Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Stephen Smith

Male 1836 - 1907  (71 years)


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  • Name Stephen Smith 
    Born 28 Jan 1836  New Castle, Henry, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 29 Dec 1907  Grove Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Mormon Cemetery, Grove Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I638  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father John Smith,   b. 13 Feb 1799, , Union, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Jan 1870, Grove Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Martha "Massie" Koons,   b. 1806, , Randolph, North Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1839, , Adams, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 33 years) 
    Married 14 Jul 1822  of Liberty Township, Henry, Indiana, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F237  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Censuses:
      1850 US: Dist. 21, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 98a, dwelling 542, 28 Sep 1850, next door is George and Mary Graybll:
      John Smith, 51, SC.
      Sarah, 43, NY.
      Lydia, 16, IN.
      Stephen, 14, IN.
      Joseph, 12, IN.
      Rhoda Ann, 9, IL.
      Hyrum 6, IL.
      Samuel Carlos, 4, IA.
      Abraham, 1, IA.

      1852 Iowa: not listed as an individual in FHL book heads of household index for the 1852 Iowa census; probably part of his father's household.

      1860 US: Macedonia P.O., Grove Twp., Pottawattamie, IA, p. 417, entry 849, next door neighbors to Levi Graybill and Peter Frame [husband of Lydia Smith]:
      Stephen Smith 24, farmer, IN.
      Mary C., 23, NY.
      Henry, 3, IA.
      George M., 6/12, IA.

      1870 US: Wheeler's Grove P.O., Grove Twp., Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 160a, dwelling 25 [same neighborhood as Levi, Salathiel Graybill, and his mother Sarah Winegar Smith]:
      Stephen Smith, 33, farming, $1000, $600, IN.
      Mary, 32, housekeeping, NY.
      Henry, 12, IA.
      George, 10, IA.
      Clara, 8, IA.
      Willard, 5, IA.

      1880 US: Grove Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, NA T9-0361, FHL 1254361, p. 122D:
      Stephen Smith, marr., 44, IN SC NC, farming.
      Mary C., wife, 43, NY PA PA.
      Henry, son, s, 22, IA IN NY.
      George, son, s, 21, IA IN NY.
      Clara, dau., s, 18, IA IN IN.
      Willie E., 15, IA IN IN.

      1895 Iowa: Grove Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa:
      Stephen Smith, 58, OH.
      Mary C., 57, NY.
      Arthur, 13, Potta. Co. IA.
      Geo. M. Smith, 35, Potta. Co. IA.
      Mattie E. Smith, IN.
      Mande M. Smith, 7, Potta. Co. IA.
      Nellie B. Smith, 7, Potta. Co. IA.

      1900 US: Grove Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, p. 94A:
      Stephen Smith, Jan 1836, 64, m. 44 years, IN NC SC, farmer.
      Mary C., wife, May 1837, 63, m. 44 years, 5 total children all living, NY PA PA.
      Arthur J., son, Dec 1887, 18, S, IA IN NY, farm laborer.

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. Susan Easton Black, compiler, "Early Members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints," (Religious Studies Center, BYU, 1993, copy in Family History Library in Salt Lake City), p. 506: "Stephen Smith. Birth: 28 Jan 1836, New Castle, Henry, Indiana. Death 29 Dec 1907, near Macedonia, Pottawattamie, Iowa. Stephen Smith moved to Nauvoo, Hancock, IL, and then to Garden Grove, Decatur, Iowa, in his youth. He settled near Macedonia, Pottawattamie, Iowa, in 1847, where her resided until his death. He was baptized a member of the RLDS on 7 Jun 1863 by W.H. Kelley. Sources: Early Reorganization Minutes, 1852-1871, Book A and 1872-1905, Book C; 'Saints' Herald' Obituaries, 1908, p. 142; 'The History of the RLDS, p. 325."

      2. 12 Jul 2002 email from Ron Romig, Archivist, RLDS Church in Independence, Missouri:
      a. "I tracked the reference to History of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, vol 3: 324 -The following-named persons were baptized by Elder William H. Kelley: Stephen Smith, E. W. Knapp, James Otto, E. F. Hyde, and P. E. Knapp. Early Reorganization Minutes, Book A (of membership records) adds: Stephen Smith was confirmed by E. C. Briggs and W. Baldwin, citing Herald vol. 4 (1863):28."
      b. "October RLDS Conference, 1859, held at the barn of Israel L. Rogers in Kendall Co., Ill. April 9th A.M. Conference met. Bro Beebe, delegate from the Farm Creek Branch in Mill's Co. Iowa presented the following report: "Organization of the Farm Creek Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of L.D.S. of Mill co. Iowa. Were organized on the 16th of Oct. 1859 by giving in their names as follows: Calvin Beebe, Mrs. Submit Beebe, John Smith, Sariah Smith, John Richards, Harriet Richards, Richard Y. Kelly, Sariah E. F. Kelley, Levi Graybill, Patience Graybill, Elxander Liles, Frances M. Liles, Calvin A. Beebe{e}, Angeline C. Beebe, Joseph Smith, Rachel Smith, Stephen Smith, William H. Kelley <1>(this day was rebaptized) Henry Winegar, Mrs. Frances L [Page 63] Richards, Mrs. Elizabeth Winegar, Mrs Ann Strong, Sariah A. Flesher, Mrs Alice Osler, after which they chose Calvin Beebe, President; John Smith, Priest; Richard Y. Kelly, Deacon. Early Minutes of the Reorganization, 62-63."
      "I leave it to you to resolve the contradictory baptismal dates for the mentioned Stephen Smiths."

      3. See notes of father John Smith for extensive biography on entire family including this individual and their spouses.

      4. The book "Mormon Redress Petitions, Documents of the 1833-1838 Missouri Conflict," edited by Clark V. Johnson, contains a copy of the "Scroll Petition" dated 28 Nov 1843 at Nauvoo, IL addressed to the U.S. Congress by members of the LDS Church who had property destroyed by Missouri mobs in the 1830's. Included with over a couple thousand signatures are those of Jno. and Sarah Smith and some of his children from his first wife who was deceased at the time of the petition: Hannah, Elizabeth, Stephen. Jos., and Rhoda A.

      5. FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907:
      Pg. 197: "Grove Township... Many of these early settlers left Nauvoo intending to go to Utah, but for one reason or another they paused here and finally concluded to remain and few, if any, have had cause to regret it. The first to organize a religious body in the township were the Latter Day Saints. E.W. Briggs and W.W. Blair were the organizers, and the original members were John Smith and wife, E.W. Knapp and wife, A.J. Field and wife, James Otto and wife, Levi Graybill and wife, John Winegar and wife, Joseph Smith and wife, and Stephen Smith. John Smith was their first president and E.W. Knapp the first clerk. Services were held at residences of the different members and later at schoolhouses, but the society becoming more numerous and wealthy, in 1874 they erected a modest church building at a cost of $763. The membership had increased until in 1881 it had reached ninety and maintained a regular Sabbath School."
      Pp. 1066-1067: "Stephen Smith, now living retired but still residing on his farm on section 27, Grove township, came to Pottawattamie county about the 1st of November, 1847. On this day he arrived in Council Bluffs, where he spent the winter. In the following April his father arrived in Macedonia township, bringing his family with him, and there he built the first house within what is now the borders of the township. John Smith, the father, resided there for eight years or more, and in the fall of 1853 or 1854 became a resident of Grove township, settling on section 8, where he continued to reside until his death occurred, in 1870, when he was 72 years of age. His remains were interred in the cemetery of the Latter Day Saints in Grove township. He was a farmer by occupation and at one time he built the first saw mill on Farm creek, which he operated for several years, thus becoming associated with the industrial development as well as the agricultural interests of the county. In politics he was originally a whig, but upon the dissolution of that party became a republican. He served for several terms as supervisor from his township and was a member of the county board when the first courthouse at Council Bluffs was built. As a determined pioneer and influential citizen he was well known in this county. His birth had occurred in North Carolina and he had resided for some time in Indiana prior to coming to Iowa. The wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Martha Koonts, was born in Indiana, and from that state they removed to Adams county, Illinois, where the death of Mrs. Smith occurred, in 1840. Stephen Smith was born in Henry county, Indiana, January 28, 1836. His father wedded a second time, having wedded Miss Sarah Winegar in Adams county, Illinois, after losing his first wife. She accompanied her husband to Pottawattamie county and died here in 1882 [error; should be 1880]. By the two marriages there were seven sons and six daughters. Those of the family who came to Pottawattamie county were: Mary, Patience, Hannah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Rhoda [error: Lydia Rhoda is one individual and not two], Anna, Stephen, Joseph, Hiram, Carlos and Abraham. Two brothers of the family died in early Childhood. Of the children Stephen, Lydia, and Abraham are still living, the sister being a resident of Cheyenne county, Kansas, while the brother makes his home in northwestern Nebraska. Stephen Smith was eleven years of age when he came with his father to Pottawattamie county. In Illinois he had attended subscription schools, but owing to the fact that this county was a frontier district in which the homes were widely scattered he had no educational advantages in this locality. He has always followed farming as a life work. In early days he underwent the hardships, privations and experiences incident to pioneer life and performed the arduous task necessary to the development of a new farm, but as the years passed he was very successful and now is enabled to live retired in the enjoyment of all the comforts and some fo the luxuries of life. In Mills county, Iowa, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary C. Frain, who was born May 31, 1837, and was brought to Iowa at an early period in its development when about five years of age. The family home was established in Cedar county, where both her father and mother died. To her husband she has been a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey and they have reared a family of five children: Henry A., living in Macedonia; George M., of Fremont county, Iowa; Mrs. Clara V. Bogue, of Eagle county, Colorado; Willard E., a farmer of Macedonia township; and Arthur J., at home. Mr. Smith of this review was reared in the faith of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, but is not connected therewith at the present time. In politics he is an earnest republican, having supported the party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served in various township offices and as township trustee altogether for about seventeen years, a fact which indicates his fidelity to duty and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellowmen. Wherever known he is held in high esteem and his good qualities entitle him to the record which is uniformly given him, while his close application and industry in business have justly merited the success that has came to him through his farming operations."

      6. FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, includes the following biographies of Stephen's sons:
      Pp. 995, 996 biography of son Henry Smith: "Henry A. Smith, now living in the village of Macedonia, has for a long period been connected with the farming and stock-raising interests of the county and is now engaged to some extent in carpentering and building. His birth occurred in this township, October 13, 1857, his parents being Stephen and Mary (Frain) Smith, who are now residing in Grove township, this county, where the father follows farming, to which pursuit his entire life has been devoted. In their family were four sons and a daughter: George M., who is now living practically retired in Tabor, Iowa; Willard E., whose home is in Macedonia township; Clara V., the wife of C.E. Bogue, of Glenwood Springs, Colorado; and Arthur J., at home. The other member of the family is Henry A. Smith, who was reared to the occupation of farming abnd has always resided in this county. He was a pupil in the public schools and when he he had mastered the common branches of English learning, he turned his attention to acricultural pursuits as a life work. He has prospered in his undertakings, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation, and through his practical and progressive methods of tilling the soil has secured good crops, which have brought a very satisvactory price on the market. He is now the owner of two excellent farms in Macedonia township, one comprising 120 acres of land and the other containing 80 acres. He now leaves the active work of the farm to others, but still gives personal supervision to his places. In 1901 he removed to the village of Macedonia and erected a residence, which he has since occupied. For five years he was engaged in the hardware business but has now retired from commercial pursuits. He is, however, engaged to some extent in carpentering and building and is thus identified with the improvement of the town. Mr. Smith was married, in Grove township, in 1883, to Miss Ella Travis, a native of Jefferson county, Iowa, and unto them have been born three children: Grace, Fae and Harry, all at home. In his political views Mr. Smith is a republican and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to positions of political preferment, so that he has filled all the township offices. He has been trustee, township clerk, and in Grove township is now serving as a member of the council. His duties have been discharged with promptness and fidelity and his worth as a public-spirited citizen is widely acknowledged. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Macedonia, and he and all his family are members of the Christian church of Grove township. In the community they are much esteemed and their circle of warm friends is an extensive one."
      Pp. 1059-1060 biography of son Willard E. Smith: "Willard E. Smith, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 27, Macedonia township, was born May 12, 1865, in Grove township, this county, and is therefore a representative of one of its old families, his parents, Stephen and Mary (Frain) Smith, being still residents of Grove township. Their family numbered four sons and a daughter: Henry, of Macedonia; George, of Tabor; Clara, the wife of Charles Bogue, of Colorado; Willard E., of this review; and Arthur, at home. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Willard E. Smith in the days of his boyhood and youth. He remained with his parents until he attained his majority, with the exception of two years spent in Colorado and Montana - 1884 and 1885. He was engaged in mining in the former state and was employed upon a ranch in the latter. He then returned home, was married at the age of 21 years and started out in life on his own account as a farmer of Grove township. He first rented 160 acres in Macedonia township, whereon he resided for three years. On selling that property he made investment in 240 acres, constituting the northwest quarter and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24, Grove township, which he now owns. In March, 1905, however, he bought his present farm and took up his abode upon this place, comprising 180 acres on sections 22 and 27, Macedonia township. He therefore has a total of 420 acres in the two farms and is cultivating both tracts, raising grain and stock. He is a large stock feeder and shipper, and his business is bringing to him a very gratifying financial return. Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Smith was married in 1887 to Miss Susan Knox, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio, October 21, 1867, and came here at the age of ten years with her parents, Andrew and Matilda (Young) Knox, natives of Ireland, who were married, however, in Massachusetts. The family home was established in Grove township when Mr. Knox brought his wife and children to Iowa and upon the farm which he there developed and cultivated both he and his wife spent their remaining days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born eight children: Ruby, Lois, Lottie, Ralph, Dart, LeRoy, Violet and Lyle. The family attend the Presbyterian church and Mr. Smith belongs to Ruby lodge, No. 415, A .F. & A. M., of Macedonia. For one term he served as trustee of Grove township, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, although he gives stalwart allegiance to the republican party."

      7. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, pp. 110-111, lists the following children:
      Henry Almond, b. 1857, m. Ella F. Travis.
      George Marion, b. 1859, m. Martha Pickerill.
      Clara Viola, b. 1861, m. Charles Edgar Bogue.
      Willard E., b. 1865, m. Susan Knox.
      Madeline.
      Arthur John, b. 1881, m. Sena Nelson [date looks odd?]

      8. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 125-140: "Stephen and Mary lived one year at Trader's Point, an old Indian trading post that once stood on the banks of the Missouri River, opposite Bellevue, NE. In the spring of 1857, they settled in Macedonia Twp., Potta. Co., IA. In 1865, they moved to the farm at Wheeler's Grove. Their children were Henry Almond, George Marion, Clara Viola, Willard Elmer and Arthur J. About 1839, George Frain walked to Cedar Co., IA. He acquired a farm of 40 acres, built a shanty and then a log house 16 feet square, sawing out the slabs for floors and doors. Later, he added a 16 feet square bedroom, a lean-to. He built a sod fence around his farm and dug a ditch outside the fence so nothing could jump over it. This also served as a fire prevention ditch. There were Indians in the neighborhood, and many nights, he slept on the slanting roof of the shanty and heard them come into the room below hunting for food and then leave. He raised potatoes, beans and some corn. He stayed there all summer. The next spring, George brought his wife and children Mary Catherine, Peter, Rachel and Elizabeth to their new home in Cedar Co., IA. They got on a raft with a shanty on it at Pittsburg, PA, came down to the mouth of the Ohio River, then up the Mississippi river on a steamboat to Muscatine, Iowa, then to the farm. Mary Catherine also had sister, Margaret, born after the family came to Iowa, and a brother, Levi, 18 years old at the time, who stayed in New York. Brother, Peter, settled on a farm 1/2 mile east of Silver City. When Mary Catherine was 18 years old, Peter went back to Cedar Co., to visit and she went home with him to Silver City. They promised to come back to Cedar Co, in a year but never made it. It was 13 years before she went back. In the meantime, she married Stephen Smith, who was a brother to Peter's wife, Lydia, When she did return to Cedar Co, she made the trip on horseback, taking her 18 month old son, Henry, with her. Stephen often told his sons, and later his grandsons, of the time he went with his father to and Indian camp to see Chief Fontenelle. it seems the Indians had driven his father's horses across the Missouri River to their camp. John Smith talked to the chief, told him how necessary it was he should have his horses to farm with. They went back home, and the next morning the horses were back on the farm." Extensive downline follows in the book.

      BIRTH:
      1. Date per tombstone.

      2. Date per RLDS citation herein; Unsure about accuracy of "New Castle" vs "Liberty Twp."

      MARRIAGE:
      1. According to biography of son Henry Smith, mother is Mary Frain. According to censuses, middle initial is "C." Quote from the article "Why Didn't You Go West, John Smith?," by Gregory Smith from "The John Whitmer Historical Association Journal, vol. 19, 1999, RLDS Library Archives, P.O. Box 1059, Independence, MO 64051 [see notes for John Smith for full citation]: "Lydia and her brother Stephen Smith, married a Frain brother and sister from New York." Stephen's sister Lydia's husband is Peter Frain.

      2. Per FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, biography of Stephen Smith cited above: "In Mills county, Iowa, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary C. Frain, who was born May 31, 1837, and was brought to Iowa at an early period in its development when about five years of age. The family home was established in Cedar county, where both her father and mother died. To her husband she has been a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey and they have reared a family of five children..."

      3. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 125-140: Stephen Smith married Mary Catherine Frain 16 Nov 1856 in Mills Co., IA. "She was b. 31 May 1837, Fayetteville, Onandaga Co., NY; d. 12 Nov 1923, Macedoina, IA; bur. Wheeler's Grove Cemetery, Potta. Co., IA. She was daughter of George Frain and Mary Painter. She came to Iowa in 1854." See more biography on her above.

      DEATH:
      1. Date per tombstone and RLDS obituary citation herein. RLDS obituary notes location of death as Macedonia; however, 1907 biography above says he was actually in Grove township which is not exactly Macedonia. Being he died later that same year, I use Grove township as place of death.

      BURIAL:
      1. Picture of tombstone on website for "Mormon Cemetery" located in Grove Township of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, four miles east of Macedonia on County Road G66/Pioneer Trail.: <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapottaw/CemMormon.htm> It reads: "Father, Stephen Smith, Jan. 28, 1836 - Dec. 29, 1907. Mary C. Wife, May 31, 1837 - Nov 12, 1923."

      2. This individual listed in this 11 Nov 2002 website <http://www.rootsweb.com/~iapottaw/CemMormon.htm?sourceid=00319368866824358798>: "Mormon Cemetery. Located in Grove Township [Pottawattamie County, Iowa], four miles east of Macedonia on County Road G66/Pioneer Trail. It has been called the Mormon cemetery and the LDS cemetery because it is on the Mormon Trail and many of the people buried there belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The LDS Church was organized in 1863. Original members were John Smith and wife, Sarah; E.W. Knapp and wife, Melissa; A.J. Fields and wife, Sarah; James Otto and wife, Mehitable; Joseph Levi Graybill and wife, Patience; John Winegar and wife, Elizabeth; Joseph Smith and wife, Rachel and Stephen Smith. [Taken from the 1882 Pottawattamie Co. History by Baskin.] Many of these members are buried here. [In later years members of the Re-organized Latter Day Saints were buried here.] The oldest burial is that of Peter Frain, 12 Oct 1861, whose stone is still visible." [Note: most of the people mentioned were RLDS by 1863.]

      3. Copy of complete printed cemetery listing from FHL book 977.771 V3e, vol. 1, Bk. 3-5 in hard file 90 with John Peter Graybill.

      OBITUARY:
      1. "Saints' Herald," RLDS publication, v. 55 (Feb. 5, 1908), p. 142: "Smith. - Near Madeconia, Iowa, December 29, 1907, Stephen Smith. Born January 28, 1836, New Castle, Indiana. While yet a small boy he moved with his parents to Nauvoo, Illinois; and with a body of Saints moved to Garden Grove, Iowa; and later, in 1847, to Macedonia, Iowa, where he has since remained. He joined the church in early manhood and remained a member through life. He lived to a good, ripe age, and leaves many friends to mourn with the family, the loss of a friend and neighbor. The funeral was at the old home; sermon by Daniel Hougas." [Note: according to the 1907 biography cited above, Stephen was not involved with the RLDS faith at the time this obituary was written per the following partial quote: "Mr. Smith of this review was reared in the faith of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, but is not connected therewith at the present time..."]

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 125-140.

      2. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 151-152.