Laban Smith Family History

1 Laban SMITH 1,2,3
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Birth: 25 Oct 1820, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 1,3,2
Death: 21 Dec 1891, Crawford Co., PA 1
Burial: Smith Cemetery, East Mead Twp., Crawford Co., PA 1
Occ: Auctioneer - Farmer 3
Father: Joseph B. SMITH (1787-1843)
Mother: Mary SMITH (1802-1891)
Excerpts from Francis C. Waid's Third Souvenir 4
March 18 - GOLDEN WEDDING of MR. AND MRS. LABAN SMITH, BLOOMING VALLEY.
Let us always look on the bright side. The record of the year 1891, as far as it has gone, is heightened in interest, in this community, by two "golden wedding" celebrations [It is worthy of remark that within less than a year three golden weddings--the two here spoken of and that of Mr. and Mrs. John Braymer, near Blooming Valley, last fall while I was absent in the West--have been celebrated. Healthy, indeed, must be Blooming Valley and vicinity, for quite a number of couples can now be counted here who have passed their fiftieth wedding anniversary]--the first one, on February 9, being that of Mr. and Mrs. John Roudebush, and the second, to-day, that of Mr. and Mrs. Laban Smith [Laban Smith had many friends when he was married, a large number of whom were present at the banquet, and even more at the golden wedding; notwithstanding many had died, the number of his friends had increased: A generous man retains his friends], the former of whom is a son of the late Joseph Smith, whose home was within a stone's throw of my father's door--my home both then and now. Laban's mother is yet living, and is still our nearest neighbor. About 150 people--friends and relatives--were assembled in Blooming Valley, to do honor to the worthy couple and the interesting occasion, and among the guests from a distance I might mention Mrs. Smith's brother, Mr. James Shontz, of Faribault, Minn., and her daughter, Armitta (Mrs. John Proud) and her two sons, of Aberdeen, Dak. Fifty years ago, to-day, Mr. and Mrs. Smith were happy on the threshold of joint life, simply the commencement of what they now experience. Then they had the beginning, representing the sunshine of life farther on, the reality of which they have now reached; in 1841 they formed the bud; later on, the blossom; to-day, the fruit--fifty years of married life to thank the Lord for, and the presence in their old home, this day, of four sons and four daughters [Mr. and Mrs. Laban Smith have nine children living--five sons and four daughters--all of whom were present at the wedding, except one son, who was unable to attend on account of sickness], and many other relatives, in all representing four generations, besides hosts of friends, all of whom were met to pour out their greetings and congratulations. On my way to this golden wedding I called on Laban's aged mother (who was unable to attend), and afterward I held in my arms her great-great-grandchild, the two representing the alpha and the omega of five generations! Many of the ancestors lived to very advanced ages, some of them to nearly a hundred years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have twenty-four grandchildren (though not all present at the celebration) and two great-grandchildren.
"When the bride and bridegroom were married I was only about eight years of age, yet I remember them very well as they then were half a century ago, and I may safely say we have been pretty close friends ever since. I do not think all the blessings of life are past. True friendship should at all times be cultivated, for it will bring lasting happiness to us, more durable than monuments of stone or iron. Laban Smith I look upon and respect as a man of generous heart and hospitable, in which virtues he is worthy of any and every one's consideration and imitation. But he has had help, and the quality of that help will be found described in brief yet potent language in Proverbs xviii: 22: [Whosoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord] and I think that whilst giving due credit to our esteemed friend, Mr. Smith, we should not forget that noble, Christian woman, his faithful, honored wife, who has been so well helping him for the past fifty years! O, how much in this life have we to be thankful for! We are prone to forget the inestimable blessings the Lord pours out to us, and neglect to give Him due credit. Do you know what makes us rich? The blessing of the Lord maketh rich; and He addeth no sorrow with it. If we were to remove or set aside the blessings given us, what have we left? What have we that we did not receive from above? It is right that we should rejoice and be glad on such occasions as this, when we ought to remember the goodness of the Lord toward us, and ever be thankful to do His will, and so finally meet Him in peace" [That portion of my account of the Golden Wedding, contained within the quotation marks, is in substance part of my address to the host and hostess and the assembled guests on the occasion referred to]. The lovely day, the happy guests, the pleasant surroundings, the music by the Blooming Valley Band, the excellent repast provided by the ladies for the occasion, the addresses--in short, every detail connected with this social entertainment, bringing unqualified enjoyment to all present, made the event of this golden wedding anniversary one of lasting remembrance in the community. Numerous gifts were presented to the bride and bridegroom as souvenirs of the happy event. Long life to this good Christian wife and her husband, and may blessings be multiplied to them! 4
1870 Census has his first name as "Laben"
Spouse: Miranda Ann SHONTZ 1,2
Birth: 16 Jan 1821, New York 1
Death: 23 Oct 1912, Warren Co., PA 5
Father: John SHONTZ
Mother: Mary WYGANT (1798-1882)
Marr: 18 Mar 1841, Warren Co., PA 5,1
Children:
Sarah Ann (Sade) (1845-1941)
Armitta J. (Mittie) (~1850-)
Wooster Beecher (WB) (1851-1933)
Mary Ann (1853-1942)
Wilbert (Willie) (~1856-)
Nelson (Nelt) (1860->1923)
McClelland "Mack" (1862-)
Evangaline "Eva" (1870-)
1.1 Sarah Ann (Sade) SMITH
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Birth: 1845, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 5
Death: 14 Jul 1941 5
Occ: Keeping House 6
Spouse: Moore W. O'DELL 4,6
Birth: abt 1839, New York 6
Death: 26 Oct 1909, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 5
Children:
Almora "Mode" (~1864-)
Odessa "Dessa" (~1866-)
Frances (~1871-1951)
Hattie (~1873-)
Bessie A. (~1876-1945)
1.2 Armitta J. (Mittie) SMITH
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Birth: abt 1850, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 5
Death: Aberdeen, Dakota4
ABERDEEN, Dak., October 24, 1886. 7
My Dear Friend: I received your book and return many thanks for the kind remembrance. I see father and mother's names and also the names of friends of my childhood. Seeing the pictures of Uncle Ira and Aunt Betsy, I think of them as I used to see them as I passed their house coming home from school, Uncle Ira always with a smile for the children. With best regards for your family, I am
Ever your friend,
MITTIE J. PROUD.
1870 Census info from Olmsted Co., MN shows a John Proud and Mittie Proud. Armitta must have been born around 1850 for this to be right !!!
Spouse: John PROUD
Birth: abt 1850
Death: 1914 5
Marr: 21 Nov 1866 5
1.3 Wooster Beecher (WB) SMITH
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Birth: 10 Mar 1851, Meadville, Crawford Co., PA 8,9
Death: Nov 1933, North Liberty, Lawrence Co., PA
Burial: 1933, North Cemetery, Butler, Butler Co., PA
Occ: Security Officer, Pumper, Laborer 9,3
Reli: Presbetyrian
WB met John D. Rockefeller while working in the oil fields at Millerstown (Chicora).
Politics - Republican
Spouse: Emma Rosetta (Rose) KELLY
Birth: 21 Oct 1855, Townville, Crawford Co., PA 10,8,9,3
Death: 22 Apr 1946, Butler, Butler Co., PA 11
Father: Esquire KELLY (1833-1919)
Mother: Emma Matilda MYERS (1838-1908)
Marr: 20 Mar 18748
Children:
Harry G. (1875-)
William V. "Will" (1877-1913)
Paul Phillip (1878-1963)
Pearl Edna (1880-1919)
Lillith Evangaline (1890-1986)
Leland S. (1892-1976)
1.4 Mary Ann SMITH
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Birth: 1853, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 5
Death: 17 Feb 1942 5
Spouse: Nathan SMITH
Birth: 1845, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 5
Death: 12 Nov 1926 5
Father: Jeremiah SMITH (1794-1878)
Mother: Catherine "Kate" RITENOEUR (~1796-1875)
Children:
Eldred G. (~1871-)
Grace (~1873-)
Cassius (1880-)
Hiley G. (~1882-)
1.5a Wilbert (Willie) SMITH 3
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Birth: abt 1856, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 2
Occ: Laborer 3
1880 Census lists him as 22 years old.
Spouse: Phebe Emma ADAMS
Birth: 1861
Marr: 14 Jun 1880 5
Children:
Ray (1878-1952)
Fred W. (1897-)
Other Spouses Jane
1.5b Wilbert (Willie) SMITH* (See above)
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Spouse: Jane
Other Spouses Phebe Emma ADAMS
1.6a Nelson (Nelt) SMITH *2
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Birth: 22 Apr 1860, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 5,3
Death: aft 1923 5
Occ: Laborer 3
1910 PA Census - Crawford Co
Nelson Smith
Age: 48 State: PA
Color: W Enumeration District: 0055
Birth Place: Pennsylvania Visit: 0034
County: Crawford
Relation: Head of Household
Other Residents: Son Harold 19, Pennsylvania
Daughter Hester I 15, Pennsylvania
Son Hugh N 13, Pennsylvania
Son Howard E 06, Ohio
Spouse: Nellie THOMPSON 5
Birth: 1864 5
Death: 18 Mar 1910, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA 5
Children: Gerald (1880-)
Harold Laban (~1891-)
Hester I. (~1895-)
Hugh Nelson (~1897-)
Howard E. (~1904-)
Other Spouses Louise LILLY
1.6b Nelson (Nelt) SMITH* (See above)
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Spouse: Louise LILLY5
Birth: abt 1862 5
Death: 6 Aug 1948, Corry, Erie Co., PA 5
Marr: 1923 5
Other Spouses Nellie THOMPSON
1.7 McClelland "Mack" SMITH 5
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Birth: 27 Jul 1862, Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA5, 3
Spouse: Addie WOLF 5
Birth: 1872 5
Marr: 15 Apr 1893 5
Children:
Miranda (1896-)
Sylvia M. (1898-)
May (~1900-)
1.8 Evangaline "Eva" SMITH 2
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Birth: Feb 1870, Pennsylvania 2,3
Spouse: Oron CHASE 5
Birth: 1864 5
Death: 3 Aug 1949 5
Marr: 14 Oct 1891 5
Children:
Harry D. (1893-)
Donald W. (~1895-)
May (1896-)
Dorothy (1899-)
Joseph A. (1903-1964)
Sources:
1. Descendants of John Shontz, given to me by Amy Waggner on 6-23-01.
2. 1870 PA Census - Crawford Co - Mead Twp.
3. 1880 PA Census - Crawford Co - Mead Twp
4. Francis C. Waid's Souvenir - Crawford Co. GENWEB site.
5. Information obtained from Church of Ladder Day Saints web site.
6. 1880 Census - Blooming Valley, Crawford Co., PA
7. Francis C. Waid's Souvenir
8. From the Family Bible of WB and Rose Smith, that is currently in my father's possesion.
9. 1900 PA Census - Butler Co - Jefferson Twp
10. Email from Zola (Kelly) 3-16-01, family recollections and transcriptions from Esquire & Emma Kelly's family bible. The bible is currently in the possession of Dorothy (Kelly) Lindenbaum.
11. Obituary of Rose Smith from the Butler Eagle, 1946.