Mary A.1
(about 1817 - February 9, 1862)
- Charts on which this person appears:
- Leeson Smith, Sr. Descendants Chart

Mary Smith's Gravestone - Located in Goshen Cemetery
At about age 25, Mary married Leeson A. Smith Sr. in 1843.3,4
Mary appeared on the Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa, US census of September 2, 1850 living with her husband, Leeson. Her given age was 25 years old, although her actual age was about 33. Three children were living at home: Jane was age eight, Henry was age three, and baby William was age one year old.5
The Leeson A. Smith Sr. household was enumerated in the 1852 Iowa State Census in Millville Township. Four males and three females were living in the home.6
The Leeson A. Smith Sr. household was enumerated in the 1854 Iowa State Census in Millville Township. Four men and three women were living in the home.7
Mary appeared on the Millville, Clayton County, Iowa, US census of 1856 living with her husband, Leeson. She was recorded as 37 years old. Errantly, her birth location was recorded as Ireland. The five children in the home were Jane age 14, Henry age nine, William age seven, Ellen age five, and Ellen who was age three. Jane was shown to have been born in Missouri and the other four children in Iowa.8
On July 5, 1857, her daughter, Jane, married William Patterson.9,10
The Millville Township census of July 23, 1860 shows Mary living with her husband, Leeson. She given age was 30 years old, although her actual age was about 43. (It is obvious that her age has not been calculated correctly. It has been the observation of this author that she may never have admitted her correct age to the census takers.) Five of their children were living at home: Jane was age 16, Henry was age 11, William was age nine, Ellen was age seven, and Charles was age five.11
Mary died on Sunday, February 9, 1862 in Guttenberg, Clayton County, Iowa.12 She was laid to rest in the Goshen Church Cemetery on Pumpkin Ridge near Turkey River in Millville Township, Clayton County, Iowa.1
On March 1, 1869, her daughter, Ellen, married John Bradt.13
On August 3, 1872, her son, William, married Mary Wiltse. Mary was the sister of Burnham Wiltse.14,15,16
About 1878, her son, Henry, married Sadie.17
Children of Mary A. and Leeson A. Smith Sr.
- Jane Smith + descendants18 b. 15 Jan 1842
- James Smith18 b. 15 Feb 1844
- Leeson Smith18 b. 12 Mar 1846
- Henry Smith18 b. 18 Mar 1848, d. 18 Jun 1913
- William Smith Sr. + descendants18 b. 30 May 1849, d. 14 Apr 1936
- Ellen Smith + descendants18 b. 7 Sep 1851
- Charles Smith + descendants18 b. 14 Sep 1853, d. 11 Sep 1941
Citations
- [S16] Cemetery Marker/Gravestone Hereinafter cited as "Cemetery Marker."
- [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."
- [S24] "Family Genealogy Notes", Approx. 1978, Roxie (Smith) Geeting (Bowler, Wisconsin); Repository: Susan Noyes' Research Compilation, Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. Hereinafter cited as "Smith/Neuendorf Family Research Notes."
- [S34] Monona, Iowa Reprinted by: Monona Historical Society, 1882 History of Clayton County Iowa (1401 North Fares Ave, Evansville, Indiana 47711: Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Company, 1882, Reproduction by: Unigraphics, Inc., Republished 1975), History of Clayton County, Iowa Book 1882. Hereinafter cited as Book - 1882 History of Clayton Co.
- [S127] 1850 US Census, US Census Search, Heritage Quest Online, 1850 Iowa, Clayton, Millville Twp, Series: M432 Roll: 182 Page: 133.
- [S419] 1852 Iowa State Census.
- [S418] 1854 Iowa State Census.
- [S380] 1856 Iowa State Census, Iowa, Clayton, Millville; p. 18 (via Ancestry.com).
- [S295] Jane Smith & William Patterson entry, Marriage Registration Elkader, Clayton Co. Crt House, Iowa, No. 1-123, 1857, Clayton County Registrar's Office, Courthouse, Elkader, Clayton County, Iowa, USA. Hereinafter cited as Clayton Co. IA, Marriage Reg.
- [S296] Jane (Smith) Patterson Sturdwent Lathrope ~ Private possession photo, Dorothy (Kenyon) Palmer History Collection (, Manchester, Delaware County, Iowa). Note added to the back of the photograph, as written by Nettie (Smith) Graybill, reads as follows: Jennie Smith Lathrope. This is Grandpa Smith's daughter by his first marriage. She married Bill Patterson first. They had son, Joseph. He was a preacher. He visited Goshen in 1920, also had service in the church at night while here (think one week service). She [Jennie] also married Sturdwent, had 2 daughters also by Patterson. Joe lived at Decatur, Illinois, last I knew. Then [Jennie] married Lathrope. (Grammar was edited and punctuation added by researcher as necessary for ease of reading. SJN).

- [S132] 1860 US Census, US Census Search, Heritage Quest Online, 1860 Iowa, Clayton, Millville Twp, Series: M653 Roll: 315 Page: 986.
- [S16] Cemetery Marker/Gravestone , Goshen Church Cemetery, Turkey River, Iowa Hereinafter cited as "Cemetery Marker."
- [S12] Family History Library, Online: FamilySearch.org, LDS Research Center . FamilySearch™ International Genealogical Index v5.0; North America. Note: Unverified information, added here only as a suggestion as I continue researching this family line. Please conduct your own research before quoting it as fact.
- [S377] Carolyn Givan, Smith Family History (Publish Date: July 1998), Smith Family Tree. Hereinafter cited as Smith Family History.
- [S124] 1880 US Census, www.FamilySearch.org, 1880 Millville, Clayton, Iowa, FHL Film: 1254333, NA Film #: T9-0333, Page: 498C.
- [S283] Mildred Irene "Wiltse" Renken, "The Story and Origin of the Wiltse Family Tree, 1590-1966" (Typewritten document, Albion, Nebraska, Fall 1966). Hereinafter cited as "Wiltse Family Tree & History."
- [S126] 1900 US Census, US Census Search, Heritage Quest Online, 1900 Nebraska, Butler, 3-WD David City, Series: T623 Roll: 918 Page: 181.
- [S19] Leeson Sr. / James / William / & Families, Leeson Smith Sr. Family Bible, Years covered: 1800s - 1948; Present Owner: Present owner is unknown (Jerry Eberhardt has copies of family pages). Hereinafter cited as Smith Family Bible.

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 HaleyTo forget one's ancestors
is to be a brook without a source,
a tree without a root.
— Chinese ProverbFamily 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 BuckleyIn every conceivable manner,
the family is a link to our past,
a bridge to our future.
— Alex HaleyWhat 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 EliotSome 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 ProverbThe memories we give may a lifetime live in the heart
of those we hold so close.
— UnknownFamilies are like fudge . . .
mostly sweet with a few nuts.
— UnknownThe family is one of Nature's masterpieces.
— George SantayanaHaving a place to go – is a home.
Having someone to love – is a family.
Having both – is a blessing.
— Donna HedgesEvery 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