Paris Smith (1803 - 1869)

Born 16 Mar 1803 in Giles County, Virginia, USA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 30 Jul 1869 at age 66 in Seguin, Guadalupe Co., Texas, USA

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Biography

Paris Smith was a Texan.

Paris Smith was born 16 March 1803 in Giles County, Virginia. He was the son of pioneers Ezekiel Smith (1781 - 1854) and Susannah Dingess (1774 - 1848).

On 30 May 1827 he married to Dorcus Wilson (1805 - 1864).

The 1850 U.S. Census for Guadalupe County, Texas, indicates they had at least nine children:

1. Harriett 22 [b 1828 VA]
2. Susan 20 [b 1830 IL]
3. Emmett 18 [b 1832 IL]
4. Elizabeth 16 [b 1834 IL]
5. Theresa 14 [b 1836 Iowa]
6. John 11 [b 1839 Iowa]
7. Mary 8 [b 1842 Texas]
8. Sidney 3 [b 1847 Texas]
9. Virginia 0 [b 1850 Texas]

The different birth places of his children show the overall arch of his travels: West Virginia to Illinois to Iowa to Texas.

According to Walter Williams' History of Gonzales County, Texas (1986), Paris Smith came to Texas in 1840 from Iowa by boat down the Mississippi River to Galveston.

"Married in 1827, then left for Logan County, West Virginia, where he and his father, Ezekiel Smith, had moved, then to Springfield, Illinois, then to Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa (Wisconsin Territory). He was wounded at Gaines Mill."

Williams cites as his source Carrie Wilson Smith Johnson, a daughter of Robert L. Smith and Theresa Smith and granddaughter of Paris and Dorcus Wilson Smith, who wrote this in a letter dated 1935:

"After the Black Hawk war, he had a contract with the U.S. Government to ferry the Indians across the Mississippi River. He was so pleased with the western side that he, with his father and brothers, removed to that territory, which was then Wisconsin, now Iowa, and accordingly, he, his father and two brothers built the first three log cabins where Burlington now stands."

Note: Wikipedia indicates the town was founded by Moses and Lemuel Smith [1]. From 1844 to 1850, the town of Voree, just to the west of Burlington, was the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite), one of many sects founded during the LDS succession crisis following the death of Latter Day Saint movement founder Joseph Smith.

"Paris Smith owned the land on which stands this city. Besides being a Government surveyor, he had a store, stocked with such goods as were needed by the small settlement.

"He left Burlington in April, 1840, coming down the Mississippi River in his privately owned flat or house boat. They traveled only by night and tied out of sight in the tall grasses by day to hide from the Indians. They landed in Galveston, June 1, 1840. His father, Ezekiel, and his brother, French, had preceded them to Texas and located in Gonzales. He remained there about a month where he sold 'goods' then going to Seguin with his family, arriving there July 12, which was the Sabbath.

"At Seguin he also conducted a store - was postmaster and Government surveyor. His surveyor chains are now in possession of William Francis at Staples. One was U.S. chain and the other Spanish. He was County Clerk of Guadalupe County for a number of years and was the first mayor or alcalde of Seguin. He owned large tracts of land in different parts of Texas but as the needs of his family grew (not visioning the worth of these lands in future years) he sold large bodies and lets until at his death in 1869, he had left only 900 or 1,000 acres at the homestead on Mill Creek, between Seguin and Prairie Lea. The house at this date (1935) is still standing - a concrete structure. "

[Source: DAR application...] "The first county (Guadalupe county) court was held under an oak tree in his yard, and he was a county officer after statehood."

See also the biography at Paris Smith's Find A Grave Memorial at this link: [2]

SOURCES

Articles

1. Stereotyped by B.J. Collins, Ezekiel Smith Family Bible Records (Name: Name: New York, nd.;;), "Ezekiel Smith married the wife Susanah Dingess, February the 4th,1802.".

2. John vogt and T. William Kethley, Jr., Giles County Marriages 1806-1850 (Name: Name: Athens, Georgia: Iberian Publishing Company, 1985.;;), 65, "Paris & Dorcus Wilson 30 May 1827; b- Ezekiel Smith (John Wilson test. that Darcus is over 21).".

Wienert, Miss Willie Mae. "Ezekiel Smith Seguin's First Permanent Settler," Seguin-Guadalupe Enterprise-Gazette, December 11-18, 1936, republishd in Historical Sketches, pp. 15-16. Available as a free PDF from The Seguin and Guadalupe County Heritage Museum, here:[3]

Books

"Ezekiel Smith," Daughters of the Republic of Texas (Turner Publishing Company, 1995) Vol. 1, p. 255 available through Google Books

Online Family Trees

Ancestry.com, OneWorldTree (Name: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA;;), Database online., Record for Paris Smith.

Ancestry.com, U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 (Name: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA;Date:2007;;), Database online., Record for Paris Smith.

1803 Birth Records

Paris Smith in the Family Data Collection - Births

• Name: Paris Smith
• Father: Ezekiel Smith
• Mother: Susannah Dingess
• Birth Date: Nov 1803
• City: Paris
• State: VA
• Country: USA

Source Information: Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Births [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001.

Description: The Family Data Collection - Births database was created while gathering genealogical data for use in the study of human genetics and disease.

1827 Marriage to Dorcus Wilson

Paris Smith in the Virginia, Marriages, 1740-1850

• Name: Paris Smith
• Gender: Male
• Spouse Name: Dorcus Wilson
• Spouse Gender: Female
• Marriage Date: 30 May 1827
• County: Giles
• State: Virginia

Source Information Ancestry.com. Virginia, Marriages, 1740-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.

Original data: Dodd, Jordan R., et al.. Early American Marriages: Virginia to 1850. Bountiful, UT, USA: Precision Indexing Publishers.

Description This collection of marriage records includes the names of over 300,000 men and women married in Virginia between 1740 and 1850

1830 U.S. Census [Warren, Illinois]

Paris Smith in the 1830 United States Federal Census

Name: Paris Smith Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Warren, Illinois Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1 Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 2 Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1 Free White Persons - Under 20: 2 Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2 Total Free White Persons: 4 Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 4

Source Citation 1830; Census Place: Warren, Illinois; Series: M19; Roll: 24; Page: 288; Family History Library Film: 0007649

Source Information Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: Fifth Census of the United States, 1830. (NARA microfilm publication M19, 201 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Description This database details those persons enumerated in the 1830 United States Federal Census, the Fifth Census of the United States.

1836 Des Moines Iowa Census

Paris Smith in the Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925

• Name: Paris Smith
• Residence Date: 1836
• Residence Place: Des Moines, Iowa, USA
• Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members:

Paris Smith

Source Information

Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest.

Description This database contains Iowa state censuses for the following years: 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, and 1925. It also includes some head of household censuses and other special censuses from 1836-1897. Information available for an individual will vary according to the census year and the information requested on the census form. Some of the information contained in this database though includes: name, age, gender, race, birthplace, marital status, and place of enumeration

May 1841 Enlists in Texas Rangers

From Biography at Find A Grave Memorial for Paris Smith:

"He was a Texas Ranger in Mathew Caldwell's company. The muster rolls of Mathew Caldwell's Ranger Company of the Gonzales County Minute Men for May 7 - December 20, 1841 included Paris Smith: May 7 - 21; May 24 - 25; September 21 - 23; November 12 - 16; November 22- 24; November 30 -December 4. "

1841 Texas Ranger Rolls - Minute Men

Paris Smith in the Texas, Muster Roll Index Cards, 1838-1900

• Name: Paris Smith
• Enlistment Date: 22 Nov 1841
• Record Type: Ranger Rolls - Minute Men

Source Information Ancestry.com. Texas, Muster Roll Index Cards, 1838-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Original data: Civil War Muster Rolls index Cards (both Confederate and Union). Also Texas State Rangers. Austin, Texas: Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Description This database contains index cards with details extracted from various rolls related to Texas military units.

1850 U.S. Census [Guadalupe County, Texas]

Paris Smith in the 1850 United States Federal Census

• Name: Paris Smith
• Age: 47
• Birth Year: abt 1803
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Home in 1850: Guadalupe, Texas, USA
• Gender: Male
• Family Number: 150

Household Members:

• Paris Smith 47
• Dorcus Smith 45
• Harriett Smith 22
• Susan Smith 20
• Emmett Smith 18
• Elizabeth Smith 16
• Theresa Smith 14
• John Smith 11
• Mary Smith 8
• Sidney Smith 3
• Ashley B Stansell 34

Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Guadalupe, Texas; Roll: M432_910; Page: 296B; Image: 580

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Ancestry.com, 1850 United States Federal Census (Name: Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA;Date:2005;;), Database online. , Guadalupe, Texas, roll M432_910, page 296,image 576., Record for Paris Smith

1850 Non-Population Schedule [Guadalupe County, Texas]

Paris Smith in the Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880

• Name: Paris Smith
• Location: Guadalupe, Texas, USA
• Enumeration Date: 2 Oct 1850
• Schedule Type: Agriculture
• OS Page: 299
• Line Number: 26

Source Citation Census Year: 1850; Census Place: Guadalupe, Texas

Source Information Ancestry.com. Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Original data: View all sources.

Description This database contains U.S. federal non-population schedules from 1850-1880 for the following states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington Territory. Additional states will be added in the future. Non-population schedules contained in this database include: agriculture, industry/manufacturers, social statistics, and supplemental schedules

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXLK-V1Q : 9 November 2014), Paris Smith, Guadalupe county, Guadalupe, Texas, United States; citing family 150, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

1860 U.S. Census [Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas]

Paris Smith in the 1860 United States Federal Census

• Name: Paris Smith
• Age: 57
• Birth Year: abt 1803
• Gender: Male
• Birth Place: Virginia
• Home in 1860: Guadalupe, Texas
• Post Office: Seguin
• Family Number: 132
• Value of real estate: View image

Household Members:

• Paris Smith 57
• Dorcus Smith 55
• Susan J Smith 30
• Emmet Smith 28
• Eliz Smith 26
• John D Smith 20
• Mary Smith 18
• Sidney W Smith 14
• Virginia Smith 10

Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Guadalupe, Texas; Roll: M653_1296; Page: 291; Image: 25; Family History Library Film: 805296

Source Information Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

• "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXFL-7HQ : 30 December 2015), Paris Smith, 1860.

1860 U.S. Census Slave Schedule

Paris Smith in the Texas, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1820-1890

Record Image No Image

• Name: Paris Smith
• State: TX
• County: Guadalupe County
• Township: Seguin
• Year: 1860
• Record Type: Slave schedule
• Page: 398
• Database: TX 1860 Slave Schedule

Source Information Ancestry.com. Texas, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1820-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.

Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. Texas Census, 1850-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.

Description U.S. Federal Census indexes (and other related census indexes) for Texas from 1820 to 189

Civil War Soldiers

Paris Smith in the U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865

• Name: Paris Smith
• Side: Confederate
• Regiment State/Origin: Texas
• Regiment: 4th Regiment, Texas Infantry
• Company: D
• Rank In: Private
• Rank Out: Private

Film Number: M227 roll 34

Source Information National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online [4], acquired 2007.

Description: This database contains the names of approximately 6.3 million soldiers who served in the American Civil War. In addition to their names, information that may be listed for each soldier includes regiment, company, and rank

July 1870 Death Record

Parris Smith in the U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880

• Surname: Paris Smith
• Year: 1870
• County: Guadalupe CO.
• State: TX
• Age: 66
• Gender: M (Male)
• Month of Death: Jul
• State of Birth: VA

ID#: 197_308711

• Occupation: FARMER
• Cause of Death: FEVER

Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index, 1850-1880 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. AIS Mortality Schedules Index. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.

Description: Included in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 U.S. censuses were mortality schedules that asked questions regarding those who died in the twelve months prior to the enumeration. This database is an index to several of these schedules. The schedule lists the deceased name, sex, age, color, whether widowed or not, place of birth, month of death, occupation, and cause of death. In 1870 the parents' birthplaces were added.

Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp., U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules Index (Name: The Generations Network, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date:1999;;), Database online., Record for Paris Smith.

Find A Grave Memorial

Paris Smith in the U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current

Go to website: Find A Grave Memorial No. 48661086

• Name: Paris Smith
• Birth Date: 16 Mar 1803
• Birth Place: Virginia, United States of America
• Death Date: Jul 1869
• Death Place: Guadalupe County, Texas, United States of America
• Cemetery: Riverside Cemetery
• Burial or Cremation Place: Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas, United States of America
• Has Bio?: Y
• Father: Ezekiel Smith
• Mother: Susannah Smith
• Spouse: Dorcas Smith

Children:

• Sidney "Jake" Wilson Smith
• Elizabeth Francis
• Susan J. Smith
• Virginia Paris Happle

Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.

Description This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find A Grave.

• Find-A-Grave Virtual Cemetery memorial #48661086 in Riverside Cemetery, Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas, USA