Matthew Gordon: A Wrong Turn Opened a Door to History

When I first began exploring my husband’s ancestry in 2001, I was given the names Matthew and Elizabeth Gordon as the parents of his 2nd great‑grandmother, Jane Gordon. I took their names at face value, included them in my notes, but never took the time to research them until December 2025. I spent several days tracing Matthew’s life, convinced I had found the right man. His will, written in 1807, named wife Elizabeth and daughter Jane—already married by that time—and I didn’t stop to question the timeline. Only after completing the research did I realize my mistake: Jane, my husband’s direct ancestor, was born in 1808 according to her tombstone. She couldn’t possibly be the same Jane mentioned in Matthew’s will. Though I’ve been researching family history for 25 years, this misstep helped me sort out the Gordon families in the surrounding area.

While Matthew turned out not to be Jane’s father, the time I spent tracing his life was not wasted. His will and land records were very interesting and helped me understand the early Gordon presence in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. They showed how families settled, improved, and passed property in the first decades after the county’s creation. What I learned about Matthew leaves me with a brick wall, but the information may prove useful if a connection turns up later. That’s the nature of family history—sometimes the wrong turn still points you toward the bigger picture. 

Matthew Gordon married a woman named Elizabeth. Nothing is yet known about Matthew’s parents, and beyond Elizabeth’s first name I have found no further details about her. His 1807 will, however, provides a fuller picture of the family, naming 11 children: Jane, Rebeckah, William, Agnes, Elizabeth, Alexander, Samuel, Matthew Jr., James, John, and Mary. Of these, I have birth dates only for Jane (November 1808) and Matthew Jr. (1809), so the list does not reflect their true order of birth. The census records support this picture: in 1790 his household included 10 members, in 1800 it grew to 12, and by 1810 it had returned to 10, consistent with children marrying or moving out.

Matthew’s first connection to land in Westmoreland County dates to 1773, when local justices certified that he had begun improving a tract along Turtle Creek. The application described 300 acres adjoining the lands of Robert Hays and William Elwood, with his claim recognized as beginning in March of that year. In frontier terms, “improvement” meant clearing ground, planting crops, or building a cabin—tangible signs that Matthew was establishing a permanent presence. This early activity gave him priority when he later applied for a warrant, ensuring that his right to the tract would be formally acknowledged by the Commonwealth.

Matthew’s land application

On November 8, 1784, the Commonwealth issued a warrant for Matthew’s 300 acres along Turtle Creek, formally recognizing the land he had first improved in 1773. Such warrants were available to any adult settler who applied through Pennsylvania’s land office and paid the required fees. They were only granted after the Commonwealth had purchased land from Native nations through formal treaties, meaning Matthew’s claim rested on territory that had recently shifted from Indigenous custodianship to state authority. Unlike Revolutionary War veterans who received bounty warrants as a reward for their service, Matthew’s claim was a civilian purchase. His warrant shows how ordinary settlers also secured land in the new republic once territory had been opened by treaty, situating him among Pennsylvania’s earliest landholders even without military service.

Land warrant granted 1784

County histories later remembered Matthew as one of the earliest settlers of Franklin Township. Alongside neighbors such as William Meanor, Robert Hays, Michael Rugh, Finley, Stitt, and John Hill, Matthew was listed among the pioneers who transformed the wilderness into farmland before and during the Revolutionary era. Their settlement along Turtle Creek placed them near contested boundaries with Native nations, where raids and captures were a constant threat. Families like the Rughs endured years of captivity in Canada after being taken by Native raiding parties, while Robert Hays and his son were also seized and held for three years. Even those who returned often faced loss, as Hays himself was later killed defending his home.

Like his neighbors, Matthew’s household would have lived in a simple log dwelling, with floors made from thick slabs of split logs laid flat, a wooden chimney plastered to guard against sparks, and rough furniture made from local timber. These homes were the hallmark of Franklin Township’s earliest settlers, reflecting both the resourcefulness and the precariousness of frontier life. Together, these details highlight the dangers and difficulties Matthew and his neighbors confronted in establishing the community.

The 1788 Pennsylvania Tax and Exoneration List confirms Matthew’s 300‑acre tract, granted by warrant in 1784, with a valuation of 37 pounds 10 shillings. Given that his farm was still in its early stages of development, no livestock were recorded under his name.

1788 Pennsylvania Tax and Exoneration List

A 1789 Tax and Exoneration List from Franklin Township recorded Matthew owning 200 acres of land. He had two horses and two cows, all valued at 35 pounds sterling. Matthew paid 1 shilling and 10 pence in taxes that year.

1789 Pennsylvania Tax and Exoneration List

1789 tax records

These tax records not only confirm Matthew’s holdings but also place him within a wider Gordon presence in Franklin Township. Deeds from the 1780s onward show Archibald Gordon and other Gordons on adjoining tracts, suggesting close kinship and a family cluster that helped shape the early Turtle Creek community.

Matthew lived in Franklin Township in 1790. His household consisted of 10 members, including one free white male (age 16 and over), 4 free white males (under 16), and 5 free white females (regardless of age). This census record shows that, assuming one of the females was Matthew’s wife, he had eight children.

1790 Franklin Township census

By 1795, Archibald Gordon was farming and selling a 215‑acre tract along Turtle Creek. His deed to Robert and William Duff confirms he had an established improvement there, placing him side‑by‑side with Matthew’s holdings and underscoring the Gordons as a family cluster in Franklin Township.

In the Federal Direct Tax of 1798 (part of the nationwide “House Tax”), Matthew was recorded in Franklin Township, with a dwelling house valued at $16 and a tract of 430 acres assessed at $1,935.

1798 Pennsylvania Direct Tax List

The 1800 federal census recorded Matthew’s household with 12 members: two boys under 10, two boys between 10 and 15, and two young men aged 16 to 25, alongside Matthew himself, listed in the category of males 45 and over. The female side of the household included one girl under 10, one between 10 and 15, two young women aged 16 to 25, and Matthew’s wife, also recorded in the category of females 45 and over. Altogether, six of the household members were under 16, while two were over 25 leading me to believe both minor and grown children lived in the household.

On April 25, 1800, Matthew sold a parcel of land adjoining his farm to neighbor William Gillespie, receiving a bay mare in payment. Witness William Christy recorded the agreement, and Gillespie took possession of the tract immediately.

On September 18, 1807, Matthew, aware of his failing health, carefully arranged for the care of his wife Elizabeth and their children by writing his Last Will and Testament. He directed that Elizabeth remain in the family home and keep her bed, household furniture, a cow, and a bay mare, with son Matthew to look after the animals. His son John was given 100 acres, though he was asked to pay £30 to his brother James as James’ portion. The rest of the farm was to be divided between sons Matthew and Samuel once Samuel came of age, with the land supporting Elizabeth and the younger children until then. Son Alexander was to be apprenticed to a trade when he turned 14. His daughters each received monetary portions: Mary £25 (having already received £5 at marriage), Jane £10 (having already received £20 at marriage), Rebeckah £30, Elizabeth £30, and Agnes £30. Sons William and Alexander were also promised £30 each, to be paid in installments by Matthew and Samuel. To keep peace among the heirs, Matthew arranged that if Matthew and Samuel could not agree on dividing the land, trusted neighbors would step in to settle it. He gave his large family Bible to son Matthew, the rest of the books to Elizabeth, and named his son Matthew and neighbor Michael Rugh as executors of the will. Witnesses Andrew Hindman and John Hamilton signed the document, which was proved on September 30, 1807.

Matthew’s last will and testament

In the 1810 federal census, Matthew was still living in Franklin Township. His household included 1 adult male over 16 (Matthew himself), 4 younger males, and 5 females of varying ages, for a total of 10 people. 

Matthew’s exact death date is not recorded, but the surviving documents help me narrow it down. He wrote his will on September 18, 1807, and was still alive at the time of the 1810 federal census. By February 1, 1812, however, the Westmoreland County court had issued letters of administration for his estate, confirming that he had died by then. Most likely, Matthew passed away sometime between August 1810 and January 1812. Although he left a detailed will, the court appointed William Christy as administrator, backed by a $2,000 bond with Andrew Hindman as surety, to ensure the estate was properly managed. This step suggests that the executors named in the will were unable or unwilling to serve, and the court required formal administration to settle debts and distribute property. The large bond amount reflects the value of Matthew’s holdings.

Letters of administration

In May 1813, the Westmoreland County Court of Common Pleas reviewed Matthew’s earlier land sale to William Gillespie. William Christy appeared in court to testify that he had witnessed Matthew sign the 1800 agreement, and that Gillespie had occupied the parcel ever since. The court accepted Christy’s testimony and validated the contract, ensuring Gillespie’s title was secure.

On March 19, 1817, the state issued a patent to his son Samuel Gordon for the 430 acres surveyed under Matthew’s warrant, confirming that Matthew’s purchase had matured into a permanent land. In March 1852, James Christy and his wife Polly sold a 39‑acre parcel in Franklin Township to William G. Elwood. The deed traced the land back to Matthew’s 1784 warrant and the 1817 patent to Samuel Gordon, showing how portions of the tract were gradually subdivided and conveyed into the wider community.

On April 6, 1824, Samuel Gordon conveyed part of the land to his brother John. Twelve years later, on April 1, 1836, John and his wife Eleanor sold 181 acres to John Rubright, marking the first time property tied to Matthew’s warrant moved outside the family.

With the March 19, 1817 patent issued to his son Samuel for the 430 acres surveyed under Matthew’s warrant, Matthew’s original claim was secured as a permanent land title, ensuring that his name remained among Pennsylvania’s earliest landholders and that his purchase continued to shape the Gordon family’s legacy.

There is much more to learn about Matthew and his family, but thanks to his will I have a clearer picture of his household. Even if he is not Jane’s father, his records anchor the Gordon presence in Westmoreland County and may yet connect to our line in ways still to be discovered. To any researcher who can use this information—you’re welcome.

References

• Deed Book: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Deed Books 1812–1813, image 233, FamilySearch.
• Deed Book: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Deed Books 1815–1816, image 104, FamilySearch.
• Deed Book: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Deed Books 1799–1803, image 339, FamilySearch.
• Mathew Gordon, Pennsylvania, U.S., Septennial Census, 1779–1863.
• Matthew Gorden, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768–1801.
• Matthew Gordon, Pennsylvania, U.S., Land Warrants and Applications, 1733–1952.
• Matthew Gordon, Pennsylvania, U.S., Tax and Exoneration, 1768–1801.
• Matthew Gordon, Pennsylvania, Wills and Probate Records, 1683–1993.
• Pennsylvania, Tax Records 1798, image 433, FamilySearch.
• U.S. Federal Census, Franklin Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1790, 1810.
• U.S. Federal Census, Washington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1800.
• Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Warrants 1957, image 1304, FamilySearch.
• Will books; will indexes: Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Will Books 1773–1819, image 115, FamilySearch.
• York, History Records 1886, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Biographies 1997, History Records 1886, image 312, FamilySearch.

Lot 38: A Family Legacy in Apollo

In the early 1830s, Lot 38 in Apollo Borough, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, became the common strand that bound together three families—the McIlwains, the Smiths, and the Hornes. At the center of this story stands Jane Gordon, my husband’s 2nd great grandmother, whose marriages and descendants secured her family’s legacy within the town’s history.

The town of Warren, later renamed Apollo, was carved out of a larger tract known as Warren’s Sleeping Ground. This land, patented in 1815 to William Johnston and Thomas Hoge, became the foundation for the community that followed. In 1816–1817, Johnston laid out 50 lots along the Kiskiminetas River, bounded by Water Street and Back Street, with cross streets like Main, Indiana, and Coalbank.

As the canal era dawned, the town expanded beyond its original grid. In 1830, John Andree and John McIlwain added an 11 acre tract north of the first plan, still within Warren’s Sleeping Ground. Known as the “New Addition to Warren,” it was subdivided into numbered lots, with land pledged for a meeting house, school, and cemetery. McIlwain, described in an 1829 deed as a merchant, emerged as one of the town’s first developers. 

On April 6, 1832, McIlwain and his wife Jane, together with Andree and his wife Elizabeth, sold Lot 38 on Bason Street to Francis M. Thompson for $53.75½. The lot measured 50 feet in front, bounded by Lot 39 to the south and the canal to the north. This transaction, recorded in Armstrong County deed books, shows Jane was examined separately by a justice of the peace to confirm her voluntary consent. McIlwain’s role in selling Lot 38 was part of his wider activity as a land developer, acquiring tracts at sheriff’s sales and co‑founding the New Addition to Warren with John Andree.

The sale of Lot 38 marked not only the beginning of its recorded history but also the transformation of Warren’s Sleeping Ground from a legally claimed but undeveloped tract into a community of homes and families. Through McIlwain’s vision, the Sleeping Ground became both a stage for his family’s legacy and a landscape woven into the everyday lives of Apollo’s settlers.

McIlwain died around 1837, leaving his estate unsettled. Creditors pressed the Orphans’ Court in 1839 to force his administrators to account for debts, showing that his finances were complicated and contested. For his widow Jane, this meant uncertainty until her remarriage to John T. Smith around 1840, who stabilized the family’s place in Apollo. Smith became a civic leader in Apollo, serving as tavern keeper, councilman, and school director. By the mid‑1850s, deeds show Lot 38 adjoining Smith’s property, and in April 1859 he purchased portions of Lots 38, 39, and 40 from the Townsend family for $200. Lot 38, once conveyed by McIlwain, was now firmly in Smith’s hands. After Smith’s death in 1864, his estate was managed by Jane and Alexander Gordon (likely her brother), but that same year he also appeared in the records in another capacity—as executor of John McLaughlin’s estate. Acting with Julia McLaughlin, he sold undivided half parts of Lots 37, 38, and 39, tied to McLaughlin’s mill property, to Jeremiah Brenner for $3,000, tracing the title through prior owners. 

In March 1876, John Smith’s heirs sold adjoining lots to William H. Way for $1,050, but Lot 38 soon returned to family ties. In September 1879, under an Orphans’ Court decree, the heirs finalized the sale of Lot 38 to Moses and Elizabeth Horne, my husband’s 2nd great‑grandparents, for $353.19. The court enforced the agreement after Jane Smith’s death, with administrator James Guthrie and the Smith heirs—including Electra, Erastus, and John Milton Smith, Martha Evans, and Violet Jack (recorded as Violet, though she was Eunice Jack)—signing the deed. The transfer carried deeper meaning: Moses’ daughter Amanda had married John Milton Smith, son of John T. Smith and Jane Gordon, making the Hornes both neighbors and in‑laws. Financial hardship struck in August 1883 when Horne faced judgment, and Lot 38 was seized in a sheriff’s sale. Auctioned to D. D. Lloyd and later conveyed to the Apollo Savings Bank, the property passed permanently out of family hands. What began with McIlwain’s careful subdivision in 1832, nurtured by Smith’s civic leadership, and bound by the kinship ties of the Hornes, ended in institutional ownership.

Lot 38 tells a story of prosperity and struggle in a canal town, where land became the thread linking families and shaping their daily lives—even as it slipped away in hard times. More than land, Lot 38 is part of my husband’s family history in Apollo.

References

• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1838–1842, image 55, FamilySearch.
• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Deeds 1830–1835, images 105–106, and 391, FamilySearch.
• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Deeds 1852–1853, image 428, FamilySearch.
• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Deeds 1857–1860, image 341, FamilySearch.
• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Deeds 1863–1864, image 628, FamilySearch.
• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Deeds 1877–1879, images 251–252, FamilySearch.
• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Deeds 1881–1891, image 634, FamilySearch.
• Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, Orphan Records 1805–1831, image 374, FamilySearch.
• Henry, M.D., Thomas James, 1816–1916 History of Apollo, Pennsylvania: The Year of a Hundred Years, pp. 19–21, The News-Record Pub. Co., Apollo, Pennsylvania, 1916.
• Indiana County, Pennsylvania, Deeds 1855–1857, image 508, FamilySearch.
• U.S. Federal Census, Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1850. 

Stanley Stewart Smith

Stanley Stewart Smith, born on January 11, 1919, in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, was the son of Howard “Smitty” Stanley Smith and Myrtle Mary Stewart. He was the eldest of three children, with a sister named Alma Margaret Smith and a brother named Richard Franklin Smith. Stewart is the first cousin once removed of my husband, sharing common ancestors John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne, my husband’s great-grandparents. It seems Stewart’s first name honors his father’s middle name, while his middle name is a tribute to his mother’s maiden name.

Stanley and his parents, Howard and
Myrtle (Stewart) Smith

On April 28, 1919, Stanley was baptized at the First Presbyterian Church in Apollo.

Roll of Infant Church Members, Apollo First Presbyterian Church

On January 12, 1920, Stanley and his family resided with his widowed maternal grandmother, Mary B. Stewart, and his uncle, Harry H. Stewart, on the south side of North Fourth Street in Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. His grandmother owned the home outright. At just 11 months old, Stanley was the only child of his parents. His father worked as a clerk in a mill office, while his uncle Harry was a hardware merchant. All the adults in the household were literate.

Stanley Smith

Stanley and his sister Alma

Alma and Stanley

On April 11, 1930, the Smith family lived in a home valued at $3,000, owned by Stanley’s parents, in the First Ward of Apollo. The home was equipped with a radio. They resided 10 houses away from Georgia (Anna McIlwain) and Charles Austin, Stanley’s half first cousin once removed. His father worked as a hardware merchant. By this time, Stanley had a sister, Alma, aged 8, and a brother, Richard, aged 5.

Stanley, Alma, and their mother Myrtle

Stanley attended Jeannette High School in Jeannette, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1936. During his time there, he was a member of the junior varsity football team.

Stanley Smith (1936)

On April 4, 1940, the family continued to reside in the same home they had lived in since 1930, with the home’s value remaining at $3,000. Stanley, now 21, worked part-time as a mortician’s helper. His father remained employed as a hardware store salesman. His sister Alma, aged 18, assisted their mother with household duties, while his brother Richard, aged 15, was a high school student.

Stanley registered for the World War II draft in Apollo on October 16, 1940. He was described as having brown eyes, blonde hair, and a light complexion. He stood 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 132 pounds. At the time, he still lived with his parents in their Apollo home and worked at a funeral home operated by Elmer Buzzard. Stanley listed his father as the person who would always know his address.

Stanley’s World War II draft registration card

Stanley entered active service as a private with the U.S. Army Air Corps in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, on March 14, 1942. He remained in the States until October 6, 1942, when he was deployed overseas. He served in foreign assignments from October 7, 1942, until March 16, 1945, when he returned to the United States. Stanley was honorably discharged from active service at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, on October 21, 1945.

Stanley married Gladys Margaret Wiant, the daughter of George Thomas Bruce Wiant and Laura C. Shook, on February 21, 1942, in Wellsburg, Brooke County, West Virginia. The ceremony was officiated by Rev. William J. Frayer of the Assembly of God Church. At the time of their marriage, Stanley was 23 years old, and Gladys was 21. The couple had at least one child, a son, whose name I will not disclose due to privacy reasons.

Stanley Smith and Gladys Wiant marriage certificate

Stanley submitted a U.S. Veteran Compensation Application on January 20, 1950. On March 23, 1950, he was awarded a total of $500, with $140 for domestic service and $360 for foreign service.

On April 8, 1950, Stanley and Gladys lived with her parents on Harrison Avenue in Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Stanley worked as a drill press operator at a steel foundry. His mother-in-law owned a retail furniture store, while his 70-year-old father-in-law was apparently retired. Gladys stayed home to manage the household.

Stanley’s father, Howard, passed away at his Apollo residence on January 14, 1961, after suffering another heart attack. He was laid to rest at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. Howard had dedicated 38 years of service as the Apollo Borough Council secretary.

At some point, Stanley and Gladys divorced. On August 2, 1977, the Simpson’s Leader-Times in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, reported that Stanley intended to marry Madeline Ann Deitz of Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania. Although I have not found an official marriage record for the couple, Madeline gave birth to a son on December 24, 1977, at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital. I have identified the name of this son but will not disclose it for privacy reasons. The couple may have had an additional son and a daughter, but I have been unable to confirm this.

Stanley’s mother, Myrtle, passed away at home in Apollo on September 5, 1978, and was laid to rest beside Stanley’s father at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. His brother, Richard, tragically died in an automobile accident in Kiski Township on May 29, 1984, just one month after his retirement. Richard was buried at Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

Stanley moved to Venice, Sarasota County, Florida, in 1987.

Stanley’s sister, Alma, passed away in Kiski Township, Armstrong County, on November 9, 1992, and was buried at Riverview Cemetery in Apollo. I recall that my mother-in-law was close to Alma. Stanley, the last surviving member of his immediate family, passed away at Hospice House in Venice on June 24, 1998. He was survived by his wife, two sons, and three grandchildren. Unfortunately, I have been unable to determine Stanley’s final resting place.

Stanley worked as a heating and air conditioning specialist at the U.S. Steel Research Center in Monroeville for 27 years. He was an active member of the United Presbyterian Church in Apollo and belonged to the Venice American Legion.

During my research, I found his name recorded as both Stanley and Stewart in roughly equal measure. For this sketch, I have chosen to use Stanley as his first name, as it was recorded that way in his obituary.

 References

• Births, Simpson’s Leader-Times, Kittanning, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1977.
• Editorial, Howard S. Smith, newspaper unknown, January 20, 1960 [sic].
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/216213786/laura_c-wiant: accessed August 9, 2024), memorial page for Laura C. Shook Wiant (14 May 1886–24 Jul 1978), Find a Grave Memorial ID 216213786, citing Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA; maintained by Barbara Guyer (contributor 48203289).
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/35258349/george_thomas_bruce-wiant: accessed August 9, 2024), memorial page for George Thomas Bruce Wiant (21 Nov 1879–23 May 1951), Find a Grave Memorial ID 35258349, citing Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA; maintained by G. Stoecklein (contributor 46965842).
• Gladys Margaret (Wiant) MacLean obituary, Curran-Shaffer Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Apollo, Pennsylvania; https://www.curranfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Gladys-Margaret-Wiant-MacLean?obId=2821311#/obituaryInfo. 
• Marriage Intentions, Simpson’s Leader-Times, Kittanning, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1977.
• Myrtle M. Smith obituary, newspaper unknown, September 1978.
• Stanley S. Smith, formerly of Apollo, obituary, newspaper unknown, June 1998.
• Stanley S. Smith, Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Applications, WWII, 1950.
• Stanley S. Smith, Social Security Death Index.
• Stanley S. Smith, U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938–1946.
• Stanley S. Smith, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850–2010.
• Stanley Stewart Smith, Florida Death Index, 1877–1998.
• Stanley Stewart Smith, Pennsylvania, Apollo First Presbyterian Church, Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Deaths, 1910–1919; U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1743–1970.
• Stanley Stewart Smith, U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Stewart Smith, Jeannette High School, 1936; U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900–2016.
• U.S. Federal Census, Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1930, 1940.
• U.S. Federal Census, Kiskiminetas Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Vandergrift, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1950. 

Edith McCrum Smith, an updated sketch

This is an update of a sketch I posted for Edith in 2012. I felt it did not tell her whole life story so decided to expand on it.

Edith McCrum Smith, daughter of John Milton Smith and Amanda Larimer Horne, was born in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania on March 4, 1888. She was the third child of seven—Benjamin Gordon Smith, George Nelson Smith, Edith McCrum Smith, Howard Stanley Smith, Helen Margaret Smith, Bertha Edna Smith, and John Thompson Smith. She is my husband’s great-aunt with their nearest common relatives being her parents.

Neither the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or Armstrong County recorded births during the period 1855 to 1892, so unfortunately there is no birth certificate for Edith. Instead, you have to look at church birth and baptism records. Luckily, there is a Register of Baptisms for Apollo’s First Presbyterian Church, which is apparently where the Smith family worshiped. On page 140, I found six of the seven Smith children listed. The entire family is grouped together, so they were apparently re-written from other entries, or perhaps the church was catching up on member information and it was compiled at that point. Within the entries, I found several discrepancs, with two of them related to Edith:

• The family name—Smith—was not included at all. The person recording the children simply listed “J. M. & Amanda his wife” in the “Parents’ Names” column, leaving their last name out in the “Names” column.
• Ben should have been recorded as Benjamin.
• Edith was recorded as Elizabeth. I have found no other record showing her with that name.
• Edith’s birthday was recorded as March 11, not March 4.
• I have always been told Bertha’s name was “Bertha Edna Smith” not Edna Bertha. It could be either. Regardless, in this list she was recorded as Elva, not Edna.

Apollo’s First Presbyterian Church baptism record (first page)

I found a second First Presbyterian Church record listing the Smith children individually, although not all of them. Edith was one of the children not listed. Among the discrepancies in this record were the following:

• Page 154 records Benjamin as Bennie.
• Page 158 records George’s birth year as 1886, not 1885.
• Page 164 records Howard but does not include a birthdate.
• Page 178 included both Helen and Bertha. Helen’s birth year was recorded as 1896, not 1895. Bertha’s was recorded as January 22 rather than the 24th. 

Second First Presbyterian Church baptism record

I highlight these discrepancies to demonstrate how records can be inaccurate. With that said, my husband and I are in possession of a red memo book that Bertha left behind. Inside the book, she wrote birth and death dates for at least two generations of this Smith family. On two different occasions, she recorded Edith’s birth as March 4 vs. March 11. 

Both entries from Bertha's red memo book

Further down in this post, you can see that Edith’s tombstone is very aged and difficult to read. The photo was probably taken 20 years ago. I cannot remember if I took it when visiting the cemetery with my mother-in-law, or if it was taken by another researcher I once worked with. It could be either. Whatever the case, I was not aware of the baptism record at the time so have used the birthdate provided by Edith’s sister, Bertha, and by the birthdate recorded on her death certificate—March 4. Now back to the baptism record, the second page record does not tell us much, but does record Edith’s death date. 

Apollo’s First Presbyterian Church baptism record (second page)

On June 25, 1900, Edith and her family lived in Washington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Edith’s parents had been married for 18 years. Her mother was enumerated as having had six children, all of which were living. Her father was a rougher, operating “roughing mill roll stands to reduce steel billets, blooms, and slabs to specified dimensions” in a sheet mill. Her brother Ben worked as a clerk in some sort of depot (I am unable to read the type of depot in the census record). George, Edith, and Howard were attending school. Her brother John was born after this census was taken.

At some point in her short life, Edith contracted measles, resulting in her going blind. Her parents sent her to the Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, probably to learn the skills now requred to get her through life.

Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Blind. Photo used with permission of My Genealogy Hound, http://mygenealogyhound.com/index.html.

About October 8, 1906, Edith contracted typhoid fever and was admitted to Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh where she was attended by Dr. Joseph A. Baird. He last saw her October 23, one day before her October 24th death. A week earlier, 163 cases of typhoid fever had been reported in Pittsburgh, with several ending in death. At the age of 18, Edith’s parents buried her at Apollo’s Riverview Cemetery on October 26. Although her death came first, she shares a tombstone with her parents and sister, Helen. As mentioned above, Edith’s side of the stone is difficult to read. 

Updated April 29, 2024 to add a new photo of Edith's tombstone.

Photo by T. Heasley; used with permission per Find A Grave profile

Edith’s death certificate listed her occupation as school girl. Like her sister Helen, Edith had heart trouble. She never married or had children.

Edith's death certificate

The photo of Edith below is actually a button pin and is the size of a quarter. I wrote about the pin in 2016. You can read that post here. 

References

• Bertha Smith Athya red memo book.
• Deaths of One Week: Typhoid Fever Claims Several Victims and Many New Cases of the Disease Are Reported, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1906..
• Edith Smith Certificate of Death no. 100243, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1906.
• How to Find Pennsylvania Birth Records; https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/How_to_Find_Pennsylvania_Birth_Records.
• Personal visit to Riverview Cemetery, Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.
• Rougher: A description for the rougher job; https://job-descriptions.org/rougher.html. 
• U.S. Federal Census, Washington, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1900.
• U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701–1970, Apollo, Pennsylvania, First Presbyterian Church, Baptisms, Births, Deaths, 1904–1907. 

Fur and family ties: A look at Bertha Smith Athya’s Photo Archive

My husband and brother-in-law recently watched the 1931 movie “Cimarron,” starring Richard Dix and Irene Dunne. During the film, someone remarked about the women wearing fur stoles. This conversation made me think of my husband’s grandmother, Bertha Smith Athya, and her photo archive, which contains several photos of young women and a child draped in furs, including the heads, arms, and legs of the animal pelts. These practical accessories would have been wrapped around the shoulders and could be tied off in a knot or clasped shut with a brooch. They were popular in the 1920s and 1930s and would have been a warm and fashionable accessory for a young woman to wear. 

Bertha, born in January 1898, lived in Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties in Pennsylvania during that period. There winters were bitterly cold, with heavy snowfall. Survival meant doing whatever it took to keep warm. Bertha had four brothers, likely contributing to a lively household. These brothers, possibly avid hunters and trappers would have had access to animal pelts—potentially the very furs you see in this post.

In the photo below, Bertha is wearing a pelt-like white fox fur scarf, complete with the head, legs, and tail. The scarf not only provided warmth but also added a touch of elegance to her winter attire.

I believe the woman in the photo below is Bertha as well, wearing the same white fox fur scarf.

In the next three photos, we see Bertha’s eldest son, John, born in June 1925. Judging by his appearance, he seems to be around four or five years old. Interestingly, John is wearing what appears to be the same white fox fur scarf that his mother wore earlier.

 

 

 

The young woman in the next photo remains unknown to me, yet she was likely a friend to Bertha. Her photo album is filled with images of young adults, often set against the same backdrop. Although I have looked at this photo many times, it was not until now that I truly noticed its details. My initial focus was drawn to her head and the large bow she is wearing rather than the animal pelt. However, this time, I noticed the circular hair clasp and the necklaces she is wearing. I would classify the fur she is wearing as a shawl rather than a scarf.

I believe this woman in the next photo is Nina Hobaugh, a close friend of Bertha’s. In her photo album, there were several pictures of the two of them together, and luckily at least one was labeled. Nina’s shawl looks a lot like one worn by the young woman in the above photo, and it might even be the same one. I recall my mother-in-law sharing a memory about girls at her school wearing identical shirts or sweaters for their school portraits. Perhaps Bertha and her friends did this as well. 

Vintage Meito China

The vintage Meito china set pictured below was found stored in the shed at my in-law’s house after my mother-in-law, Mary Margaret Athya Murphy, passed away in 2006. The china would most likely have belonged to her mother (my husband’s grandmother), Bertha Edna Smith Athya, or his great-grandmother, Amanda Larimer Horne Smith. Unfortunately, I have no way of knowing who the original owner was.

The china set consists of a plate or tray, sugar bowl with spoon, and salt and pepper shakers. They are hand painted with a floral pattern of blue flowers and green leaves, and trimmed in gold. The background is tinted a very pale shade of blue. The measurements are as follows:

Plate or tray – Width 6 ½”, 3/8” outer lip (sides).

Sugar bowl – Width 3” at bottom, height 1 7/8”. Spoon – Length 3 ¼”.

Salt and pepper shakers – Width 2 ¼” at bottom, height 2 7/8”. 

The corks for the salt and pepper shakers still exist but have been pushed inside. All items are in good shape with no visible cracks or chips. The backstamp on the plate or tray and sugar bowl reads: 

MEITO CHINA

HAND PAINTED

MADE IN JAPAN

I found a similar set on Etsy priced at $39.99. The Meito company was founded in 1908 so that fits in the timeframe for Bertha or Amanda.

Bertha Edna Smith Athya (1898 – 1979), Amanda Larimer Horne Smith (1859 – 1943)
holding Mary Margaret Athya. Circa 1929 – 1930.

Reference

• Adler, Brian, The History of Meito China; https://www.theclassroom.com/japanese-tableware-early-1900s-10453.html. 
• Rare Vintage Meito China Salt and Pepper Set, Sugar and Tray, House and Trees, Etsy; https://www.etsy.com/listing/1447509260/rare-vintage-meito-china-salt-and-pepper.  

Bertha's school friends and teacher

This is another photo from Bertha Smith Athya’s photo collection. Look closely and you’ll see Bertha wrote a number beside or near each person in the photo. 

On the back of the photo, she wrote the following:

1 Violet Barber Townsend

2 Jane Moor Zimmerman

3 Mary Boden Carnahan

4 J. B. Anderson (you can see “Teacher” very lightly penciled in)

5 Betty Barber Harmon

6 Bertha Edna Smith 

I found other photos of several of the girls in the collection:

Voilet Townsend and her husband

Mary Boden

Betty Harmon

J. B. Anderson would have been James Braden Anderson, their school teacher. James, born December 27, 1870 in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, was the son of John Calvin Anderson and Ida Sarepta Sarver. He and his wife Charlotte (Duke) Anderson lived in Vandergrift Heights, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in 1907. James died of cardiac failure at the age of 96 in the White Township of Indiana County, Pennsylvania. James’ obituary, published by the The Indiana Gazette on October 25, 1967 noted … “Upon graduation from Grove City College, he began teaching at Petrolia, Pa., and taught 37 years in Pennsylvania. His last years of service were in the Ernest Elementary School where he was principal for 14 years. …” 

Bertha was born in 1898 and looks to be in her early teens so I’m guessing this photo was taken about 1911 or 1912. Bertha was my husband’s grandmother. No one else in the photo are related.

References

• James Braden Anderson Certificate of Death no. 097303-67, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 1967.
• James Braden Anderson obituary, The Indiana Gazette, Indiana, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1967.
• Lois Viola Anderson, Certificate of Birth, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Bureau of Vital Statistics, 1907.
• United States Federal Census, Vandergrift Heights Borough, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, 1910.