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Archiver > NORCAL > 1998-12 > 0915037767


From: "smith.ccc" <>
Subject: Fw: Family History
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 09:09:27 -0800


-----Original Message-----
From: smith.ccc <>
To: <>
Date: Wednesday, December 30, 1998 8:58 AM
Subject: Family History

Hello-

I am looking for any information on my Great-grandfather and his family.
This is the information that I have that has been given to me by my
Grandmother.

James Monroe Smith, Born 1843? in Vermont

Arrived in the Los Angeles area in 1866 after mustering out of the 1st
Michigan Brigade in Salt Lake City. Went to work on the Richardson Family
Farm (Her parents were Lyman and Betsy Ann Richardson) and ended up marrying
Charlotte Elizabeth Richardson. At some time they made their way to O'Neals
where they settled a homestead. They had 11 children:

Fredrick Murry Smith, Charlotte Elizabeth Smith, Francis ? Smith, Florence
Victoria Smith (married into Dustin Family), Anna Mary Smith, William ?
Smith, Kathrine ? Smith (married into Hensley Family of Madera), Emma Jane
Smith, Rodney Jerome Smith, Eli Martin Smith., and Ardalisa Godfrey Smith
(my Great-grandmother).

He was reported as being "a sickly man" possible contracting an illness
while serving in the Civil War and died in 1897, at age 54, I think.

My grandmother remembers as a young teenager going to see his grave. She
remembers it being on the O'Neal Family Ranch. They had to let them know
they were coming and be taken to the graveyard. She remembers that her
Great-Grandmother is also buried there but that her gravemarker was wood and
was burned in a brush fire at some time. At the time she also remembered
that 4-5 members of the O'Neal Family were also buried there. The graveyard
is on private property today, I believe. This is the information I have
about his headstone:

Sgt. James M. Smith
1st Michigan Calvery
Company D
1897 (I'm not sure that there is a month and day listed)

I believe that his headstone may have come from the Military (Veterans
Affairs or whatever it may have been then). I think I have found him in
Military records of the Civil War in Michigan. I am in contact with someone
who is helping me from that end. He said that a death certificate, obituary
and a marriage certificate would help me considerably in my search.

His wife died at age 63--not sure of the date. She had remarried after John
Monroe Smith's death into the Tibbits family and had one more child. She is
buried in a large cemetery in Madera according to my Grandmother.

Any information or a point in the right direction would be appreciated!....I
did some research years ago, but have just recently decided to get very
involved in researching my ancestors....the computer helps so very much!

Thank you very much for your time!

Holly Smith

4320-A Birch SW
Lakewood, WA 98439
(253)984-6820 I will call you right back

I will also be posting a letter looking for information on my fathers
paternal side of the family (Root and Childers) in the Auberry and Fresno
Areas. According to information I have, they settled in Fresno then moved
the homestead to an area that became a town called Rootville. A book was
possibly published about the Root-Childers family settling the Fresno area.
They were cattle ranchers. The Root side of the family is buried in Belmont
Cemetery in Fresno.

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