Clifford Warren Smith Jr. (1920 - 1993)

Born 6 Nov 1920 in Council Bluffs, Iowa

Ancestors

Husband of Helen May (O'Connell) Devol — married 20 Oct 1943 (to about 1951) in New York City, New York, United States

Died 23 Jun 1993 at age 72 in Maine, United States

Biography

Clifford Warren Smith, Jr. was born on June 11, 1920, in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa, ^[1]a place that is set in history, as Council Bluffs, previously known as Kanesville, was the starting point for both the Transcontinental Railroad and the Mormon Trail. ^[2] The Mormon Battalion marched from Council Bluffs, over 2000 miles, to San Diego, California, during the Mexican-American War.^[3]

Clifford's father, Clifford Smith (Wolfe), Sr., the son of an English immigrant, was a native of Glen Cove, Maine. His mother was Marion Virginia Macrae of Council Bluffs, Iowa.^[1]Marion was the daughter of Scottish-American and Iowan Colonel Donald Macrae, Jr., a medical surgeon, of Council Bluffs. Marion's grandfather, Dr. Donald MacRae had immigrated to Council Bluffs from Scotland.^[4]

By 1930, Clifford (age 9) had moved to Boston with his parents. His father was a banker. Things were quite busy in this household, as there was a Swedish maid, Viola Gustavson (age 38), a Swedish waitress, Ursula Ostnlund, and an Italian governess for Clifford Junior, Branche Celeste (age 35). There was also a lodger by the name of William Hair (age 27), from Scotland.^[5]

Clifford was nineteen years old, living at home, in the town of Hamilton, Essex County, Massachusetts, in 1940. His father was working as a broker in investments. The family had three maids; Ellen Johnson of Sweden (age 55), Marie Solberg of Maine (age 45) and Anna Westgaard of Norway.^[6]

Clifford's father had done well in his investment banking business and Clifford was heir to the fortune. He was known as a wealthy playboy when he met [O'Connell-2391|Helen O'Connell]], a big band singer.

On October 19, 1943, Clifford married Helen, ^[7] one the most popular female band singers of that era. She was a vocalist for Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra, one of the top big bands of the Swing Era. Helen and the band had many hits including Tangerine and Amapola. Clifford was an Ensign in Naval Training School at Lakehurst, New Jersey.^[8][9]

The newly married couple decided to settle down and raise a family. Helen retired from her singing career ^[10]and Clifford started putting his focus on building a future for his family. They had three children over the ten years they were married, all girls.^[11]

Clifford and Helen got a divorce in 1951. Helen raised the three girls and also remarried.

Clifford died on June 23, 1993.^[12]

Research Notes

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} 'Birth Record; Source Citation: State Historical Society of Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; Source Information: Ancestry.com. Iowa, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1856-1940 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017; Original data: Iowa Delayed Birth Records, 1856-1945. State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa. (accessed 10 Mar 2021). Ancestry Record 61441 #491088 * Ancestry Sharing Link
2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Council Bluffs, Iowa," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Council_Bluffs,_Iowa&oldid=1009929165 (accessed March 10, 2021).
3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Mormon Battalion," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mormon_Battalion&oldid=1004714566 (accessed March 10, 2021).
4. ↑ Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Council Bluffs Ward 4, Pottawattamie, Iowa; Roll: T624_421; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0139; FHL microfilm: 1374434 Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006; (accessed 9 Mar 2021). Ancestry Record 7884 #7633622 * Ancestry Sharing Link.
5. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 0600; FHL microfilm: 2340680; Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data:United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls; (accessed 9 Mar 2021). Ancestry Record 6224 #15182162 * Ancestry Sharing Link.
6. ↑ Year: 1940; Census Place: Hamilton, Essex, Massachusetts; Roll: m-t0627-01579; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 5-98; Ancestry Record 2442 #95317732 * Ancestry Sharing Link
7. ↑ Iowa Department of Public Health; Des Moines, Iowa; Series Title: Iowa Marriage Records, 1880–1922; Record Type: Marriage; Accessed 12 Mar 2021. Ancestry Record 8823 #3594861 * Ancestry Sharing Link
8. ↑ Source Citation Publication Date: 17/ Oct/ 1943; Publication Place: Des Moines, Iowa, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/130613998/?article=99ad078c-bcf0-4660-beb0-2228428dd868&focus=0.61908495,0.05351584,0.8499343,0.12079319&xid=3398; (accessed 11 Mar 2021).
9. ↑ U.S. Navy Cruise Books, 1918-2009; https://www.fold3.com/image/303184600?ann=5bfac300-199c-11e3-3363-68503733025b; (accessed 11 Mar 2021).
10. ↑ Helen O'Connell obiturary; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73233889/helen-oconnell-obituary/ Asbury Park Press; Newspapers.com; (accessed 11 Mar 2021).
11. ↑ Big ban's Helen O'Connell dies; New York Daily News; https://www.newspapers.com/clip/73235969/big-bands-helen-oconnell-dies-obit/; Newspapers.com (accessed 11 Mar 2021).
12. ↑ Source Information: Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015; Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007; (accessed 11 Mar 2021). Ancestry Record 60901 #42597421

See also:

• Iowa, Delayed Birth Records, 1856-1940 for Clifford Smith
• Florida, Passenger Lists, 1898-1963 for Clifford Smith
• Family Tree of Greg MacRae; Ancestry.com
• 1930 U.S. Federal Census; Clifford Smith; Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts
• 1940 U.S. Federal Census; Clifford Smith Jr.; Hamilton, Essex, Massachusetts

Acknowledements

• The MacRae Cruickshank Family Tree; Ancestry.com.
• Photo of Clifford and Helen courtesy of aanewman11; Ancestry.com; 7 Aug 2012.