David Smith III (1782 - 1870)

Born 22 Sep 1782 in Southington, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Ancestors

Son of David Smith II and Abigail (Lewis) Smith

Husband of Lomanda (Wright) Smith — married 20 Dec 1809 in Southington, Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Descendants

Died 15 Mar 1870 at age 87 in Marshlands, Tioga, Pennsylvania, USA

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Biography

David was born September 26, 1782. He was the son of David Smith and Abigail Lewis. On December 10, 1809 he married Lomanda Wright.^[1]

(Excerpt of article by Dewitt C. Smith cited in notes of George Smith): "To David and Mary [he probably meant Abigail] a son, David Smith III, was born in New Haven, Conn. in 1782. He came from Chenango County, N.Y., to Tioga County, Pa., in the fall of 1833 and settled at Round Top, Charleston Twp. His wife was the former Lomanda Wright. Thirteen years later he moved with four of his sons to Elk Run, Gaines Twp., where he and three of his sons, Alonzo, Russell and John each staked out 100 acres of land in what was then an unbroken wilderness. David Smith was the first permanent settler in the valley known as Elk Run, and several years later settled on the 100 acres he had staked out and cleared. During the years that David Smith (our grandfather) lived in New York State he was renowned as a dealer and trader. Each year he would stock up a wagon wtih goods and travel Sourth, trading with the Indians and the Whites. Cash was not plentiful in those days, and for much of his merchandise he took hides and pelts to New York City, and return home by boat. Many and colorful were his experiences on these trading trips, but one experience, of which he told me when I was a small boy, remains vivid in my memory. During a visit at an Indian settlement on one of his trips, he was standing a little distance from his wagon talking over a deal with the Indian Chief. They both saw a young Indian slip up to the wagon, stealthily remove a tin cup from it, and place it under his clothing. Grandfather said, 'What! You Indians steal?' 'No' replied the Chief, 'we Indians no steal; he half white.' Needless to say Grandfather said nothing further about the cup. When Grandfather David came to Elk Run in the fall of 1846, John L. Phoenix, Sr., had built a small saw mill at a point less than a mile from the mouth of Elk Run. When granfather and his sons had staked out their lands, they all turned in and cleared a acre or more, where granfather erected a log house the following spring. He moved his large family to the new log house, and they enjoyed life there for two years. Grandfather then had a large frame house erected, which stood for many years, and was long know as 'The Old Red House.' Many of us regret that we did not purchase it, and make it a place for our annual reunion. The thought came too late, and the old red house is a thing of the past. As I have said previously, grandmother Smith's maiden name was Lomanda Wright. A fact interesting to note is that she and the grandmother of the late Henry M. Foote [Beda, daughter of Enos Wright born 1795 in CT] were sisters. In addition to this blood relationship, Henry M. Foote's mother, 'Aunt Louisa' [Louise Vickery, widow of Ira Asahel Foote, MD, Henry's father] married Uncle Russell Smith, (her second husband) and the youthful Henry was reared in close relationship with members of our own family. By hard and persistent work he carved himself an enviable place in the legal field. Mr. Foote died in 1939 at the age of 93 [Civil War veteran, District Attorney of Crawford Co, PA, practicing attorney in Wellsboro and resident of Washington, D.C. for 39 years until his death there.] To return to my story, Grandfather and Grandmother Smith lived in the Old Red House until 1869, when, because of the infirmities of old age, they went to live with their youngest son Octavius. Granfather died there March 15, 1870, at the age of 87. Grandmother died five years later, April 30, 1875. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom lived to maturity. They were Lambert, Elvira, David Lewis, Lomanda, Alonzo, Russell, John, Octavius and Irene."

(1820 Census, Oxford, Chenango County, NY page 243): David Smith, 2 males under 10 [Lambert, David Lewis], 1 male 26-45 [David], 2 females under 10 [Eunice Elvira, Eliza Lomanda], 1 female 26-45 [Lomanda.]

(1830 Census, Coventry, Chenango, NY, pg 26 line 16): David Smith & family.

(1840 Census, Richmond Twp, Tioga Co, PA): David Smith, males: 1 age 10-15, 1 age 15-20, 2 age 20-30, 1 age 50-60. females: 1 age 5-10, 1 age 15-20, 1 age 20-30, 1 age 40-50.

(Marshfield, Pa Agitator Newspaper): He came from Charleston, PA with three sons Russell, John and Octavius to Elk Run,PA in May 1847. [he and his family moved from New York in 1836.]

(Wellsboro Agitator Newspaper Wellsboro, PA. dated ca 1895): "A FAMILY REUNION - PLEASANT MEETING OF THE SMITH FAMILY OF MARSHFIELD. To the Editor of the Agitator. MARSHFIELD, August 30. The Smith family held a reunion and picnic in the school grove here last Saturday, the 24th instant. A Sumptuous dinner was served, to which over sixty relatives sat down, all descendants or their families of David Smith, formerly of Charleston. David Smith, with his three sons, Russell, John and Octavius, moved from Charleston to Elk Run in May, 1847. All the three sons still reside on farms taken up at that time in an unbroken wilderness. They cut their own road from Pine Creek, a distance of three miles. As this ox-sled road crossed the creek several times without a bridge, communication with the outside world was for sometime impossible when the creek was high. The mail at that time came to Gaines once a week when the weather was fair. Our ancestors were obliged to submit to many privations and discouragements of which we know nothing. We are proud of their records, and are glad to honor those of them who are still with us and enjoying the fruits fo their early labors. The reunion proved a most enjoyable occasioin, and it is hoped it may be repeated a year hence. Among the friends present from other places were George Dickinson and family, of Middlebury, Mrs. Robinson and her son, from Athens, Charles Flynn and family, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Wood and Luther M. Smith, of West Pike, M.M. Smith and family, of Gaines, and D.C. Smith and family, of English Center.

("The History of Elk Run", The Buds of Promise, M.E. Church, Marshlands, Pa, 1929, "David Smith", page 2): "David Smith made the first permanent settlement on Elk Run. He was a native of New Haven Colony, Conn. and came from Chenango Co., N.Y. to Tioga Co. in the autumn of 1833, settling at Round Top, Charlston Township. Here he built a mill in which he invested all his money. The first time he was unable to make a payment on this farm, he was asked to move off the property.

William Bache, a land agent for the Raddie Estate persuaded him to buy on Elk Run. The D.K. Marsh and O.A. Smith farms were in the hands of Wm. Willink. This is the reason for Mr. Smith buying so far up Elk Run. Mr. Bache gave him 3 fifty-acre lots for himself and his two oldest sons, John and Russell, providing they buy fifty acres more apiece at $1.00 an acre. He came here in the autumn of 1846, cleared a small piece of ground and made other preparations for building a home. In the following February 1847, he built a log house very near the big barn on the Henry Foote place, and occupied the same with his family in the early spring. During the next three years he built a frame house, later known as the Old Red House, back of the present dwelling place and across the brook from the Fred William's house. Here he lived from the year of 1850 to 1869 when aged condition compelled him to take up his abode with his son Octavius, where he died March 15, 1870 at age of 86. He married Lomanda Wright and had eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity.

Lambert who was married before the family moved from Charleston Township, was the father of William and Pauline. Elvira was married to George Wood, to them were born five children, Tommy, Eliza, Vina, Sarah and Jeheil. Tommy and Eliza died while young. Sarah married Frederick Zimmerman, Vina married Eli Wood, and Jeheil married Jennie Watrous. David Lewis was first married to Mary C. Smith. Their history appears later. He was afterwards married four times. Lomanda was married to Nathaniel Dickinson. To them were born George, John, Mary and Adeliah. John is still living in Wellsboro and Adelia in Smethport [Smithport?]. Alonzo married Lorinda Farnum, sister of Mrs. M.P. Marsh. To them were born four children, Henry, Lambert, Frank and Anna. Henry had two children, Edith and Grace both of whom are still living. Edith lives in Canisto, now Mrs. Northrop, Grace resides in New York City. Frank's two children still survive. Stella, who is now Mrs. Frank Ripley and Effie, the wife of Elwood Beach, both of this place. Anna's two children were Fred and Frank Watrous. Russel married Louisa Foote, mother of Henry Foote. John married Elvira Crofut. Their history follows later. Octavius married Hannah Kleinhans [Kleinhaus], Irene was married to Joshua Bernauer. These histories also appear later.

In these times if anyone wanted a pair of shoes, he had to get the leather and when the shoemaker came he would make the shoes, usually each member of the family had a pair of shoes made. One year the shoemaker, for some reason or other did not get around very early. The snow had fallen and Russel Smith had no shoes. One evening the Whetmore girls came down to Smith's for one of their frequent visits. Russel wanted to escort them home, but he, poor fellow had no shoes. He finally put on several pairs of his home-made socks and took the girls home."

(1850 Census, Gaines TWP, Tioga Co, PA): Smith, David age 68 born CT, wife Lomanda age 61 born CT, R.M.[Russell?] age 21 born NY, son John J. age 21 born NY, daughter Irene A. age 20 born NY, son Octavius age 17 born NY.

(1860 Census, Gaines TWP, Tioga Co, PA HH): Smith, David age 77 farmer born CT, wife Lomanda age 71 [?] born CT.

(Excerpt of an article in an unidentified and undated Tioga County, PA newspaper [probably 1933], CENNTENNAIL AND OLD HOME DAY, Hundredth Anniversary of the Coming to Elk Run of David Smith and Birth of Octavius Smith Hed together - with Old Home Day at Marshlands Saturday. Interesting Program Held with Large Attendance. Mrs. Robinson Describes Round-the-World Trip): "The annual Smith family reunion and old home day was held at Marshlands Saturday and inspired by on of the most delightful days of the summer a good crowd was in attendance. The ladies of the church served dinner in the Grane [Grange] Hall which was participated in by a large proportion of those present.The afternoon was spent in greeting one another.Those from Marshlands and vicinity meeting many former residents of Gaines Township who were called back by the reunion. The Smith family reunion program began shortly after 2:30 p.m. being called to order by the President of the organization Mr. D. C. Smith, of Wellsboro, who after treating fo various business matters pertaining to the annual meeting laid emphasis on the importance of this gathering as commemorating the hundredth anniversary of two events, the first coming of David Smith to Elk Run and the birth of a notable member of the family, Octavius A. Smith."[continuation see notes for Octavius Smith.]

DNA

Paternal relationship is confirmed through Y-chromosome DNA testing. Quentin Cabell Smith, FTDNA kit #28849, and his 7th cousin once removed Len Smith, FTDNA kit #216226, match at a Genetic Distance of 1 on 67 markers thereby confirming their direct paternal lines back to their MRCA Thomas Smith. FTDNA indicates that the probability the two share a common ancestor within the last 8 generations is 94.73% and within the last 9 generations is 96.68%.

Descendant of yDNA group NE12 Thomas Smith (1634 - 1724) and Elizabeth Patterson. See SmithConnections Northeastern DNA Project.^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Heman R. Timlow, “Ecclesiastical and other Sketches of Southington, Connecticut”, Hartford, 1875, page ccxxxi.
2. ↑ SmithConnections Northeastern DNA Project, haplogroup R1b NE12 Thomas Smith.