by her son James. 

References

• Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861–1934.
• Joseph Thompson, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., Deaths, 1870–1905.
• Josephine Larnar [sic] Thompson Certificate of Death no. 125137, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Mrs. Josephine Lamar Thompson, Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 2, 1926.
• Myocarditis, Mayo Clinic; https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/myocarditis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352539.
• Pennsylvania Births and Christenings, 1709-1950, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2N1-S47 : 15 February 2020), William A. Thompson in entry for William Thompson, 1875.
• Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh City Deaths, 1870-1905, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZ7N-K46 : 2 March 2021), Harriet Lewella Thompson, 24 Jun 1874; citing v 10 p 162, Allegheny County Courthouse, Pittsburgh; FHL microfilm 505,820.
• Registration of Births in the City of Pittsburgh, State of Pennsylvania, A.D. 1873.
• The Ladies' G.A.R. Nursing Home, Abandoned America; https://www.abandonedamerica.us/slideshow463947.html.
• Thompson death notice, Pittsburgh Daily Post, June 22, 1911.
• U.S. Federal Census, Peebles Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1850, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1880, 1900, 1910.
• U.S. Federal Census, Swissvale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1920.
• William A. Thompson, Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Burial Cards, 1777–2012.
• William Alexander Thompson Certificate of Death no.59337, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• William Thompson obituary, Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 23, 1911.

Elsie Augusta Smith

Elsie Augusta Smith, daughter of Erastus C. Smith and Jane Rachel Anderson, was born in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania on September 27, 1869. She was the oldest of four children—Elsie Augusta Smith, Mary Jane Smith, Florence G. Smith, and Barton Richard Smith. She would be the first cousin 2x removed of my husband Charles Murphy. Their nearest common relatives are John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon, his 2nd great grandparents. I’m not sure if she went by Elsie, Augusta, or Gussie—I see them all in the records—but for this sketch, I’ll use Elsie.

Elsie was baptized on May 11, 1870 at the First Presbyterian Church in Apollo. She was listed as Elsie Augustus (Smith) in the Register of Baptisms.  

Register of Baptisms and Baptised Persons, U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1743-1970 (click to enlarge)

On June 24, 1870, the Smith family lived in the Kellys Station community of Apollo. Elsie’s father was a painter, her mother was keeping house. She was enumerated as Elsie A. Smith, age 8/12, born in September. Elsie’s maternal grandfather, Samuel Anderson, a 67-year-old laborer, lived with the family. The census enumerator did not record any real or personal estate information for Elsie’s father Erastus. Her grandfather Samuel was enumerated as having real estate valued at $1500 and a personal estate valued at $300.

On June 21, 1880, the Smith family still lived in Apollo. Elsie’s father, now 36 years old, still painted houses, but was noted as having been unemployed for six months that year. Jane, her mother, age 37, was keeping house. Elsie, age 10, was at home, along with sister Mary, age 6, sister Florence, age 4, and brother Frank, age 1. When Elsie was 16, her father Erastus died in Apollo on April 13, 1886 at the age of 43. His cause of death was from erysipelas, a superficial infection of the skin typically involving the lymphatic system. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

Elsie married James Elmer Wible, son of Robert Wible and Sarah Bowsed, in Mahoning, Ohio on November 18, 1896. They had one child, a son they named Harry Anderson Wible, born in Apollo on January 31, 1897. 

Wible-Smith marriage license

On June 12, 1900, Elsie, enumerated as Gussie, and her 3-year-old son Harry, lived with her mother and brother Barton in Apollo. The census record shows Elsie had one child, who as noted above, was living in the home. Her birth was shown as September 1870. Her brother Barton, now age 20, was an opener in a steel mill. It appears that no one else in the home was working. The census enumerator noted that she had been married four years, but there was no sign of her husband on the census record. I’ve looked but have yet to find him in the 1900 census. I did find James listed in the 1902 Pittsburgh City Directory; however, the directory didn’t list spouses. At the time, James lived on Brushton Avenue with his brother George G. Wible.

At the age of 37 and a half years old, Elsie died on March 30, 1907 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. She had been diagnosed a year earlier with pulmonary tuberculosis when she succumbed to the illness. Elsie was buried at Prospect Cemetery in Apollo. At the time of her death, she lived at 7825 Bennett Street in Pittsburgh, the same address James was listed in in the 1904 and 1906 Pittsburgh City Directories. Elsie shares a tombstone at the cemetery with her sister Mary who died of heart disease in Apollo on January 12, 1908, less than a year after Elsie’s death. The Apollo Sentinel reported Mary’s death on January 17, 1908:

Death of Mary Jane Smith—after a lingering illness Miss Mary Jane Smith died at the home of her mother, Mrs. J. R. Smith, on North Sixth Street, on Sunday, January 12th 1908, aged 33 years, 9 months and 8 days. The deceased was a Presbyterian by faith and was well liked by all who knew her. She is survived by a mother and a brother, Bart Smith, and a sister, Florence Smith. Funeral services were held Wednesday. Interment was made at the Prospect cemetery.

The daughters in this Smith family would not be allowed to grow old. In just three years, all three young women were gone. Like Else, her sister Florence also contracted pulmonary tuberculosis and died on December 7, 1909. Florence was buried at Prospect Cemetery with her sisters Elsie and Mary. The Apollo Sentinel reported her death on December 10, 1909:

Florence Smith, daughter of Mrs. Jane Smith, died at her home on North Sixth Street on Tuesday, December 7th, aged 33 years. Death was caused by tuberculosis. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Funeral services were held at her late home Thursday afternoon. Rev. Leon Stewart preached the funeral services. Interment in the Prospect Cemetery.

James lived with his brother George G. Wible in Ward 3 of Pittsburgh in 1910. Both he and George were building contractors. He died of pneumonia on January 8, 1912 in Pittsburgh. Their son Harry was left an orphan at age 14. 

Tombstone photo by Kathleen Anthony, Find a Grave contributor 47322047.

References

• Elsie A. Smith, U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1743-1970.
• Elsie Augusta Wible death certificate no. 28505, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com: accessed 21 February 2021), memorial page for Elsie A. Smith Wible (26 Sep 1869–30 Mar 1907), Find a Grave Memorial no. 55232708, citing Prospect Cemetery, Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, USA; maintained by Kathleen Anthony (contributor 47322047).
• James Elmer Wible death certificate no. 7786, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
• Jas. E. Wible and Augustus Smith marriage license, State of Ohio, Mahoning County.
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1902, 1906.
• U.S. Federal Census, Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1870, 1880, 1900.
• U.S. Federal Census, East Franklin, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1870, 1880.
• U.S. Federal Census, Pittsburgh Ward 13, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1910.

Baby Boy Smith

Baby Boy Smith, son of Russell W. Smith and Marian Gertrude Datt, was born at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on February 2, 1965. He would be my husband’s 2nd cousin with their nearest common relatives being John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne, my husband’s great grandparents.

Sadly, he only lived for 12 and ½ hours. An autopsy was performed that determined he died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage—an aneurysm in the brain. Baby Boy Smith was buried at Uniondale Cemetery in Pittsburgh on February 4. 

At the time of his birth, Baby Boy Smith’s parents, who married in 1960, lived in the Wexford area of Pittsburgh. They would go on to have two more children, a boy and girl, who will remain nameless here for privacy reasons.

When his mother died 33 years later, her obituary noted that she was preceded in death by her father. When his father died 46 years later, his obituary noted that he was preceded by his first wife Marian as well as his second wife Eleanor. Baby Boy Smith was not mentioned in either obituary.

I’m always saddened when I find an infant death in my research. It brings me a little comfort to remember them here. 

References

• Baby Boy Smith Certificate of Death no. 012113-65, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Vital Statistics. 
• Marian Datt Smith obituary, News Record, North Hills, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1993.
• Russell W. Smith obituary, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 27, 2011.
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subarachnoid_hemorrhage.

Moses Horne, a 2nd great grandfather

Moses Horne, son of George Horne and Mary Brown, was born in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on April 6, 1832 or 1833. The book History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Volume 2 by John Newton Boucher includes a sketch for George Richard Horne, son of Moses. In the book, Boucher notes “In this class may be mentioned George Richard Horne, a representative of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and a roller in the Vandergrift mills of the Amrican [sic] Sheet Steel and Tin Plate Company. His grandfather, who was the founder of the family in America, emigrated to the United States and settled in Maryland, whence he came to East Liberty, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. He was a well known contractor in his day, and furnished the stone for the building of the old Allegheny court house and the county jail. He died at an early age, being drowned in the Butcher’s Run flood in 1838.” The grandfather mentioned in this passage would have been the Moses’ father, George Horne. It also means that because George Horne died in 1838, Moses would only have been five or six years old when the flood took place. I haven’t found any other records showing that Moses had siblings, so it’s possible he was an only child. Moses was my husband’s 2nd great-grandfather.

Raised in Allegheny County, Moses became a carpenter, which records show he did for many years. During that time, he also became a contractor (like his father before him), as well as worked in the retail business.

On August 10, 1850, Moses and his 56-year-old widowed mother lived with the Bernard O’Neil family in the Peebles Township of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was 17-years-old and working as a laborer. In 1858, Moses married Elizabeth Larimer, daughter of William Larimer and Magdalene Neley. Between 1859 and 1873, they had eight children—Amanda Larimer Horne, Mary Jennie Horne, Lydia Enna (or Emma) Horne, Josephine B. Horne, Ollie Bertha Horne, George Richard Horne, Keziah Chambers Horne, and one unknown child. I can only document seven of the children.

5/3/24 update: The unknown child was William Alexander Horne, born November 23, 1871, and likely died an infant. Also, Ollie Bertha Horne is incorrect. I believe her correct name to be Olean (or Olena) “Ollie” R. Horne. And Lydia's middle name is likely Etta.

Daughters Amanda and Josephine

On June 11, 1860, Moses, Elizabeth, Amanda, and his 70-year-old mother “Mary” lived in the Peebles Township of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Moses was working as a carpenter. In 1862, they lived on Shady Lane in East Liberty. He paid taxes in Allegheny County during the months of May and June 1863. Moses was working as a retail dealer in 1865 and paid $10 in annual taxes in Division No. Five of Collection District Number 22. It was with the help of these tax records that I finally found Moses in the 1850 census record after having looked solidly for several weeks. I’d previously looked for Moses in those census records, but this time around, I looked almost every day to no avail until I discovered the tax records. I was looking in the wrong township. It made me very happy to find the 1850 census record if I must say so myself! I needed to see if there were other children in the Horne family and it was this record that told me the answer was probably not. The 1862 Pittsburgh city directory showed that Moses’ widowed mother was still living in the home and he was still working as a carpenter. He was still living on Shady Lane and working as a carpenter in 1868 but there was no mention of his mother Mary. Sometime during that year, Moses moved his family to Paulton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. 

On July 8, 1870, Moses and his family lived in the Manor Dale area of the Washington Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Moses, who was working as a carpenter, had real estate valued at $1200 and a personal estate valued at $500. Elizabeth was keeping house. Daughters Amanda, Mary, and Lydia were attending school; son George was just a baby at five months. Moses’ 75-year-old mother Mary was living with them. It took me a while to find Moses in the 1870 census record due to a transcription error—Worn vs. Horn or Horne—but like in 1850, I kept looking and finally found the record. Around 1875, Moses and his family moved to Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. He immersed himself into the community by becoming active in politics as well as joining the Apollo United Methodist Church. 

On June 25, 1880, Moses and his family still lived in Apollo. He was a dealer in groceries. His 10-year-old son George was a clerk in a store so was most likely helping his father. Elizabeth stayed busy keeping house while daughter Amanda was a dressmaker. I can personally attest to Amanda’s sewing skills as I have in my possession a baby dress she made for her son Benjamin Gordon Smith about 1884. Click here if you’d like to see and read what I wrote about Ben’s dress several years ago. At age 20, Amanda was no longer attending school, but Jennie, Lydia, Josephine, Ollie, and George all were. Moses’ youngest daughter Keziah was enumerated as Kizzie. In 1882, Moses attended the wedding of his daughter Amanda to John Milton Smith, my husband’s direct ancestors. The wedding took place in Apollo, so it’s possible that if the Horne family had not moved there, I wouldn’t be married to my husband today as she might have never met John and the family wouldn’t be what it is today!

Moses Horne family in the 1880 Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania census

On April 3, 1890, Moses attended another wedding, that of his daughter Lydia to Harry T. Henry in Apollo. And then he attended the wedding of his son George to Emma Schmidt in Armstrong County on March 26, 1892. 

A Republican, Moses was a member of Apollo’s city council in 1895.

On June 1, 1900, Moses, Elizabeth, and Josephine were living in Apollo. Moses had returned to his carpentry work. At age 35, Josephine was apparently not working. The census enumerator recorded Elizabeth as the mother of eight children, five of which were living. 

Moses died at home of heart disease in Apollo at the age of 77 on April 11, 1910. His son George was the informant on the death certificate. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery there in Apollo. The census taker came around four days later.

Moses' death certificate

Moses’ obituary ran in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on April 12:

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1910
Deaths in Nearby Towns
Apollo, PA., April 11.—Moses Horne, aged 77, died today at his home here. He was a steel worker and had lived here for 50 years. He was a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Harry Henry of Vandergrift, Mrs. H. Smith and Miss Josephine of Apollo, and Mrs. V. Shepler of Leechburg; and one son, William Horne of Apollo.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1910

I found his obituary interesting in that most of the information is wrong, at least as far as my research goes:

• Not once did I find any record that said Moses was a steel worker.
• He didn’t move to Apollo until around 1875, which would be 35 years, not 50. 
• The church records I found have him attending the Methodist church, not the Episcopal.
• His daughter Amanda married John Milton Smith, not Mr. H. Smith.
• His only son was named George Richard Horne, not William.
• It did not list his wife as a survivor. She didn’t die until 1913 and her death noticed listed her as the wife of the late Moses Horne.

Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1913

Whatever the case, I’m happy I decided to write this sketch for Moses. When I started it, I didn’t have any information on his father and only a name for his mother. Finding the History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania sketch on George Richard Horne helped take me backwards one more generation which is always exciting. 

References

• Bertha Edna Smith Athya photo collection.
• Boucher, John Newton, History of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, vol. 2, pp. 599–600.
• Certificate of Death number 34752, Moses Horne, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Vital Statistics, April 12, 1910.
• East Liberty (Pittsburgh); https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Liberty_(Pittsburgh).
• Elizabeth Horne obituary, Pittsburgh Daily Post, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1913.
• Marriage License, George R. Horne and Emma Schmidt, State of Pennsylvania, County of Armstrong, March 26, 1892.
• Marriage License, Lydia E. Horne and Harry T. Henry, State of Pennsylvania, County of Armstrong, April 7, 1890.
• Members in Full Connection, Apollo United Methodist Church; Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669–2013.
• Members in Full Connection, Apollo United Methodist Church; Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Church and Town Records, 1669–2013.
• Moses Horne obituary, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1910.
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1862.
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1868.
• U.S. Federal Census, Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1880, 1900.
• U.S. Federal Census, Manor Dale, Washington Township, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, 1870.
• U.S. Federal Census, Peebles, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 1850, 1860.
• U.S. Federal Census, Washington, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, 1870.
• U.S. IRS Tax Assessment Lists, 1862–1918 for Moses Horne, Pennsylvania District 22; Annual Lists; May 1865.
• U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863–1865 for Moses Horne, Pennsylvania 22nd vol. 1 of 3.

John W. Close Jr.

The 52 Ancestors theme this week is “same name” so this post is about a man named John. John had four other men named John in his life, including three that had the same middle initial as him—W.

John W. Close Jr., son of John W. Close Sr. and Margaret Wylie Athya, was born in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio on July 30, 1917. He was the third child of three—James Close, Ina Close, and John W. Close Jr. John would be the 1st cousin 1x removed of my husband Charles. Their nearest common relatives are James Athya and Jemima Durie of Glasgow, Scotland.

John was the first-generation American in this family. His brother James was born in Bellshill, Scotland in 1905; his sister Ina was born in Scotland on Christmas Day 1907. His parents, brother James, and sister Ina left Scotland in 1912, traveling to Canada. Once arriving in Canada, they settled at Joggins Mines in Nova Scotia, where they lived for two years. In July 1914, John Sr. left Nova Scotia for America, having an uncle in Steubenville, Jefferson County, Ohio. John Sr. settled in Steubenville and then brought his family there in November. John Sr. bought a two-story house on Grandview Avenue to raise his family.

Ship manifest for Maggie Athya Close, her son James, and daughter Ina

The 1920s brought some stability to the Close family. On January 22, 1920, the census enumerator found them living in the Grandview Avenue home. John was a toddler at 2 ½ years old. His father worked on heater furnaces in a mill. A divorced friend named Della Jarvis lived in the home with them. But their stability would be shattered in 1925 when James, John’s 19-year-old brother, died of pneumonia at home in Steubenville on February 21. They buried James at Union Cemetery in Steubenville. And then four years later (about 1929), John’s sister Ina married Joseph Schneider and moved out of the home, leaving 11-year-old John home alone with his parents. Ina didn’t go far though—she and Joseph remained in Steubenville until 1950 when they built a home in nearby Wintersville, less than five miles from Steubenville.

1920 Soundex card for the John Close family

On April 2, 1930, the family still lived in the Grandview Avenue house. John’s father continued to work in the steel mill, now as a laborer. They had two lodgers living in the home at the time—John W. Irwin (the third male named “John W” living under the same roof) and his wife Norma. John married Dorothy Elizabeth Sells, daughter of John W. Sells (4th man named John W) and Ella L. Rine, in Wellsburg, Brooke, West Virginia on May 15, 1936. He was 22 and she 21. Their marriage was blessed with two children—John Carl Close (5th man named John, born 1939) and Shirley Jean Close (born 1941).

1936 marriage license for John and Dorothy

Sometime after the wedding, John and Dorothy moved the family to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. On April 26, 1940, they lived in a house located 160 South 16th Street. John worked a jack hammer (at least that’s what I believe the census enumerator wrote) for the W.P.A., or Work Projects Administration. According to Wikipedia, “The Works Progress Administration (WPA; renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration) was the largest and most ambitious American New Deal agency, employing millions of people (mostly unskilled men) to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads. By the time an unemployed John registered for the World War II draft in Pittsburgh on October 16, 1940, they had moved to 1618 Roland Street in Pittsburgh. John was 5’ 8 ½” tall and weighed 150 pounds, had brown eyes and hair, a ruddy complexion, and a scar on his lip and chin. John served as a private first class in the U.S. Marine Corps. He entered into active service in Pittsburgh on August 8, 1945 and served until April 26, 1946 when he was separated with an honorable discharge at Parris Island, South Carolina.

On January 18, 1950, John filed an “Application for World War II Compensation.” At the time, he lived at 49 Thomas Street in Crafton, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His application was disallowed for having served less than 60 days active service during the eligibility period. John was still living on Thomas Street in 1957. He worked as a foreman at Dacar in Pittsburgh, which appears to still be in existence. According to their webpage, Dacar “is the oldest Pittsburgh-based company making water treatment chemicals in southwestern Pennsylvania.” It’s interesting to me that he worked there. His brother James, who died in 1925, was a chemist.

The year 1957 would end on a sad note with the death of John’s 80-year-old father in Steubenville on December 15, 1957. John Sr. suffered from lobar pneumonia. His funeral was held on December 18 at the Cole Brothers Funeral Home, followed by burial at Union Cemetery in Steubenville. Ten years would pass before the death of his 88-year-old mother of congestive heart failure on December 19, 1968 at Ina’s Wintersville home. Maggie was buried at Union Cemetery beside her husband John Sr. Another 10 years would pass before John lost his sister Ina who died in Steubenville at the age of 70 on August 16, 1978. She was buried at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Steubenville. And then another 10 years would pass before John died of lung cancer at Forbes Hospital in Pittsburgh on July 12, 1988. He was buried at Jefferson Memorial Park on Curry Hollow Road Pleasant Hills, a suburb of Pittsburgh. John was survived by his wife Dorothy, son John, daughter Shirley, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His obituary notes that he had been an instructor at a vocational school. He lived in Crafton Heights at the time of his death.

Gravestone photo by Searching, Find A Grave ID 47333277

I wonder if any of his grandchildren were named John.


References

• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Death, 071043, John Close Jr., July 12, 1988.
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Death, 9339, James Close, February 23, 1925.
• Darcar Industries, Company Biography; http://www.dacar.com/about/FSabout.html.
• John W Close Jr. obituary, The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, July 13, 1988.
• Marriage License Record, 236, Brooke County, West Virginia, John Close and Dorothy Sells, May 15, 1936.
• Ohio, Birth Index, 1908–1964.
• Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777–1999.
• Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Applications, WWII, 1950.
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1957.
• Registration Card, D.S.S. Form 1, John Close Jr., undated.
• S.S. Grampian, Card Manifest Data Sheet, John Close, July 9, 1914 and Maggie Close, November 8, 1914.
• Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Multiple Registrations March 14, 1938.
• U.S. Census, Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio, 1920, 1930.
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010.
• U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s–Current.
• Union Cemetery Association Interment Directory, James Close, February 24, 1915.

Florence G. Smith

Florence G. Smith, daughter of Erastus Smith and Jane Anderson, was born in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania on December 2, 1876. She was the third child of four—Elsie Augusta Smith, Mary Jane Smith, Florence G. Smith, and Barton Richard Smith. Florence would be my husband’s 1st cousin 2x removed. Their nearest common relatives are his 2nd great grandparents, John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon.

Florence lost her status as the baby of the family on September 7, 1879 when her brother Barton was born in Apollo on September 7, 1879.

On June 21, 1880, the Smith family lived in Apollo. Her father was a house painter and her mother a housekeeper. Florence was just nine years old when her 43-year-old father Erastus, a veteran of the Civil War, died in Apollo on April 13, 1886. He was buried at Apollo Cemetery there in Apollo.

On June 11, 1900, Florence lived in the Apollo home of John and Effie Hamilton. Mr. Hamilton was a hardware merchant in the area. A servant for the family, Florence most likely tended to their two young children—Ester (age 6) and Martha (age 3).

On March 30, 1907, Florence’s sister Elsie lost her one-year battle with pulmonary tuberculosis in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. According to Elsie’s death certificate, she was buried at Apollo Cemetery but she has a tombstone at Prospect Cemetery in Apollo. Elsie was just 37 years old and left one known son behind—Harry Anderson Wible. Less than a year later, Florence’s sister Mary died of heart disease in Apollo on January 12, 1908. The “Apollo Sentinel” reported her death on January 17, 1908:

Death of Mary Jane Smith—after a lingering illness Miss Mary Jane Smith died at the home of her mother, Mrs. J. R. Smith, on North Sixth Street, on Sunday, January 12th 1908, aged 33 years, 9 months and 8 days. The deceased was a Presbyterian by faith and was well liked by all who knew her. She is survived by a mother and a brother, Bart Smith, and a sister, Florence Smith. Funeral services were held Wednesday. Interment was made at the Prospect cemetery.

Two of the Smith children were gone now but it didn’t end there. In September 1909, Florence herself contracted pulmonary tuberculosis. She was attended by prominent Apollo physician Dr. T. J. Henry but succumbed to the disease on December 7. Florence was buried at Prospect Cemetery in Apollo. The “Apollo Sentinel” reported her death on December 10, 1909:

Florence Smith, daughter of Mrs. Jane Smith, died at her home on North Sixth Street on Tuesday, December 7th, aged 33 years. Death was caused by tuberculosis. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Funeral services were held at her late home Thursday afternoon. Rev. Leon Stewart preached the funeral services. Interment in the Prospect Cemetery.

Florence Smith's death certificate

Her death was also reported by “The Pittsburgh Press” on December 11:

Miss Florence G. Smith, only daughter of Mrs. Jane Smith of Apollo, Pa., was buried from the home of her mother Thursday. She was born in 1876 and was a member of the Presbyterian church. One brother, Barton Smith and the mother survive. The deceased father, Erastus C. Smith served throughout the Civil war and was a member of the 139th regiment Co. E.

Christmas was filled with sorrow that year.

Keziah Chambers Horne

Keziah Chambers Horne, daughter of Moses Horne and Elizabeth Larimer, was born on July 24, 1873 in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. She was one of eight children—Amanda Larimer Horne, Jennie Horne, Lydia E. Horne, Josephine B. Horne, Ollie Bertha Horne, George Richard Horne, Sr., Keziah Chambers Horne, and one unknown child. I don’t know the sex or name of the eighth child. It was noted in 1900 census records when Elizabeth Horne was enumerated as having had eight children. I have only found seven children for her. Keziah was my husband’s great grand aunt.

5/3/24 update: The unknown child was William Alexander Horne, born November 23, 1871, and likely died an infant. Also, Ollie Bertha Horne is incorrect. I believe her correct name to be Olean (or Olena) “Ollie” R. Horne. And Lydia's middle name is likely Etta.

On June 26, 1880, Keziah and her family lived in Apollo. His father was a “dealer in groceries” and her mother a dressmaker. She was enumerated as Kizzie. Keziah was received from probation at Apollo United Methodist Church in Apollo on August 25, 1889. She was baptized there on September 10, 1889.

1880 census record

Keziah married Lewis Hamland Shepler Jr., son of Lewis Hamland Shepler Sr. and Louisa Reeves, on May 23, 1896 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in a ceremony performed by Rev. C. B. King. Lewis was part of the Shepler family that originated in Germany and whose presence in America dated back prior to the Revolutionary war. Lewis was employed as a merchant, involved in the family business—dry goods. Together Keziah and Lewis had seven children—Bryon Reeves Shepler, Elizabeth Horne Shepler, Josephine Marie Shepler, Louise Margaret Shepler, Harry Thomas Shepler, Howard Moses Shepler, and Harold Lewis Shepler. Bryon was born on August 5, 1896 in Leechburg, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, just over two months after Keziah and Lewis were married.

Marriage License for Keziah and Lewis

Keziah’s daughter Elizabeth was born in Leechburg on May 3, 1900. The census enumerator visited their home on June 1 and found Keziah, Lewis, and their two children (Bryon and Mary) renting a home there in Leechburg. A daughter was enumerated as Mary (age one month) so I assume that was Elizabeth. The age is correct. Keziah and Lewis had been married four years. She was enumerated as having had two children, both of which were living. Lewis was a dry goods merchant. Lewis’ brother Van T. Shepler opened a dry goods store in Leechburg in 1897. Perhaps Lewis was working in that store with or for his brother. There was an 18-year-old black woman named Eva M. Taylor living in the home, enumerated as a servant.

1900 census record

Keizah’s daughter Josephine was born February 3, 1904 in Blairsville, Indiana County, Pennsylvania, about 25 miles from Apollo. Van Shepler opened another store in Blairsville in 1902 so perhaps Lewis moved the family there to work in that store. They were still living in Blairsville when their daughter Louise was born on August 7, 1906. Keziah and Lewis lived in Kittanning, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania in 1908. Lewis was working in the dry goods and notions business. Again, Van Shepler opened a Kittanning store in 1905 so I’m wondering if Lewis moved the family again to work in that store.

1908 city directory

Keziah’s father Moses died of heart disease on April 11, 1910 in Apollo. Moses was buried on April 13 at Apollo Cemetery. I don’t know if Keziah was living in Apollo at the time but by April 20, 1910, she and her family had moved to Apollo where they lived on North 9th Street. Keziah and Lewis had celebrated 14 years of marriage by the time the census enumerator came around. It was the first marriage for both. Keziah was enumerated as the mother of four children, all of which were living. Lewis worked as a manager in a dry goods store. On December 18, 1910, Keziah gave birth to twin boys in Apollo—Harry Thomas Shepler and Harold Lewis Shepler. Tragically, Harry died a month later on January 25, 1911 of catarrhal pneumonia (a leading cause of infant mortality in the early 1900s) after being sick for just three days. Baby Harry was buried at Apollo Cemetery on January 26. On February 18, 1912, Keziah gave birth to a baby boy they named Howard Moses Shepler. Howard was given the middle name Moses I assume to honor Keziah’s father. Keziah’s mother Elizabeth died in Apollo on May 1, 1913 after suffering from senile dementia for three years. Elizabeth was buried beside her husband at Apollo Cemetery on May 3. The Pittsburgh Daily Post carried a death notice on May 3:

Mrs. Elizabeth Horne, 83 years old, widow of Moses Horne, died in her home, in Apollo.

Keziah’s brother George was tragically killed in 1915 in a train accident. He died on December 19, 1915 from a fractured skull and other injuries caused after being struck by a locomotive on the Conemaugh Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad at the West Apollo Crossing. George was buried at Vandergrift Cemetery in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

By January 13, 1920, Keziah and her family had moved to 133 Lafayette Avenue in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, the home Keziah would live in for the rest of her life. Her son Bryon no longer lived in the home and Lewis was no longer working at a dry goods store. Instead, he was a chamber man at an acid plant. Keziah’s sister Lydia died in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on October 2, 1923. She was buried at Vandergrift Cemetery.

1920 census record

On April 11, 1930, the census enumerator again found the Shepler family living on Lafayette Avenue in Vandergrift. They owned the home which was valued at $7,500. In performing this census, the enumerator checked to see if the family had a radio. She (Mrs. Carrie Bell) didn’t find one at this home. Keziah and Lewis had now celebrated 25 years of marriage. Lewis was still a chamber man but now at a steel plant. The only children living in the home were Harold and Howard. Harold, at age 19, was married and joined by his wife Mildred. Harold worked at a gasoline station as an attendant.

On April 3, 1940, Keziah and Lewis are living alone in the Lafayette Avenue home. The house had gone down in value to $4,500. At age 68, Lewis was retired, or rather, pensioned, as written by the census enumerator. The highest grade that Keziah had completed in school was the 10th. Lewis graduated from high school, completing 12 grades. Keziah’s sister Josephine died in Apollo on March 24, 1941 of mitral stenosis at the age of 76. She was buried at Apollo Cemetery on March 26. Josephine was blind and never married. Her sister Amanda Larimer Horne Smith died on January 11, 1943 in Washington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Amanda was buried at Apollo Cemetery.

1940 census record

On January 29, 1953, 79-year-old Keziah suffered a fatal heart attack at her Lafayette Avenue home in Vandergrift. She died 12 hours later. Keziah was buried on February 1 at Riverview Cemetery (also known as Apollo Cemetery) in Apollo. Lewis lived for another five years before his death on June 13, 1958 in Oklahoma, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at Riverview Cemetery with Keziah.

I don't have a picture of Keziah but do have pictures of two of her sisters and several of her children so you can imagine what she might have looked like.

Sisters Josephine and Amanda

Sisters Amanda and Josephine

Antique postcards

Last weekend, I pulled out a large box of papers that came into our possession after the death of my mother-in-law. Busy with everything else in life, I sat the box aside without looking to see what was inside. Finally, after way too many years have passed, I opened the box and looked inside. Wow! It was full of genealogical treasures—obituaries, funeral cards, a few photos, school papers, letters, greeting cards, birth records, death records, etc. Lots of historical documents to keep a family historian happy for a long time.

Two items in the box caught my attention because of their age—postcards mailed to Helen Margaret Smith, my husband’s grand aunt. Now what is a grand aunt you ask? I didn’t know either so had to google it. Per Reference*, “a grand-aunt or grand-uncle is the sibling of your grandparent, while great-aunts and great-uncles are further removed. However, “grand” and “great” are often used interchangeably.” Helen’s sister was Bertha Edna Smith, my husband’s grandmother.

The first card is dated June 10, 1909 and is postmarked from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Helen lived in Paulton, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania at the time. Postage to mail the card was one cent. There is no message written on the postcard–just the word “Auntie.” The image on the front is labeled “Canal Scene, Bethlehem, PA.” Unfortunately, I don’t know which aunt might have sent the card. The card has slight damage around the edges but it otherwise in good condition.

The second card is dated November 9, 1911 and is postmarked from Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, a borough in Allegheny County, nine miles from Pittsburgh. Helen still lived in Paulton when she received this card. The message written on the card is “Am attending a Luther League Convention in St. Stephens Lutheran Church of E. E. Pitts” and is signed “Lovingly, E.C.H.” Again, I don’t know who sent the postcard but do know that Helen’s mother’s maiden name was Horne so it could be a member of that family. It was obviously someone close since it was signed “Lovingly.” The image on the front is labeled “Drive to Stanton Avenue, Highland Park, Pittsburgh, Pa.” This card has slightly more damage around the edges but like the 1909 card, is otherwise in good condition.

I was curious about the Luther league so searched Newspapers.com and found the following article published by The Pittsburgh Press on November 5, 1911:

The thirty-ninth semi-annual convention of the Pittsburgh district, Luther league will be held Thursday in St. Stephen’s Lutheran church, Hamilton and Brushton aves. In the morning Miss Gertrude Dunmire of Monongahela City, will speak on “How to Make Our Committees More Efficient.” In the afternoon addresses will be made by Rev. J. G. Reinartz, of East Liverpool, O., and E. F. Daume, of this city. K. J. F. Wilharm will render a report of the State Luthern league convention, recently held in Easton. In the evening, Rev. W. F. Kennerly, of Alliance, O., will speak on “The Cost of the Kingdom.” There are over 2,000 members of the Pittsburgh district League. C. W. H. Hess is president; Rev. H. B. Ernest vice president, Miss Margaret Strohecker secretary, and O. W. A. Oetting, treasurer.

The article doesn’t tell me much but it was nice to connect it to the message written on the postcard.

I blogged about Helen on December 10, 2014. She was just a teenager when she died on March 18, 1913 after suffering from endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart per Wikipedia. A beautiful young woman taken too soon.

Helen Margaret Smith

Unknown friend and Helen Margaret Smith (on the right)

52 Ancestors – Erastus C. Smith (76-2016)

Erastus C. Smith, son of John Thompson Smith and Jane Gordon, was born October 11, 1842 in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the second child of six—Electra Burnette Smith, Erastus C. Smith, Eunice Alvira Smith, Martha Jane Smith, Minerva Smith, and John Milton Smith. Erastus also had four half-siblings from his mother’s first marriage to John McIlwain—Margaret McIlwain, James Xenophon McIlwain, Eva McIlwain, and John S. McIlwain. He was sometimes called Ras. My husband descends from his brother John Milton Smith.

By 1848, the family had moved to Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania where Erastus was exposed to the local political world. His father John, a local innkeeper, was elected a town councilman on May 3, 1848. According to the book From 1816—1916: History of Apollo Pennsylvania—The Year of a Hundred Years by Thomas James Henry, M.D., the “voters were commanded to meet at the house of John Smith and elect a burgess and five councilmen.” The book further stated that “For many years the election was regularly held at the home of J. T. Smith and Mrs. Smith always served a turkey dinner to the board.” By the spring of 1850, John was serving on the first board of school directors.

It was in Apollo that Erastus learned the reality of life and death at an early age. He was just seven years old when his one year old sister Minerva contracted cholera and died on May 17, 1850. Minerva was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. Later that year on November 7, 1850, the census enumerator recorded the family in Apollo. The family home was valued at $2000. Erastus’ 20 year old half-sister Margaret McIlwain and 14 year old half-brother John McIlwain lived in the home with the family. T. J. Henry noted in his book that during the 1850s, Erastus played the tenor drums in a martial band which performed on drill days such as the 4th of July.

1880 Soundex Card for Erastus and his family
Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania

On July 5, 1860, Erastus and his family still lived in Apollo. His father John had a personal estate valued at $500 and the value of his inn, located on the corner of North and Canal Streets, was unchanged since 1850 at $2000. Seventeen year old Erastus was a laborer, most likely working in the inn.

The Civil War began in 1861 and on September 1, 1862, Erastus mustered into Company E of the 139th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment as a private in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Perhaps wanting to make sure his spiritual life was in order before entering the war, Erastus joined the First Presbyterian Church in Apollo. The church register shows that Erastus was admitted to the church by “Escamination” on October 10, 1862. Erastus had served a little over a year when on May 3, 1863 he was wounded in the Battle of Salem Heights in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. While still serving during the Civil War, Erastus lost his father John who died on March 11, 1864. His father was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. I wonder if Erastus was allowed to go home to mourn with his family. Or when he even learned of the death of his father. The following year on May 18, 1865, Erastus was promoted to full corporal. He mustered out of service on June 21, 1865 at Washington, DC. According to his discharge papers, Erastus was five feet seven inches in height. He had a light complexion, gray eyes, and sandy hair.

Erastus married Jane Rachel Anderson, daughter of Samuel Anderson and Mary Mawheny, on March 24, 1869 in Apollo. Together they had four children—Elsie Augusta Smith, Mary Jane Smith, Florence G. Smith, and Richard Barton Smith.

On June 24, 1870, Erastus, Jane, and their daughter Elsie lived in the Kellys Station subdivision of Apollo. Erastus, 25 years old, was painting houses. His father-in-law Samuel Anderson lived in the home with Erastus and his family.

Erastus was suspended from the First Presbyterian Church in Apollo on March 21, 1872.

Erastus’ mother Jane died on March 11, 1877. She was buried in the family plot at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo.

On June 21, 1880, Erastus, Jane, and his four children continued to live in Apollo. Erastus was a house painter.

Erastus’ life was cut short at the age of 43 when he died from erysipelas in Apollo on April 13, 1886. According to About Health,* “Erysipelas is a superficial infection of the skin, which typically involves the lymphatic system. Erysipelas is also known as St. Anthony’s Fire, an accurate description of the intensity of this rash. Erysipelas was a feared disease in pre-antibiotic days.” Erastus was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. His youngest son Richard was just seven years old having celebrated his birthday the day before—the same age as Erastus when his little sister Minerva died. Sometimes life repeats itself.


* Erysipelas—St. Anthony’s Fire, About Health; http://dermatology.about.com/cs/infectionbacteria/a/erysipelas.htm.