| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. Rootsweb.com Worldconnect 11 Nov 2002 has 6 databases for Lydia Rhoda Smith showing husband as Peter Frain born 10 Sep 1830 at Fayetteville, Franklin, Pennsylvania or Allegany, Cattaraugus, NY and died by drowning 12 Oct 1861 at Pottawattamie Co., Iowa with burial in Mormon Cemetery in Grove Township, Pottawattamie, IA. According to the book "Makers of Fire" about the history of Pottawattamie County, he was a ferryboat captain, farmer, and mill worker. Her birth is noted as 25 Jul 1834 in Indiana or Henry Co., Indiana or Ohio. Marriage is given as either 20 Jun 1853 or 3 Aug 1853 in Iowa. All report her death as 24 Sep 1913 at Macedonia, Pottawattamie, IA with burial in Mormon Cemetery in Grove Township, Pottawattamie, IA. One site notes that in 1880 Lydia lived with the family of her son-in-law John Price in Grove, Pottawattamie, IA [confirmed below]. Children reported all born in Macedonia, Pottawattamie County, Iowa except as noted are:
George Henry, b. 10 or 14 Apr 1854 (Council Bluffs).
Mary Elvira, b. 24 Jul 1856.
Elizabeth M., b. 17 Sep 1858 or 19 Aug 1859.
Margaret, b. 20 Sep 1861.
2. 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.
1851 Iowa State: Pottawattamie County. FHL film 1022203. The entire state was counted but only Pottawattamie listed everyone by name in the household and their ages; other counties only listed the head of the household and a numerical count without names of the various ages by sex in the household. No date is given when the census was taken but it was certified in Dec. 1851; however, the other counties show a Sep 1851 date which also appears more likely for Pottawattamie as well in light of ages given some children with known birthdays in October. Census return:
Smith: John 50, Sarah 43, Lydia 16, [unreadable: may be Joseph 13], Rhoda A. 9, Hiram 7, Samuel C. 4, Abraham 2. [Note that the following related families are in this census and very close neighbors: Simeon P. Graybill, Michael/Polly Graybill with Polly's mother Catherine Eller Stoker, Eller/Margaret Stoker, Jacob/Catherine Stoker, Philip/Catherine Gatrost, David/Barbara Stoker, Edward/Sarah Davis, and William/Almira Stoker. Other relatives in same county but separated by several pages of census include the following families: Thomas/Hannah Pilling whose daughter Hannah, later marries William Lenore Graybill, Levi/Patience Graybill, John W./Sarah Stoker, Hannah Ford whose son Martin later marries Zibiah M. Stoker, and John/Sarah Smith.]
1852 Iowa: Peter Frain not listed in FHL book heads of household index for the 1852 Iowa census; there is a William Frain in Clay Twp. in Washington Co. who may or may not be related.
1860 US: Macedonia P.O., Grove Twp., Pottawattamie, IA, p. 417, entry 848, next door neighbors to Levi Graybill and Stephen Smith:
Peter Frame, 29, farmer, $400, $100, PA.
Lydia, 25, OH.
George H., 5, IA.
Mary A., 4, IA.
Elizabeth M., 1, IA.
1870 US: Wheeler's Grove P.O., Grove Twp., Pottawattamie, IA, p. 160b, entry 40, neighbors to Levi Graybill and Stephen Smith:
Nathan Sanford, 56, farmer, $2000, $500, IN.
Lydia, 37, IN.
George H., 16, IA.
Mary E. Frain, 14, IA.
Elisabeth, 12, IA.
Margaret, 8, IA.
1880 US: Grove, Pottawattamie, Iowa, NA T9-0361, FHL 1254361, p. 120C:
John Price, marr., 23, OH PA NY, farm laborer.
Margaret, wife, 18, IA PA NY.
Freddie, son, 5m, IA OH IA.
Lydia Frain, mother-in-law, 46, IN OH NC.
Phoebe Pender, dau., 6, IA IN IN.
Census research note: according to 1907 biography cited below, Lydia was living in Cheyenne County, Kansas at that time. Did she move back to Iowa prior to her death?
BIOGRAPHY:
1. See notes of father John Smith for extensive biography on entire family including this individual and their spouses.
2. 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.
3. The following partial quote is included in the biography of Stephen Smith, brother of this individual, per FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, pp. 1066-1067 [see notes for Stephen Smith in this database for full quotation]: "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 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. [Note: I believe Anna being included in this list to be an error in that it appears she died in Indiana as an infant.] 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..."
4. 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 [notes in brackets from Pitt book cited below]:
George Henry, b. 1854, m. Mary Elizabeth Alexander.
Mary Elvira, b. 1856, m. William Caven.
Elizabeth M. [Mattie E.], b. 1859.
Margaret, b. 1861, m. John Price.
Married (2) John Sharp with one child: Leslie Sharp.
5. Lydia's husband Peter Frain mention in 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. Per ancestry.com cited above.
2. Per tombstone.
MARRIAGE:
1. Per ancestry.com cited above.
2. Husbands were Peter Frain, Nathan Sanford, and John Sharp(e).
3. 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." Lydia's husband is Peter Frain and her brother Stephen Smith's wife is Mary Frain. Additional information on the Frain family is per FHL film 934962, items 3 and 4, "History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa," by Field and Reed, 1907, biography of Stephen Smith cited in full in his notes in this database: "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..."
4. Evidently remarried after Peter Frain's death due to name of Lydia Frain Sharpe on tombstone. Also 1870 census shows her married to Nathan Sanford. FHL book 977.771 V2p "Potta. Co. Marriages, Book A-B" shows application for Lydia Frain and Nathan Sanford 31 Aug 1869. FHL book 977.771 V2p Pottawattamie Co., IA Marriage Indexes for 1869-1874" shows same names but with marriage date on 1 Sep 1869.
DEATH:
1. Per ancestry.com cited above.
2. Per tombstone.
3. Note: according to 1907 biography cited below, Lydia was living in Cheyenne County, Kansas at that time. Did she move back to Iowa prior to her death and is Ancestry.com as cited above correct?
BURIAL:
1. Per ancestry.com cited above.
2. This individual listed with her husband 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.] Reported on this site as buried with tombstones:
"Peter Frain, Sept. 10, 1830 - Oct 12, 1861"
"Lydia Frain Sharpe, b. July 25, 1834 - Sept. 24, 1913" (wife of Peter Frain)
"Elizabeth M. Frain, died 9 Sep 1875, 16 y 11 m 22d" (dau. of Peter and Lydia Frain).
"George H. Frain, 1845-1939 Father" (error on birth - should be 1854; son of Peter and Lydia Frain).
"Mary E. Frain, 1860-1927" (Mary Elizabeth Alexander, wife of George Frain).
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.
SOURCES_MISC:
1. Mentioned in the 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, p. 151.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1834 - 1913 (79 years)