The John I. Smith Family

As was the wont of pioneer families, that of John I. Smith, pioneer class leader of the McKendree congregation, was a large one. John I. Smith married Miss Edith Spencer, daughter of William and Sarah Hatcher Spencer, and when John and Edith came to class meeting, they brought with them a goodly congregation from their own house: William S., Katherine, Sarah Ann, John, Nicholas, Mary, James, Samuel, Hannah, Nathan, Edith and Matilda.

William S. Smith wedded Sarah Beal as his first wife and to this union were born J. Alexander, Asa, Elizabeth and Edith. Alexander Smith married Ursula Mummey, daughter, as we believe we have been told (this will probably stand correction) of Joshua Mummey; and Asa married Ursula's sister. Edith married Lyman Thorn and the family moved to DeWitt, Iowa. Alex and Asa, we believe, went to Black Hawk County, Iowa, during or at the close of the Civil War. Indians were plentiful in northwestern Iowa in the 1860s and the Smiths were brought in close contact with Poor Lo. They visited at my grandfather's home a few years after going to Iowa and recounting the ineptitudes of the aboriginal cookery, Mrs. Alex Smith said to my mother: "Ruth, they are the dirtiest things you ever saw. They'll kill a prairie chicken, throw it into the fire, and then set down and gobble it up, feather, guts and all." Alex Smith and his wife Ursula, later visited at my parents home in the early '80s and the most vivid impression I have of Mr. Smith is that he wore chin whiskers and looked like P. V. Nasby. Ever after that, when I saw the picture of David R. Locke (Nasby) I thought of Alex Smith. Smith was a head higher, but looked very much like the Toledo humorist. Those Indians working on the wild chickens and the Smith whiskers have stuck with me for half a century.

Katherine Smith married Elisha Fisher. Children born were three: William, John and Thomas. The family went to Iowa, we believe.

Sarah Ann Smith became the first wife of David Mummey. Issue were Hester, Ann and Charles. Charles married Sarah Brown, a daughter, we believe, of Simpkin Brown.

John Smith married Melinda Ethel as his first wife and had one son, William. His second wife was Sarah Mummey and they had five children: Nathan, Nancy Ellen, Katherine, Eva and Enfield.

Nicholas died in infancy; Mary Smith married James Porter and had three sons: John I., William and Hugh. William married Miss Mary Brownell. The second husband of Mary Smith Porter was John William Boden and to this union were born two sons; James and Jesse. James married Eva Beal and Jess, Rose Walker.

James wedded Jane Beal and had seven children: Hannah, Edith, Anna, Katherine, Audrey, Olive, Willie, Etta and Roma.

Hannah Smith did not marry. Nathan Smith married Emma Rhodes and had three children: Edith, Charles and Oscar. Edith married Fred Mummey, son of David Mummey. Edith married John Bell and had three children: Lulu, Mary and Francis Clyde. Lulu married John Q. Lyne; Mary, who recently passed away in McConnelsville, was the widow of Frank Hann. Francis died at an early age.

Matilda Smith did not marry.