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1. William Smith, born 12 May 1756 in Kent Co., Rhode Island, [1] (see note 1) died 20 Feb 1845 in Wayne Twp., Butler Co., Ohio,1 (see note 2). William Smith fought in the Revolutionary War. He was known as "Yankee Bill." About 1797 he moved to that area that would become the State of Ohio in 1803. About 1814 he took up residence in Butler County. On August 1, 1832, he filed for a pension, because of his service in the Revolutionary War, in the Court of Common Pleas in Butler County, Ohio. He testified that he was then 76 years old and that he had lived in the state of Ohio 35 years and in Butler County about 18 years. Following is a summary of his testimony before the court.
He declared that he had served as a Minuteman in Providence, Rhode Island under Captain Spink in the latter part of 1775. About June 1, 1776 he enlisted for one year in Captain Adams' company of artillery and was chief gunner. He was stationed six months at Providence and six months at Warwick neck as a guard to keep the British from landing. At the end of the year he received a discharge from Captain Adams, which, he stated, he had lost. He further testified that in June, 1777 he had enlisted for three years to serve under Captain Flagg of Col. Green's regiment of the Rhode Island line on the continental establishment. He served for one year as first corporal and three years as third sergeant. Under Col. Green he marched to Peekskill, New York where their group joined the forces of General Pitman. Col. Green and Col. Angel marched their regiments to Correl's Ferry. They were then ordered by General Washington to proceed to Red Bank where they were engaged in defending Fort Mifflin. On October 22 the fort was attacked by about 2,000 Hessians under Dol. Donop. During the ensuing battle the Hessians lost about 750 men, killed and wounded. Col. Donop was wounded and taken prisoner; he died from his wounds. Four weeks after this battle William Smith and others marched to Chestnut Ridge where they joined the forces of General Washington; soon after that they marched into winter quarters at Valley Forge. In the spring of 1778 the regiments of Col. Green and Col. Angel were merged into one regiment under the command of Col. Angel. William testified that he then served in the company of Captain Allen in Col. Angel's regiment. He was at the battle of Monmouth Court House and fought in the division commanded by Gen. Lee. After that battle Col. Angel marched his troops across North River at Kings Ferry and marched with the brigade under Gen. Varnum to Rhode Island. He was in the battle of Newport where Gen. Sullivan commanded the Americans. The French fleet lying in Newport was destroyed by a storm at that time. Soon after the siege of Newport the army went into winter quarters at Warren(?). In the spring of 1779 Col. Angel marched his regiment to Barber's Height. They remained there until September when they marched again to New Jersey. They joined the main army at Morristown where they spent the winter. William Smith further testified that in May or June of 1780 he was at the battle of Springfield, fighting under the command of Col. Angel. His term of enlistment having expired he was honorably discharged at Kings Ferry, but he has lost those discharge papers, which were signed by Gen. Varnum and Col. Angel.
Witnesses testified to his character as a truthful person, but none of them had personally known him as a Revolutionary War soldier. His application for a pension was denied. The reason for rejecting his claim was that Rhode Island records showed service in two places, but Smith alleged three years service in the Rhode Island line without details. On December 6, 1851, his daughter, Ruth (Smith) Cunningham, appeared before a Justice of the Peace in Butler County to plead, on behalf of herself and her siblings (Eleanor Allen, William Smith, Isaac B. Smith, and Sarah Cunningham, William's only surviving children) for pension monies that were in arrears. She stated that William Smith had died in Butler County on February 20, 1845 and left no widow. It is not certain whether her application was approved but it seems likely that it was not. In his family Bible, his son, Isaac Breece Smith, refers to his father as "William Smith Senior" in recording his birth and as "Father Smith" in recording his death. Likewise, he calls his mother "Ruth Smith Senior" in recording her birth and "Mother Smith" in recording her death. Including "Senior" was appropriate because there was a son named William B. Smith Jr. and a daughter named Ruth B. Smith. There is a strong family tradition that William Smith's name was originally William Briggs, that while serving during the Revolutionary War he went AWOL to go home to care for his wife who was seriously ill, and that he then later enlisted under the name of William Smith. This tradition has not been proved, and no credible connection to a William Briggs has been established. The listing below of his children is somewhat speculative. All but Eleanor appear, with their birth dates, in Isaac Breece Smith's Bible, but no relationships are noted except that of "Father Smith" (noted as having died February 16, 1844) and "Mother Smith" (noted as having died October 8, 1806). The death date of February 20, 1845 is taken from William Smith's Revolutionary War pension papers. In those papers, Eleanor Allen is noted as one of his daughters. The names of William Smith (Jr.), Isaac B. Smith, Ruth Cunningham, and Sarah Cunningham are also noted there as William's children. The names of Ebenezer, James, and Charles do not appear; possibly they died young. [2] ,1, [3]
Children: + 2. i Eleanor ("Ellen") B. Smith, born 18 Oct 1784. 3. ii William B. Smith, Jr., born 4 Oct 1787 in Virginia, [5] ,2, [6] died 1863 in Wabash Co., Illinois.6
+ 6. v Isaac Breece Smith born 24 Jun 1796.
+ 8. vii Ruth B. Smith, born 15 Feb 1801. + 9. viii Sarah Smith, born 25 Jul 1803.
Second Generation 2. Eleanor ("Ellen") B. Smith, (1.William1) born 18 Oct 1784 in Virginia,4 died 25 Dec 1867 in Darke Co., Ohio,4 buried in Providence Cemetery, near Braffitsville, Ohio.4 According to the 1860 federal census, "Ellen Allen" was then living, as a widow, with Sarah Wilson, also a widow, and her family. "Ellen Allen" must have been Eleanor (Smith) Allen whose husband had died in 1826, and Sarah Wilson was her daughter. Ellen was then living with Sarah after Sarah's husband, Andrew Porter Wilson, had died (in 1852) and before she became the second wife of Harvey Rush.
Jacob: In September, 1812, in Butler County, Ohio, Jacob Allen volunteered to serve for 30 days in the War of 1812. In 1813 Daniel Flennard hired him to serve in his stead at, among other places, Fort St. Maries in Ohio.7
11. ii William Allen, born 23 May 1804,4 died 6 May 1836.4
In view of the fact that another son was named Ebenezer, this Ebenezer must have died young. + 13. iv Sarah Allen born 10 Aug 1808. + 14. v Ebenezer Allen born 17 Aug 1810.
Old Hillgrove Cemetery is near Union City.
She married (2) Enoch Maugan.
He married (2) Phoebe Thomas.
Elizabeth and Charles Allen were twins.
6. Isaac Breece Smith, (1.William1) born 24 Jun 1796 in Butler Co., Ohio, [10] died 1 Apr 1876 in Allendale, Wabash Co., Illinois,10 occupation Farmer; Broom Maker; Justice of the Peace. [11] , [12] Isaac Breece Smith, Priscilla, James, and one other child came to Wabash County, Illinois from Ohio with Isaac's father-in-law, Thomas Cisel. According to his obituary, he settled in Wabash County on May 22, 1816, but this date may be erroneous if, indeed, he married in Butler County, Ohio in early in 1818. In that case he either returned to Ohio to marry Elizabeth Cisel or he actually came to Illinois after his marriage to her, perhaps in the summer of 1818. Furthermore, since Wabash County was not formed from Edwards County until 1824, he settled in that part of Edwards County that later became Wabash County. Isaac was a Justice of the Peace for many years. In the 1850 U. S. Census for Wabash County, Illinois he is listed as a farmer living next door to his wife's brother, Thomas Cisel, Jr., who is also listed as a farmer. The 1860 U. S. Census shows him living with his daughter, Martha, and her husband, Emil Rosenberg.12,11, [13]
+ 26. vi Martha Ann Smith born 17 Apr 1827.
+ 29. ix Sophia Jane Smith born 19 Jan 1835.
8. Ruth B. Smith, (1.William1) born 15 Feb 1801 in Ohio,2 died 29 Oct 1854 in Jacksonburg, Butler Co., Ohio,4 buried in Jacksonburg, Butler Co., Ohio. [15]
James: The 1860 U. S. Census shows James living with his son, James, and daughter, Isabella, in Dolson Township, Clark County, Illinois.16
+ 35. iii Andrew Cunningham born 3 Oct 1836.
9. Sarah Smith, (1.William1) born 25 Jul 1803 in Butler Co., Ohio, [17] , [18] (see note 6) died 6 Oct 1873 in Clark Co., Illinois,18 (see note 7) buried in Rupp Cemetery, Clark Co., Illinois.18
Third Generation 13. Sarah Allen , (2.Eleanor2, 1.William1) born 10 Aug 1808 in Wayne Co., Indiana,4 died 19 Nov 1885,4 buried in Providence Cemetery, near Braffitsville, Ohio.4 Sarah Allen was born near the Ohio line.
Andrew: Andrew Porter Wilson moved from Butler County, Ohio, to Darke County in 1834.
+ 43. i Lillie Porter Wilson born Abt 1829.
+ 48. vi Sarah Alice Wilson born Abt 1842.
14. Ebenezer Allen, (2.Eleanor2, 1.William1) born 17 Aug 1810 in Butler Co., Ohio,4 died 1 Jan 1895 near Union City, Randolph Co., Indiana,4 buried in Green Park Cemetery, Portland, Jay Co., Indiana, occupation Farmer. Ebenezer Allen and his wife remained in Preble County, Ohio, until they settled in Jay County, Indiana, in January, 1841. They built a house in the dense forest, cleared some land, and began farming. The oldest church organization in Jay County, Indiana, is Little Salamonia Christian Church. First known as "Church of Portland," its members first met in the barn on the farm of John G. Spade, near the little town of Liber. In cold weather, meetings were held in members' homes. On 4 November 1843, Ebenezer Allen donated land three-fourths of a mile southeast of the Spade farm for a church building. On 24 August 1844, the name of the church was changed to Little Salamonia Christian Church, as part of the Bluffton Christian Church Conference. It was a very strict church. The Church Principles were signed by Ebenezer Allen, Margaret Allen, Mary Fruit, George Fruit, and John Brice. According to a report dated 20 August 1851, the church had 60 members, and there had been no deaths, except spiritual ones, during the past year. At the end of 1851, or in early 1852, several members were removed because of unChristian conduct. Some of the charges were drinking, gossiping, and keeping bad company. After those so charged repented to God and the church, they were welcomed back into the church as members. The report of 1853 gave the membership as 47 and stated the past year had been one of spiritual growth. He married (1) Margaret Fruit, married 23 Sep 1830 in Preble Co., Ohio,4 born 25 Aug 1811 in Franklin Co., Indiana,4 (daughter of John Fruit and Nancy Agness ["Ann"] Beatty) died 15 Mar 1880 in Jay Co., Indiana,4 buried 16 Mar 1880 in Green Park Cemetery, Portland, Jay Co., Indiana.4
She married (2) Wilson S. Black, married 15 Mar 1866.4
He married Mary E. Robbins, married 13 Nov 1870 in Portland, Jay Co., Indiana,4 divorced in Jay Co., Indiana,4 born in Ohio.4
26. Martha Ann Smith, (6.Isaac2, 1.William1) born 17 Apr 1827 in Wabash Co., Illinois.2,11
29. Sophia Jane Smith, (6.Isaac2, 1.William1) born 19 Jan 1835 in Wabash Co., Illinois,2, [25] ,11 died 30 Mar 1906 in Bethlehem Twp., Cass Co., Indiana, [26], [27],25 buried 2 Apr 1906 in Spring Creek Christian Church Cemetery, Cass Co., Indiana.26,27
+ 64. i Martha Ladora Calvert born 15 May 1858.
66. iii Isaac Hiram Calvert, born 19 May 1862,25 (see note 9) died 11 Sep 1868,25 (see note 10) buried in St. John's Cemetery, Cass Co., Indiana.30
+ 68. v Harry Smith Calvert born 27 Jul 1866. + 69. vi Mary ("Fanny") Frances Calvert born 1 Jan 1869. + 70. vii Inah ("Mimi") Calvert born 23 Feb 1872.
35. Andrew Cunningham, (8.Ruth2, 1.William1) born 3 Oct 1836 in Butler Co., Ohio,15 died 10 Aug 1914 in Darrtown, Butler Co., Ohio.15
+ 71. i Sarah Ellen Cunningham born 19 Mar 1870.
Fourth Generation
43. Lillie Porter Wilson, (13.Sarah3, 2.Eleanor2, 1.William1) born Abt 1829 in Ohio.4
73. ii Andrew Wilson Rush, born 12 May 1860 in Harrison Twp., Darke Co., Ohio,4 occupation Physician.
He married (2) Laura Belle Ditman, married 16 Oct 1901,4 born 1 Dec 1867 in Centerville, Wayne Co, Indiana, [32] (daughter of John A. Ditman and Sara Slaughenhaupt ).
Alice S. Rush taught in the high school in Rock Island, Illinois.
Olive Rush was a teacher in Wyoming, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
Carrie Rush was a teacher in Greenville, Darke Co., Ohio.
William Harvey Rush was a graduate of the University of Michigan and Harvard University. He was a member of the faculty of Washington University St. Louis, Missouri. (Lewis, A Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio [1900], p. 864.)
48. Sarah Alice Wilson, (13.Sarah3, 2.Eleanor2, 1.William1) born Abt 1842 in Ohio.4 She married ____ Brown .
78. i Clarence Emory Brown, born 1875.
64. Martha Ladora Calvert, (29.Sophia3, 6.Isaac2, 1.William1) born 15 May 1858 in Wabash Co., Illinois,25, [33] died 28 Mar 1945 in Cass Co., Indiana, buried in Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery, Cass Co., Indiana.
John Wade and Cora Calvert Jackson had no children.
68. Harry Smith Calvert , (29.Sophia3, 6.Isaac2, 1.William1) born 27 Jul 1866 in Cass Co., Indiana,25 died 27 Jul 1940 in Logansport, Cass Co., Indiana, [35] ,25 buried 29 Jul 1940 in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Logansport, Cass Co., Indiana, [36] occupation Railroad engineer.
80. i Lyle Darwin Calvert born 30 Oct 1892.
69. Mary ("Fanny") Frances Calvert, (29.Sophia3, 6.Isaac2, 1.William1) born 1 Jan 1869 in Cass Co., Indiana,25 died 24 Aug 1934, buried in Metea Baptist Cem., Cass Co., Indiana.30
Joseph: Joseph and "Fanny" Yantis had a farm north of Logansport, Indiana. He was the first one to build a particular type of barn in the area; it was a strong, firmly built barn and had a rounded roof. Other farmers from quite some distance around would visit the farm just to see that barn. Children:
Enola Blanch Yantis died when she was 14 years old from tuberculosis. She was the only child of Joseph A. and Mary Frances (Calvert) Yantis.
70. Inah ("Mimi") Calvert, (29.Sophia3, 6.Isaac2, 1.William1) born 23 Feb 1872 in Cass Co., Indiana,25 died 14 May 1928 in Paris, Monroe Co., Missouri, buried in Spring Creek Christian Church, Cass Co., Indiana. [41] After her divorce, Iona Calvert did not remarry. For the last several years of her life, she lived with her son, Paul L. Stewart. She was living with him and his family at the time of her death. At that time, Paul L. Stewart was serving the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Paris, Missouri, as its minister.
83. i Paul Lemuel Stewart born 7 Jul 1893.
71. Sarah Ellen Cunningham, (35.Andrew3, 8.Ruth2, 1.William1) born 19 Mar 1870 in Danville, Vermillion Co., Illinois,15 died May 1959 in Dayton. Montgomery Co., Ohio.15
84. i Harry H. Truster born 16 Nov 1895. ______________________
Note 2 In his Bible, William Smith's son, Isaac Breece Smith, noted the death date of his father as February 16, 1844. Note 3 Ohio did not become a state until 1803, and in that same year Butler County was created. Prior to that time the area was Hamilton County in the Northwest Territory. Note 4 Sarah (Allen) Wilson told the 1880 census taker that her father was born in New Jersey. Note 5 The 1860 U. S. Census for Clark County, Illinois lists James' birthplace as Ohio. Possibly, he was born in Pennsylvania as seems likely if he was a brother of George Cunningham who lived nearby according to the same census; that census shows George as born in Pennsylvania. Note 6 The date of birth is that listed in Isaac Breece Smith's Bible. Some other sources give the date as August 10, 1808; however, the 1860 U. S. Census of Dolson Twp., Clark Co., Ohio supports the earlier date. Note 7 Luella Margaret (Finch) Brown of Starke, Florida lists 19 Nov 1885 as Sarah Smith's death date. Note 8 The 1860 United States Census for Indiana lists Nancy Allen's birthplace as Indiana; however, the 1880 census gives her birthplace as Ohio, according to Karen Van Etten, "Van Etten Travelers," published online at <http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kj2x4pdg&id=1022>, downloaded 12 Feb 2003. Note 9 In papers left by the late Lucy (Robb) Calvert, Isaac Hiram Calvert's birth date is given as 13 December 1861. Note 10 In papers left by the late Lucy (Robb) Calvert, Isaac Hiram Calvert's death date is given as 11 September 1863.
[1]
William Smith's Revolutionary War pension
papers (NARA File R9877).
[2]
Isaac Breece Smith's Family Bible, now in
the possession of Dwight C. Stewart of Louisville,
Kentucky.
[3]
Copy of William Smith Affidavits concerning
his application for pension because of military
service during the Revolutionary War, in
possession of Dwight C. Stewart.
[4]
Luella Margaret (Finch) Brown of Starke,
Florida.
[5]
1860 United States Census of Wabash County,
Illinois, NARA Roll 234, p. 7.
[6]
James F. Kirkman, "Descendants of
William Jordan," online <http://
familytreemaker.com/users/k/i/r/James-F-Kirkman/0DT6-0001.htm>
downloaded 16 Nov 2000.
[7]
Copy
of Jacob Allen Affidavits concerning application
by his widow, Eleanor Allen, for additional bounty
land to which she may be entitled because of her
late husband's service in the War of 1812, in
possession of Dwight C. Stewart.
[8]
Mike Nolen of Springfield, Virginia.
[9]
Luella Margaret (Finch) Brown of Starke,
Florida, who notes that much of the data for Jacob
Allen and his family comes from the Ebenezer Allen
Family Bible Jacob's son, Ebenezer, told 1880
census taker his father was born in Penn.
[10]
Obituary for Isaac Breece Smith, which
appeared in a Wabash County, Illinois newspaper
shortly after his death.
A copy of this obituary was found tucked
between the pages of Isaac Smith's Family Bible.
[11]
1850 United States Census of Wabash County,
Illinois, NARA Film M432-130, p. 428.
[12]
Combined History of
Edwards, Lawrence, and Wabash Counties, Illinois
(Philadelphia: J. L. McDonough and Company,
1883), p. 294.
[13]
1860 United States Census of Wabash County,
Illinois, NARA Roll 234, p. 8.
[14]
Place of birth is that given in death
records for Sophia Jane Smith on file in Cass
County Government Building in Logansport, Indiana,
book C-12, p. 5, and book CH-1, p. 153.
[15]
Ellen T. Essig of Middletown, Ohio.
[16]
1860 United States Census of Dolson Twp.,
Clark Co., Illinois, NARA Roll 162, p. 216.
[17]
1860 United States Census of Dolson Twp.,
Clark Co., Illinois, NARA Roll 162, p. 215.
[18]
Debbie Martin of Charleston, Illinois.
[19]
Lewis, A
Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio
(1900), p. 863.
[20]
Karen Van Etten, "Van Etten
Travelers," published online at <http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=kj2x4pdg&id=1022>,
downloaded 12 Feb 2003.
[21]
1860 United States Census of Wabash County,
Illinois, NARA Roll 234, NARA Roll 234, p. 8.
[22]
1880 United States Census (transcription),
as published on CDs by the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints (copyright 2000 by
Intellectual Reserve, Inc.), transcription of
census for, Allendale, Wabash Co., Illinois, NARA
Film T9-0256, p. 42C.
[23]
1880 United States Census (transcription),
as published on CDs by the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints (copyright 2000 by
Intellectual Reserve, Inc.), transcription of
census for, Allendale, Wabash Co., Illinois, NARA
Film T9-0256, p. 42C.
[24]
1880 United States Census (transcription),
as published on CDs by the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints (copyright 2000 by
Intellectual Reserve, Inc.), transcription of
census for, Allendale, Wabash Co., Illinois, NARA
Film T9-0256, p. 42C.
[25]
Darwin Johnson Calvert's Family Bible, now
in the possession of Dwight C. Stewart of
Louisville, Kentucky.
[26]
Death record for Sophia Calvert on file in
Cass County, Indiana, Government Building, Book
C-12, p. 5.
[27]
Obituary for Sophia Calvert, which appeared
in the Logansport (Indiana) Daily Reporter, March
31, 1906.
[28]
Death Record on file in Cass County
Government Building in Logansport, Indiana, p. 39.
[29]
Death Record on file in Cass County
Government Building in Logansport, Indiana, Book
CH-5, p. 39.
[30]
The late Lucy May (Robb) Calvert of
Logansport, Indiana.
[31]
Lewis, A
Biographical History of Darke County, Ohio
(1900), p. 864.
[32]
Luella Margaret (Finch) Brown of Starke,
Florida, has written the date as 1801, but this
must be erroneous.
[33]
Ella Foy O'Gorman, Descendants
of Virginia Calverts , Book I, Part II (1947), p. 450.
[34]
Marriage record on file in Miami County
Courthouse in Peru, Indiana, Book C-5, p. 323.
[35]
Death Record on file in Cass County
Government Building in Logansport, Indiana.
[36]
Death Record on file in Cass County
Government Building in Logansport, Indiana, Book
CH-12, p. 11.
[37]
Obituary for Mrs. Lucy Calvert, which
appeared in the Logansport (Indiana) Pharos
Tribune, May 5, 1964.
[38]
George Darwin Calvert of West Lafayette,
Indiana.
[39]
Thomas B. Helm, ed., History
of Cass County, Indiana: From the Earliest
Time to the Present
(Chicago: Brant and Fuller, 1886), p. 645.
[40]
Death record on file in Cass County
Government Building in Logansport, Indiana, Book
C-12, p. 20.
[41]
Tombstone for Ina Calvert in Spring Creek
Church Cemetery, Cass County, Indiana; name on
tombstone is "Ina.".
[42]
Marriage record on file in Cass County
Government Building in Logansport, Indiana, given
name of bride on both marriage license and
marriage record is shown as Iona. Book 14, p. 64.
[43]
Death record on file in Cass County
Government Building in Logansport,
Indiana, Book H-49, p. 94.
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