Life History
about 1877 |
Born in Cass County, Texas.1,2,3 |
UNKNOWN |
Died |
Notes
- William appears to be listed with his parents and family in the 1880 census. The location and many details of the family are right. The presence of a Chappell family member in the household also seems to indicate we have the right family. But there are some errors in the enumeration.
One of the errors is that the Head of the household is listed as D F Smith, instead of B F Smith. Three of the children's names match basically, Catherine Hestran (Hester Ann) and William. Though some ages and William's middle initial differs.
He is William L here, whereas he is William P in the 1920 census. His age here at 3 would make him born in 1877. But in 1910 he is reported as age 28, or born about 1882, and the 1920 age is 38, making birth in 1881.
1880 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 12 July, Precinct 3, District 12, page 60 (scan 150A), Hse/Fam #562
Barcroft, Eliza W F 70 (No Relationship) Widow Farming NC NC NC
Smith, D F W M 45 (No Relationship) Married Farming TN TN TN
Smith, Mary E W F 38 Wife Married Keeps House TX NC NC
Smith, Catherine W F 12 Dau Single TN TN TX
Smith, Hestran (or Hestrian) W F 9 Dau Single TN TN TX
Smith, Charles H W M 7 Son Single TN TN TX
Smith, William L W M 3 Son Single TN TN TX [b abt 1877]
Chapell, Jeremiah W M 18 (No Relationship) Single Farming TX TN TX
Eliza Barcroft, listed first, although not designated as Head, is Mary Henson Smith's mother. She is reported as a widow. Bancroft is Eliza's maiden nmae. Apparently after the death of her second husband James Elliott in 1876, she went back to using her maiden name.
In 1910, Will is living with his widowed mother in the same place, Precinct 3 of Cass County, Texas. In this census, Will is reported as age 28, which would make birth in about 1882. But in teh 1880 census he was already reported as 3 years old. Similarly in 1920, the family memopry and estimate of age is short, making birth about 1881
1910 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas, 26 April, Precinct 3, District 32, Page 10A, Hse #124, Fam #126
Smith, Mary E [Mary Isabella] Head F W 68 Widowed TX TN AL Farmer Rents [b abt 1842]
Smith, Will Son M W 28 Single TX AL TX Farm Laborer [b abt 1882]
In 1920 Will was still single, and was enumerated in the household of his sister Catherine and brother-in-law Joseph Benjamin Christian in Oklahoma. Several households of the Christians, Smiths and related Jenkinses moved to western Chickasaw Nation or eastern Oklahoma Territory around 1890 or before.
1920 Federal Census, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, 31 January, Kiowa Township, District 199, page 18B, Hse #350, Fam #357
Christian, Joseph B Head Owns Farm M W 67 TX MO MO Farmer [b 1856]
Christian, Katherine Wife F W 53 TX TN TX [b 1866]
Christian, Essey Dau F W 17 Single OK TX TX [b 1902] Laborer
-- page 19A, 2 February --
Smith, William P Brother-in-Law M W 38 Single TX TN TN TN [b abt 1881] Laborer
Sources
- 1. 1880 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
- 12 July, Precinct 3, District 12, page 60 (scan 150A), Hse/Fam #562
- 2. 1920 Federal Census, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma
- 31 January, Kiowa Township, District 199, page 19A, Hse #350, Fam #357
- 3. 1910 Federal Census, Cass County, Texas
- 26 April, Precinct 3, District 32, Page 10A, Hse #124, Fam #126