Mary (Van Slyke) Smith (1786 - 1877)

Born 1786 in Herkimer, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 17 Apr 1877 at about age 91 in Blenheim, Schoharie, New York, United States

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Biography

The following information comes from John R. Sage of Des Moines. “In the early years of the last century Mary VanSlyke at the age of fifteen years married ----- Root, and by him bore five boys, -- Joseph, James, Samuel, Lyman, and Leonard, residing at that time near Cooperstown. At the age of twenty-six she married a second husband, Mr. Samuel Smith, and removed with him and her boys to a new farm near the Mayham and Elliott homesteads, and just across the line in Jefferson. There they reared the Root children, and begat six children bearing the name of Smith, -- William C., Thomas, Moses P., Margaret, Elizabeth, and Cynthia. This large family were well reared, and were educated in the public schools in Jefferson and Blenheim Hill. Of the Root family, Lyman P. became most prominent and wealthy. In his boyhood he lost a hand, but with the other managed to paddle his own canoe. He married Mary Ann Loper, eldest daughter of Amos Loper of Blenheim Ridge. It is related when he sought the hand of the this noble and talented lady, her father objected to the match because of the fact that he had but one hand with which to support a family. To this objection Lyman Replied: “With my one hand I have the ability to make more money than you can with both of yours.” And within a few years he forged ahead of his father-in-law and all his relatives as a money getter. The other Roots were industrious but never very prosperous. The eldest of the Smith family, William C. Smith, obtained a liberal education, and after a successful career as a teacher, entered the ministry of the M. E. church in which he attained high rank, closing his life as a pastor of a church in New York city. Thomas Smith removed to Wisconsin, and Moses closed his days at or near his early home. The three daughters are living, I believe. Margaret married a lawyer named Baldwin, Elizabeth (Betsey) married Alfred Sage, and Cynthia married one of the Allen boys of Shew Hollow, and now resides in Wisconsin. Betsey is now a widow and resides in Omro, Wis., where her husband died in Dec. 1902. I am unable to give any further information relative to this Root-Smith family, direct descendants of Mary VanSlyke. She was possessed of much energy and force of character, and withal was most devoutly religious. Her last husband, Samuel Smith, was very upright and industrious, but was always poor. His family was fortunate in this respect, being obliged to hustle for themselves at a very early age. Their heritage of industry and integrity was better than mere dollars or lands. They made good in life. The descendants of the Root boys are scattered throughout the west, as are most of the offspring of the Smith children.”

Sources

• Source: S-397106648 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. URL: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/70643886/family

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to Kelley Rosenbach for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Kelley and others.
• Van Slyke-62 was created by Rita Root through the import of Rita_s Five Generations.ged on Jun 8, 2014.