James Edward Smith was born on March 10, 1867 in Roane County, West Virginia, USA.[1] His parents were George Smith, b: ca. 1826 in Hesse, Germany, and Sarah (Unknown) Smith, b: ca. 1846 in Pennsylvania, USA. On the 1870 US Census, he was declared as 2 years old, living with his parents and 3 siblings in Roane County, West Virginia where his father was working as a Laborer. [2]
On December 12, 1889, at 22 years old, he married 17-year-old Bernice G. Fleshman, b: October 7, 1872 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. They married in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, USA, and settled there. The couple had 7 children, one of whom (Unnamed) died at birth. [3]
On the 1900 US Census, James E. Smith's family was reported: [4]
1900 US Census: Quinnimont, Fayette Co., West Virginia, USA
J. Edgar [sic] Smith, Head, M, 61, West Virginia, House Carpenter
Bernice G. Smith, Wife, F, 57, West Virginia
Howard G. Smith, Son, M, 19, West Virginia
Elliner [Eleanor] Smith, Daughter, F, 15, West Virginia
Gladys E. Harris, Daughter, F, 21, W. Virginia, Telephone Operator
James C. Harris, Son-in-law, M, 21, W. Virginia, Mine machinery
James Edward Smith died on February 9, 1939 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. He was buried at the Rainelle Cemetery, Rainelle, Greenbrier, West Virginia, USA. The photo of his gravestone shows the space reserved for his wife's name etc. defaced/obliterated. [8]
↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZ4P-39J : 12 April 2016), James E Smith in household of George Smith, West Virginia, United States; citing p. 58, family 436, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,192.
↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9CN-C24 : accessed 1 February 2019), Bernice J Smith in household of James E Smith, Quinnimont district (Precincts 4-6), Fayette, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 21, sheet 12A, family 190, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,758.
↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPNH-V32 : accessed 1 February 2019), Bernice Smith in household of J Edward Smith, Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 40, sheet 1B, family 13, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1681; FHL microfilm 1,375,694.
↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN2R-WSG : accessed 1 February 2019), Bernice Smith in household of James E Smith, Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States; citing ED 61, sheet 9B, line 86, family 168, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1953; FHL microfilm 1,821,953.
↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XM4K-7MK : accessed 1 February 2019), Bernice G Smith in household of J Edgar Smith, Meadow Bluff, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 22, sheet 8B, line 93, family 163, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2533; FHL microfilm 2,342,267.
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