Martha (Keener) Smith (1850 - 1937)

Born 12 Jul 1850 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 2 Feb 1937 at age 86 in Ada, Pontotoc, Oklahoma, United States

Biography

The 1880 US Census, Tennessee, Bledsoe County, 4th District has William Smith, age 20, residing with wife Martha, age 18, daughter Nancy Jane, age 1 yr 6 mo, and son Waymon, age 1 month. William's occupation was farmer.

The 1900 US Census, Tennessee, Bledsoe County, First Civil District has William Brocklin Smith residing with wife Martha and 6 children. The 1910 US Census, Oklahoma, Coal County, Jackson Township has William Brocklin Smith residing with wife Martha and 4 children. The 1930 US Census, Oklahoma, Pontotac County, Chickasaw has William Brocklin Smith residing with wife Mattie and no children.

Martha "Mattie" Keener married William Brocklin Smith. Martha Mattie's brother Waymon John Harrison Keener married Brocklin Smith's sister Martha Angeline Smith.

Both couples and their children migrated together from Bledsoe Co Tennessee to Texas and Oklahoma. Waymon J.H. Keener and Martha Angeline Smith family settled near the Red River in Fannin County Texas, which is in north Texas on the Oklahoma border. Martha Mattie Keener and William Brocklin Smith went on across the Red River and settled in Ada, Oklahoma.

Martha "Mattie" Keener Smith died of influenza a the age of 86. It is also noted that she had Chronic Nephritis (Brights Disease). She is buried at Rosedale Cemetery, Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, USA. Martha and her husband William's plots were paid for by an H.E. Spears.

Migration Story of the Keener’s and Smith's as told by Thomas Keener to Shirley Smith Wentworth -

Waymon J. H. Keener and Angeline Smith Keener teamed up with Angeline's brother, William Brocklin Smith and Martha "Mattie Keener sometime during 1894 or 1895 and got on a train in Chattanooga. They and their families rode the train out west. They did not have an exact destination. Well, as the train rolled into northeast Texas, William Brocklin said, Oh, I have a McDowell cousin from Bledsoe County that lives in this town. Lets get off this train! They got off and found the McDowell family.

There were too many of the two families with their children to keep staying in the McDowell home so the Smith and Keener families ventured back on the train. On the train they talked about where they would get off and settle. William Brocklin choose to get off in Hunt County Texas, northeast of Dallas. But, Waymon J.H. Keener, Angeline and children rode on. When the train pulled into the depot at Fannin County Texas suddenly Waymon said, Lets get off at this town and try it! So, they did and raised a big family in Ector, Texas.

After Angeline died standing at the table churning butter and was buried, Waymon was sad and pining away. So, one of his sons ask Waymon to come on live with him near the panhandle of Texas. Waymon move there and died there. Several of his children scattered around both Texas and Oklahoma.

After two years in Hunt County Texas, William Brocklin Smith and family left and ventured up to Fannin County to visit with Waymon and Angeline. Then, William Brocklin Smith declared he wanted to go on across the Red River and live in Oklahoma. Right across the Red River he found an old house to live in and moved there. The house was close to the north side of the Red River and Waymon and Angeline's house was close to the south side of Red River. It is said they could holler and talk to each other on a good day.

Later William Brocklin and Martha "Mattie" Keener and family moved on further north in Oklahoma and ended up in Ada, Oklahoma. There they raised a big family and died there. Some of their children stayed in Oklahoma and Texas, and some migrated to Arizona and Oregon.

End Of Migration Story

A Descendant In Arizona Said -

Martha "Mattie" Keener Smith was a very serious minded lady. When she told William Brocklin to jump he would only ask, how high? She would tell him to stop blowing about the big family tales unless he could prove they were true. She was a hard working lady and a loving and caring wife and mother to her children. She enjoyed their life in Oklahoma but always dreamed of her homeland and the rest of her Keener family back in Bledsoe County Tennessee.

End of descendant story.

1860 US Census - Tennessee, Bledsoe County

Andrew J Keener, age 28, M, Farmer, Tennessee

Ruth Keener, age 28, F, Tennessee

John Keener, age 13, M, Tennessee

Sarah J Keener, age 11, F, Tennessee

Billy Keener, age 9, M, Tennessee

Martha Keener, age 7, F, Tennessee

Nancy Keener, age 5, F, Tennessee

Terry Keener, age 3, M, Tennessee

Waymon Keener, age 1, M, Tennessee

1870 US Census - Tennessee, Bledsoe County, District 1, Robenson X Roads

Keener, John, age 44, male, farmer

Keener, Rachel, age 43, female

Keener, Sarah J, age 21, female

Keener, William, age 18, male

Keener, Martha, age 17, female

Keener, Waman H, age 15, male

Keener, Nancy, age 14, female

Keener, Terry, age 12, male

Keener, Mary, age 10, female

Keener, Fannie, age 8, female

Keener, Alexander, age 4, male

Keener, Harve?, age 1/12, male

1880 US Census - Tennessee, Bledsoe County, District 4

Smith, William, age 20, works on farm

Smith, Martha, age 18, wife

Smith, Nancy Jane, age 1 6/12

Smith, Waymon, age 1/12

1900 US Census - Tennessee, Bledsoe County, District 1

Smith, William, head, age 38, born Oct 1861, married 24 years, farmer, rents farm

Smith, Martha, wife, age 38, born July 1861, married 24 years, 9 children, 8 living

Smith, John, son, age 16, born Apr 1884

Smith, Marget, daughter, age 14, born Oct 1885

Smith, Mary, daughter, age 13, born May 1887

Smith, Fred, son, age 9, born June 1890

Smith, Mordie, son, age 7, born July 1892

Smith, Polkie, son, age 3, born Aug 1896

1910 US Census - Oklahoma, Coal County, Jackson Township

Smith, W B, head, age 53, married 1 time 34 years, farmer

Smith, Martha, wife, age 56, married 1 time 34 years

Smith, Fred T, son, age 21, widowed, farmer

Smith, Mordie, son, age 17, single, laborer home farm

Smith, Polk, son, age 14, single, laborer home farm

Smith, James, son, age 9

Sources

• Family Bible
• Oklahoma Certificate of Death
• 1860 US Census
• 1870 US Census
• 1880 US Census
• 1900 US Census
• 1910 US Census