Rachel Mackinson (Ostrander) Smith (1849 - abt. 1920)

Ancestors

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Biography

Rachel was born 29 Mar 1849 and was baptized 4 Aug 1849 at the Dutch Reformed Church in New Hurley, Ulster County, New York. She was the daughter of Simon Ostrander and Jane Lefever.

In 1850, at age 2, the household consisted of her parents, her, and her four siblings.

In 1855, at age 6, the household consisted of her parents, her, her four siblings, a 16 year old Irish immigrant servant girl, and 9 boarders ranging from age 18 to age 28. The 9 consisted of a teacher, a student, a shoe dealer, and 5 clerks. In this particular census, her father Simon is listed as merchant, now paralyzed.

In 1860, at age 11, the household consisted of her parents, her and her four siblings, and three (presumably unrelated) teenagers; probably servants or boarders.

In 1865, at age 15, the household consisted only of her mom, her, and her two sisters Elizabeth and Margaret, as her father had died in 1862.

She married Daniel J. Smith sometime between 1865 and 1880. [So far, unable to find the marriage record. Note that there was a marriage on 12 Jan 1876 in Manhattan of a Katie M. Ostrander and Paul J. Smith. This bears an uncanny resemblance to Rachel M. Ostrander and Daniel J. Smith - could they have been a sister of Rachel and brother of Daniel?]

In 1880, she was living with her husband Daniel J. Smith, their son Raymond, and their nephew Reuben Roberts at 211 West 40th Street in New York City. Her occupation was keeping house and her husband worked in a government office. Her age was listed as 27 but she was really 31. Daniel was listed as 35, Raymond 6, and Reuben 14.

On 19 Jul 1906, she married John Quincy Adams Ward in Manhattan. He was a sculptor. He died four years later in May 1910.

In 1910, she was living with her husband John and their maid Lizzie Williams at 296 Manhattan Avenue, Manhattan, New York, USA. She was 61, her husband was 79, and their maid was 32. She reported that she had been married for 3 years, had one child born, and one child still living (Raymond Smith, from her previous marriage). The census took their details on 21 Apr 1910. John died a few days later on 1 May 1910.

In 1915, she was living in New York City with her son, Raymond, who was an artist, age 41, her daughter-in-law Marion H. Smith, age 36, her granddaughter Marion W. Smith, age 9, her friend Anna McVay, age 43, and her maid Elizabeth Williams, age 37. A 1916 city directory listed her address as 50 Morningside Drive, as the widow of John Q. A. Ward.

In 1925, she was living at 225 East Sidney Avenue, Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York, with the same family members as in 1915, except without family friend Anna McVay. Raymond was a designer, his wife Marion kept house, and their daughter Marion was attending college.

In 1930, she was living at 255 East Sidney Avenue, Mount Vernon with the same family members. Their house was valued at $22,000. Raymond was a bank note designer.

Her nieces and nephews knew her as "Aunt Ratie". She gave her niece Jeannette some silver spoons for her birthday one year. Jeannette passed these spoons down to her son Gordon and he on to his three children.

She died 5 Aug 1933 in New York and was buried at Oak Dale Cemetery, Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio, USA.

Sources

• 1849, Dutch Reformed Church Records, New York, New Hurley Baptisms, page 130, last line.
• 1850 U.S. Federal Census, New York, Orange County, Newburgh, page 182, line 11.
• 1855 New York State Census, Orange County, Newburgh, page 49, line 21.
• 1860 U.S. Federal Census, New York, Orange County, Newburgh, page 162, line 24.
• 1865 New York State Census, Orange County, Newburgh, page 59, line 43.
• 1880 U.S. Federal Census, New York, NY, ED 472, page 22, lines 47-50.
• 1906, New York Marriage Index, Rachel M. Smith.
• 1910 U.S. Federal Census, New York, Manhattan Ward 12, District 0621, page 14, lines 69-71.
• 1915, New York State Census, AD 27, ED 20, page 25, lines 17-22.
• 1916, U.S. City Directories, New York, Rachael Ward.
• 1925 New York State Census, Westchester County, Mount Vernon, AD 01, ED 30, page 18, lines 6-10.
• 1930 U.S. Federal Census, New York, Westchester County, Mount Vernon, District 0217, page 13B, lines 69-75.
• Find A Grave index, 1933, Rachel Ward, including photo of grave marker.
• First-hand knowledge.