Grace Stella Smith1

(January 27, 1900 - March 17, 1992)
Grace Stella Smith|b. Jan 27, 1900\nd. Mar 17, 1992|p79.htm|John Smith|b. Aug 31, 1864\nd. Mar 1, 1960|p77.htm|Sarah Louisa Minger|b. Jul 25, 1868\nd. Aug 22, 1940|p78.htm|Leeson A. Smith Sr.|b. Mar 1, 1815\nd. Mar 1, 1904|p90.htm|Elizabeth Farley|b. Mar 26, 1836\nd. Jul 22, 1928|p185.htm|John Minger|b. Sep 7, 1827\nd. Aug 25, 1908|p92.htm|Elizabeth Hassig|b. Aug 30, 1834\nd. Mar 19, 1922|p93.htm|

Relationship=Granddaughter of Leeson A. Smith Sr..
Relationship=Aunt of Rev. Don Emmet (Sr.) Smith.
Charts on which this person appears:
Leeson Smith, Sr. Descendants Chart
Grace's 90 birthday celebration, 1990
     Grace Stella Smith was born on Saturday, January 27, 1900 in the family's log home - on the "John Smith Farm" on Goshen Ridge in Turkey River, Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa, daughter of John Smith and Sarah Louisa Minger.2,3

According to the US census of June 13, 1900, Grace was living at home with her parents in Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa. She was four months old.4

Grace appeared on the Millville Township census of April 28, 1910 living at home with her parents. She was ten years old and had been attending school.5

She was still living at home with her parents in Millville Township in 1920. According to the census which was taken February 23, 1920, she was 20 years old and single.6

At age 23, Grace married Homer Donnan on Wednesday, February 28, 1923 in Garber, Clayton County, Iowa. Homer was 27 years old. He was the son of Edward C. Donnan and Nora Mosely.2

Grace appeared on the Millville Township US census of April 27, 1930 living with her husband, Homer. She was 30 years old. They had been married for about 6 years and were renting their home. Their two young daughters living with them were Lelia who was four years old and Myrna who was two. The family didn't own a radio set.7

She became a widow at age 38 when her husband, Homer, died on June 23, 1938 in Finley Hospital in Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa.3,8

Grace is listed as a survivor in the obituary of her brother, Irvin Ralph Smith. She was living in Guttenberg at the time.9

Grace was 77 years old when her daughter, Lelia, died on April 19, 1977. (Lelia was 51 years old).10,1

Grace is listed as a survivor in the obituary of her brother, Ferman John Smith. She was living in Guttenberg at the time.11

Grace lived in Guttenberg, Clayton County, Iowa.12

Grace died on Tuesday, March 17, 1992. She was 92 years old.3

Children of Grace Stella Smith and Homer Donnan

Citations

  1. [S36] Interview with Darlene Julson (Dubuque, IA), by Susan Noyes, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.
  2. [S62] Grace Donnan, Myrna Eberhardt, Jerry Eberhardt, "Jerry Eberhardt's Compilation of Family History Notes", Three generations of researchers (Garnavillo, Iowa). Hereinafter cited as "Jerry Eberhardt's Family History Collection."
  3. [S205] John Smith, "Family Group Sheet - John Smith", 1983. Hereinafter cited as "FGS."
  4. [S126] 1900 US Census, US Census Search, Heritage Quest Online, 1900 Iowa, Clayton, Millville Twp; Series: T623 Roll: 425 Page: 29.
  5. [S129] 1910 US Census, US Census Search, Heritage Quest Online, 1910 Iowa, Clayton, Millville Twp; Series: T624 Roll: 397 Page: 27.
  6. [S130] 1920 US Census, 1920 Iowa, Clayton, Millville Twp; Series: T625 Roll: 484 Page: 33.
  7. [S131] 1930 US Census, 1930 Iowa, Clayton, Millville; Series: T626 Roll: 649 Page: 205.
  8. [S62] Grace Donnan, Myrna Eberhardt, Jerry Eberhardt, "Jerry Eberhardt's Compilation of Family History Notes", Three generations of researchers (Garnavillo, Iowa). , DSC01318. Hereinafter cited as "Jerry Eberhardt's Family History Collection."
  9. [S321] Irvin Smith, Obit, Unidentified Newspaper Clipping.
  10. [S202] Obit, Unidentified Newspaper Clipping , (Obit from Jerry Eberhardt's Family History Collection) DSC01325.
  11. [S319] Lillian Penhollow Smith, Obit, Unidentified Newspaper Clipping.
  12. [S63] Interview with Jerry Eberhardt (Garnavillo, Iowa), by Susan Noyes, 2003, 2005.
 


  • A family history
    leads to the satisfaction in really knowing who you are
    and from when you came.

  • "Nor long shall any name resound
    Beyond the grave, unless't be found
    In some clerk's book; it is the pen
    Gives immortality to men."

  • A good life lasts for several generations.

  • In all of us there is a hunger, marrow-deep,
    to know our heritage, to know who we are
    and where we come from.

    — Alex Haley
  • To forget one's ancestors
    is to be a brook without a source,
    a tree without a root.

    — Chinese Proverb
  • Family faces are magic mirrors.
    Looking at people who belong to us,
    we see the past, present, and future.
    We make discoveries about ourselves.

    — Gail Lumet Buckley
  • In every conceivable manner,
    the family is a link to our past,
    a bridge to our future.

    — Alex Haley
  • What greater thing is there for human souls
    than to feel that they are joined for life – to be with each other
    in silent unspeakable memories.

    — George Eliot
  • Some people come and go in our lives.
    Some stay forever.

  • We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors,
    we borrow it from our children.

    — Native American Proverb
  • The memories we give may a lifetime live in the heart
    of those we hold so close.

    — Unknown
  • Families are like fudge . . .
    mostly sweet with a few nuts.

    — Unknown
  • The family is one of Nature's masterpieces.

    — George Santayana
  • Having a place to go – is a home.
    Having someone to love – is a family.
    Having both – is a blessing.

    — Donna Hedges
  • Every man is his own ancestor,
    and every man is his own heir.
    He devises his own future,
    and he inherits his own past.

    — Fredrick Henry Hedge