Victoria Frances (Brooks) Smith (1855 - 1938)

Born 6 Mar 1855 in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, USA

Wife of Joel Henry Smith — married Oct 1880 in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, USA

Descendants

Died 23 Oct 1938 at age 83 in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Brenda Watson [send private message]

Biography

Alias: Vickie, Victory.

Lived in Fisherville and then moved to Memphis. She was a sweet grandmother. She would "burn the lamp" all night for me as a small child. A bit eccentric. Finicky about appearance. A perfectionist. As she got older, she went and stayed in bed. Made other people wait on her, as an older person Religion: Calvary Episcopal Church. 1880 Shelby Co., TN Census.

Name: Victory BROOKS Age: 22.

Estimated birth year: <1858>

Birthplace: Tennessee.

Relation: Dau.

Home in 1880: District 9, Shelby, Tennessee.

Marital status: Single Race: White Gender: Female.

Head of household: Mary A. BROOKS.

Father's birthplace: TN Mother's birthplace: ENG.

1900 Civil District 9, Shelby, Tennessee Census.

Name: Victora f Smith.

Age: 35.

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1865.

Birthplace Tennessee.

Parent's Birth - TN - TN.

Relationship to head-of-house: Wife.

Spouse's Name: Joe H.

Race: White.

Joe H Smith 45.

Victora F Smith 35.

Mattie P Smith 17.

Joel V Smith 16.

Vivian B Smith 15.

Willie W Smith 11.

Kingston W Smith 9.

1910 Memphis Ward 13, Shelby, Tennessee Census.

Name: Victoria Smythe.

[Victoria Smiths].

Age in 1910: 50.

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1860.

Birthplace: Tennessee.

Relation to Head of House: Mother.

Father's Birth Place: Mississippi.

Mother's Birth Place: England.

Marital Status: Married.

Race: White.

Gender: Female.

Joe Smythe 24 - Head of Household.

Victoria Smythe 50.

Joel H Smythe 65.

Willie Smythe 18.

Wyatt Smythe 17.

1920 Memphis Ward 13, Shelby, Tennessee Census.

Name: Victoria Smith.

Age: 55 years.

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1865.

Birthplace: Tennessee.

Relation to Head of House: Mother.

Father's Birth Place: Tennessee.

Mother's Birth Place: England.

Marital Status: Married.

Race: White.

Sex: Female.

Able to read: Yes.

Able to Write: Yes.

1930 Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee Census.

Name Victoria F Smith.

Age: 69.

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861.

Birthplace: Tennessee.

Relation to Head of House: Head.

Race: White.

Parents birthplace: MS - England.

Story submitted to "Early Settlers" book 9/05 VICTORIA FRANCES BROOKS SMITH

Victoria “Vickie” Frances Brooks (6 Mar 1855 Fisherville, Shelby, TN - 23 Oct 1938 Memphis), daughter of James Brooks and Mary Ann Kingston, attended St. Agnes Academy but but expelled for slapping a teacher, and then State Female College in Memphis. She taught school with her sister, Mary Elizabeth Fletcher, in Eads. She is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery by Mary Elizabeth.

Joel “Joe” Henry Smith (ca. 1843 Tippah Co., MS - 9 Sep 1928 Memphis) and his father were from Corinth, Tippah County, Mississippi. They worked on the home’s construction repair at the Brooks’ Plantation when he met Victoria. They married ca. 1881 and lived nearby in Hickory Withe, Fayette County during the 1880s.

Joel served the Confederacy in the Civil War as a bugler with the 26th Mississippi Infantry Company F (Vicksburg, Shiloh, and others). He was taken prisoner several times. Joel’s parents were probably John M. Smith (ca. 1812 GA) and Florenthia Nabors (ca. 1816 SC). Joel is buried in Confederate Soldier's Rest, Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis. Marriage ABT 16 OCT 1880. Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, USA ^[1] Husband Joel Henry Smith. Wife Victoria Frances Brooks. Child: Joel Victor Smith. Child: Vivian Brooks Smith. Child: Kingston Wyart Smith.

Issue of Victoria Brooks and Joel Smith: 1. Martha “Mattie” Pearl Smith (25 Sep 1883 Hickory Withe, Fayette Co., TN - 29 Apr 1965 Memphis) married Calvin Bruce Powell, comptroller at Mississippi A & M, Starkville, Oktibbeha County, Mississippi and had two daughters. He was born ca. 1889 in Virginia and died bef. 1930 in Kansas City, Missouri. Mattie Pearl graduated from Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, Mississippi and taught at colleges in Starkville. She is buried in Forest Hill. Issue:

(a) Patricia Powell (1909) joined the Marines during WWII, was a meteorologist, was California Fish and Game Librarian, and was sent to Uganda to set up that country’s Fish and Game Library. Issue: Michael.

(b) Frances Brooks Powell (25 Oct 1916 Starkville, MS - 17 Nov 2001 Memphis) married (1) Francis Aloysius Corley (1909-1947) of Cleveland, Ohio. He died after WWII as a result of illness contracted during his service in the Army as a communications specialist. Frances Powell received her B.S. from Memphis State University and a Physical Therapist’s Degree from Duke University. She was Chief of Therapy at Les Passes Developmental Center in Memphis for over 30 years. Issue: Patricia Dayle. Issue: Darian Cristine Corley. Frances married (2) Colley Burnett of Geneva, New York. Issue: Peter Bruce Burnett. Issue: Tonya Denise Burnett.

2. Joel Victor Smith (1886-1978) married Addie H. Atkins and was a Yard Inspector for the Illinois Central Railroad. He is buried in Forest Hill. No issue.

3. Vivian Brooks Smith (31 Dec 1887 Hickory Withe, TN - 21 Feb 1970 Memphis) married Vessie Aline Anthony (21 Sep 1889 Collierville - 1 Mar 1932 Memphis), daughter of William Anthony and Molly Bickers. Vivian worked for the railroad, as a Cotton Classer, and as a salesman. Their children were born in Eads, Tennessee. He is buried in Fisherville Baptist Cemetery. Vessie is buried in Memorial Park. William Anthony descended from a long line of early Virginia families who were instrumental in the development of our young county: Michie, Pleasant, Randolph, Tarlton, Winston, and Woodson. Molly was the daughter of Gertrude, a Cherokee Indian, and William H. Bickers. William was a descendant of Elizabeth Collins and Robert Bickers, immigrant ancestor from England, gentleman, and tobacco planter.

4. Maj. William “Willie” Walter Smith (1889-1974) was in the National Guard in WWI and was a Major in WWII, stationed in Alaska. He was a Shelby County Trustee Officer. He married Emma Miller. No issue.

5. Kingston Wyatt “Wyart” Smith (1890) was a carpenter and worked as a foreman at a door and window framing company in South Memphis until his retirement. He did not marry.

Issue of Vessie Anthony and Vivian Smith:

1. Mary Victoria Smith (15 Dec 1908 Eads, TN - 27 Jul 1998 Raleigh, NC) married Verble Raymond Peeler (24 Aug 1903 Covington, Tipton Co., TN - 5 May 1964 Alexandria, VA) on 31 Dec 1931 in Memphis. Verble was the son of William Wesley Peeler (17 Mar 1870 - 4 Aug 1937) and Minnie Bell Francis (3 Nov 1873 - 30 Mar 1949) who married 14 Aug 1890 at Bride, Tennessee. Verble apprenticed at S.C. Toof and Co. and worked there until the beginning of WWII. He then trained to be a helicopter mechanic. The family moved to Mobile, AL where they remained throughout the War. He returned to the engraving business and the family lived in Salt Lake City, Utah and Washington, DC. William and Minnie are buried in Covington, TN. Issue: Three daughters and one son.

2. Henry Wyatt Smith (14 May 1911 - 11 Feb 1979) married Emma Johnson and was in the Army in WWII. No issue.

3. Elsie Ray Smith (8 May 1913) married Orville Chester Vann, Jr. (30 Oct 1912 Shelby, TN - 4 Nov 1987 Shelby, TN) on 7 Apr 1934 in Marion, Arkansas. He worked for Memphis Transit Co. Orville Chester Vann, Sr., born in Pleasant View, Cheatham County, Tennessee, married Edna Shaw, born in Big Creek, outside the Lucy/Millington area. Edna was the child of Malcolm M. Shaw and Annie Elizabeth Wynn of Big Creek. Annie was the child of Allen S. Wynne, brother of Peter Wynne of Big Creek. The Wynns and the Shaws are buried in Big Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. Issue of Elsie and Orville: One daughter and one son.

4. David Eugene Smith (31 Dec 1915 - 21 Sep 1940).

5. William Clarence “W.C.” Smith (4 Jul 1918 - 20 Oct 2003) married Eunav Lillian Alsbrook. Issue: One son and one daughter.

6. Vivian Brooks Smith (13 Dec 1922 - October 1994) was presented a Bronze Star for service in Korea while serving in the Army during WWII. Following this service he graduated from the University of Memphis and became an accountant. He married Tommy Tyler. Issue: A daughter and four sons.

7. Leonard Lewis Smith (6 Dec 1927 - 21 Feb 1992) served in the Army with General Patton in Europe and won a Purple Heart in WWII. He did not marry.

Obituary MRS. VICTORIA SMITH

Widow of Confederate Veteran Dies After Long Illness Mrs. Victoria Frances Brooks Smith, a lifelong resident of Memphis, died at her home, 247 Lucerne, yesterday morning at 11:30 o’clock after an illness of more than a year. She was 78.

Mr. Smith was the widow of Joel Henry Smith, a Confederate veteran, and the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Monroe Brooks, prominent Memphians during the Civil War period.

She was educated at St. Agnes and the old State Female College. She was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church.

Surviving are five children, Mrs. Calvin B. Powell, Jowl Victor Smith, Vivian Brooks Smith and Kingston W. Smith, of Memphis, and William Walter Smith of Russellville, Ark., and a sister, Mrs. Mattie A. Peyton of Memphis.

Funeral arrangements, in of McDowell Funeral Home, were incomplete last night. ""Cause of Death"" Pneumonia. Buried 1938 Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, USA. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S667 http://register.shelby.tn.us/
2. ↑ Memphis Burial Permits 1902 - 1913 and Memphis and Shelby County DeathCertificates 1914 - 1939. [http:/www.memphislibrary.lib.tn.us/ShelbyDR/htmlsmiths.htm]

• Family interviews with her granddaughter & g-granddaughter. Family albums and Bible.
• 1880 Shelby Co., TN Census
• 1900 Civil District 9, Shelby, Tennessee Census
• 1910 Memphis Ward 13, Shelby, Tennessee Census
• 1920 Memphis Ward 13, Shelby, Tennessee Census
• 1930 Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee Census
• Memphis Commercial Appeal
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8349157/victoria-frances-smith : accessed 17 March 2022), memorial page for Victoria Frances “Vickie” Brooks Smith (6 Mar 1859–23 Oct 1938), Find A Grave: Memorial #8349157, citing Forest Hill Cemetery Midtown, Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, USA ; Maintained by Anonymous (contributor 47386242) .

Notes

Source listed as Photograph on [1] no longer available The year of birth on the gravestone may be incorrect according to later censuses. (1859). Death certificate lists 1859 also. Death Certificate lists age as 79 yrs., 7mos., 17 days, placing her year of birth as 1859 but this disagrees with early censuses (1860 & 1870) placing her year of birth as 1855. Beginning in 1880 her age began to decrease in years.