PAERIE-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: SMITH as an assumed name
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 03:09:46 EST

Hi folks,
I am sending this out in hopes of possibly finding someone else who is
researching the name SMITH, but knows that it was not the original name.
In my case, I have a Charles SMITH who was born in Sweden. From what I've
been told, the name was originally Christiansson (or any variation thereof).
I was also told that his entire family immigrated and assumed the SMITH name,
but I have absolutely no information on any siblings or parents. Since I do
know that Charles immigrated in 1869 at about the age of 15, (his Declaration
of Intention to naturalize was dated 1876, and lists his age at that time as
21), I really can't say for sure if his entire family immigrated then or not.
Anyway, what I do know of this fellow is that in Feb. 1875, he married
Agness Jane DIXON in Elizabeth Twp., Allegheny Co., listing his residence as
McKeesport, and hers as Lovedale. In Oct. 1876, he filed his DI in Clay Co.
IN. By Oct. 1881, when his daughter, my ggrandmother was born, they were in
PA, but the exact location is in dispute. One document states McKeesport,
while others state DuBois. Yet another document indicates that he may have
been in Clay Co. IN as early as April 1874, which is listed as the date of
birth of a child born to Charles and Agness on the child's baptism
certificate, which was dated Feb. 1878. The actual year of birth is in
question, though, because it looks as though the person filling in the blanks
on the certificate originally wrote 1878 as the year of birth, but then wrote
over it to correct it. As closely as I can tell, 1874 is the corrected date.
The only thing I know for sure is it couldn't have been 1878, since the birth
occurred in April, but the baptism was performed in February.
The child named on this baptism certificate was George SMITH. From what I
had been told, this couple had 3 children; my ggrandmother, Mary Ann (Daisy),
b. Oct. 1881, Henry and Violet. I'm not sure where George fits in. Perhaps
he died as a young child, or he could be the one everyone knew as Henry,
either going by his middle name or a nickname.
Agness apparently died in Clearfield Co. in 1899. Charles was killed in a
mining accident within the next year or two. His son, Henry was also involved
in this accident, and was left permanently disfigured. I'm not sure where
this accident occurred, but Charles was reportedly living in Yatesboro,
Armstrong Co. at the time.
I am also looking into the possibility that either Charles or his wife
Agness had a sister named Tillie, who married "Jess" WINDERS. Do these
circumstances ring any bells with anyone? Please? :)

Irene Crawford

This thread:

• SMITH as an assumed name by <>