Phillips – Smith Branches

I was able to add branches to my Calvert County, Maryland families: the Phillips, Torneys, Watts, Taylors, and Kents, thanks to Ancestry.com shared profile matches and Gedmatch.com’s DNA chromosome comparison tool. The problem I faced was that I’d found Joseph aka ‘Young’ Smith and Charlotte on the 1870 census but had not been able to find them on the 1880 census. I did not find them again until the 1900 Iberia Parish census. In thirty years their children had grown up, married and moved out and started lives of their own.

Living with Joseph Smith and Charlotte Phillips in 1900 was nineteen-year-old widowed Amelia Smith, who according to census records had given birth to 1 child. In that household also was fifteen-year-old Cora Smith who was also widowed and the mother of 1 child and Alava Smith who was twenty-two years-old and married for 2 years. In the household also was eighteen-year-old Matthew Smith and 2 children age 1: Clarance and Agnes. Finding those children previously listed on the 1870 census: Maria, Eliza, Ida, Lincoln, Lavinia, Lincoln and Ella proved to be challenging.

Adding to the challenge was that according to the 1900 census, Charlotte had given birth to fifteen children, of which 9 were still living. Adding the 7 children listed on the 1870 census to the 3 listed on the 1900 census brought the number of children known to me to 10. So, there were 5 children whose names I did not know. Joseph was born in Kentucky and Charlotte in Maryland, so I looked in houses near them on the 1900 census for people with the correct names whose parents were born in those 2 states. I did not find any.

I looked at Familysearch.org for marriage and death records for all of the children from the 1870 census and found only 1 marriage but no death records. I found an 1882 marriage record for Lovina Smith to Charles Jean Louis. The witnesses were Alfred Spencer and ??? Coleman. J.B. Livingston was the minister. Was this my Lavinia?

I then searched among the death records for Joseph Smith in Iberia Parish and found a 1939 death record for Sarah Smith Davis. Her parents were recorded as Joseph and Charlotte Smith. I had never seen the name Sarah, but I’d now found 1 of the missing 5 children. I scrolled down and found a record for Ella Louise Johnson who’d died in 1949 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The certificate listed her parents as Joseph and Charlotte Smith.

I next searched in death records for Young Smith and found documentation for 2 of the 3 children listed on the 1900 census: Amelia Jenkins’ 1948 death in Iberia parish and Oliver Smith’s 1930 death in Port Arthur. I still had 4 unknown children of Charlotte’s to find.

Searching on the name of the newly found child Sarah Smith, I found several Sarah Smiths living in St Mary and Orleans Parish for 1900. I looked at each one until I found a likely match–a Sarah Smith living on Eralto Street in New Orleans, Ward 2 in a rooming house with Lavinia Marshall 28 and her forty-year-old husband Nathan Marshall with whom she’d been married for 2 years. Also in the household was Priscilla Ely, 10. Sarah’s age was incorrectly transcribed as 3 even though the census taker wrote her birth information as Oct. 1876, which would have made her about 23. So, I had now found Lavinia and Sarah Smith as well as Lavinia’s daughter Priscilla.

Lincoln Smith

Lincoln Smith was a very hard person to track. I actually only found him alive on the 1870 Iberia Parish census when his age is listed as 5. I was not able to trace Lincoln or his family until 2018 when I found information on the auction and sale of the Young Smith Estate. Young and Charlotte purchased the land in 1872 from Lassoline Bonin and wife Cecile Broussard. I knew that the family had lost the land sometime about 1969 from parish tax assessor information and through records obtained from the Iberia Parish Court House. So, I looked in Iberia Parish Courthouse records online and searched on the name Young Smith and Joseph Smith. I found royalty payments from Dunlap Oil to descendants of Young Smith. Among the newly discovered names were: Lawrence Jacob; Pearl Smith Eglin, wife of Philip Eglin; Lizzie Walker, wife of Joseph Walker; Oscar Smith and Mamie Tibbs Hart.

So, I now had new names to research!

I found Lawrence Jacobs listed on the 1910 Calcasieu Parish census with his mother Lizzie Jacobs, a thirty-five-year-old widow and children Charlotte 26, David S 21, Alfred 10 and Lawrence 7. I searched the 1900 US census and found Lizzie Jacobs in St Mary Parish with her husband of 5 years, Alfred Jacobs. In that 1900 household were 2 older children: David 12, Charlotte 14. I assumed these 2 children were Lincoln’s children, because Lizzy had only been married to Alfred for 5 years. So, I looked for a marriage record for Lincoln Smith and Lizzie. I didn’t find one, so I looked for death records for David S Jacobs and his other siblings. I found a 1939 Beaumont, TX death record for David Lincoln Smith which listed his parents as Lincoln Smith and Lizzie Porter. David was born Feb. 15, 1892 in Jeanerette. All of the other children of Lizzie Porter took Jacobs as their last name.

Lizzie’s daughter, Charlotte Jacobs married a man named Julius Paul. She was listed on the 1910 Calcasieu Parish census twice; once with children Edward Paul, 8; and Lizzie Paul, 6. She was also listed as Charlotte P in the household with her mother Lizzie Jacobs. Charlotte Smith Jacobs Paul Lovett died 1937 in Calcasieu Parish. Lawrence Jacobs was a child of Lizzie Porter and was included in the estate of Young Smith. He and family lived in Beaumont until 1940. His family was included on the 1950 San Francisco census. I have not obtained any further information on Lawrence regarding his parentage.

The Lizzie Walker listed as recipient of Dunlap Oil royalty payments from the Estate of Young Smith was in fact Lizzie Paul, the daughter of Charlotte Jacobs Paul Lovett. Lizzie later married Jack Walker and continued to live in Lake Charles until her death, April 19, 1969. She was buried in Combre Memorial Park Cemetery.

I will stay on the look-out for information of any Lincoln Smith born about 1865 in Louisiana, but only as a back-burner item. Sometimes women and men say that that are widowed not because they actually are, but because they don’t know the location their husband or wife!

Sarah Smith Davis

Sarah had been in New Orleans in 1900 but must have returned to Iberia Parish soon after because I found an Oct. 10, 1905, marriage record for Sarah Smith and William Davis. Witnesses to the marriage were Thornton Tibbs, Pierre Domingue, Jr and Loulia Thompson. S (Stephen) Tillman married the couple. The 1910 US census recorded Sarah, husband William Davis and 3-year-old son William living in St Mary Parish, Ward 3. Census data indicated that Sarah could read and write, but that William could do neither. The family was next listed on the 1920 St Mary Parish census living on Alice B. Plantation Road. By 1930 Sarah and William had moved to New Iberia. The US census listed them at 537 St. Peter Street. The family of Celestine Bernard was also listed at that address. It is possible that William and Sarah lived in a rental unit adjacent to or in the rear on the property. William was sixty-nine years old and Sarah was fifty-nine. Census data recorded that Sarah as first married at the age of twenty-five and that William’s first marriage was at the age of nineteen. This indicated that his marriage to Sarah was perhaps his second marriage. Their son William Davis was not listed in their household for 1930.

Sarah died March 13, 1939. Her age was recorded as sixty. Sarah’s husband William was listed on the 1940 US census living Patoutville, Iberia Parish. According the Leanna Williams in her book, The House Surrounded by Sugar Cane, her parents Livingston Jenkins and wife Reverta moved into the home to take care of her Uncle David following the death of his wife Sarah. David was thought to be the brother of Amelia Smith, Livingston’s mother. I believe that the uncle Leanna wrote about was actually William Davis, husband of Sarah Smith.

Sarah’s son William Davis registered for WWII in Maringouin, Iberville Parish, LA. Interestingly, his birth date was recorded as May 8, 1896 in Patoutville, although he first appears in Sarah’s house as a 3-year-old on the 1910 census. On the registration, William’s nearest relative is recorded as Rosa Christian whose address was 540 St. Peter Street in New Iberia. I believe that William mistakenly reported his year of birth on all public records. His father, forty-five-year-old William Davis appeared on the 1900 Iberia Parish census with wife Mary and children: Allen 17, Rosa 12, Junius 6 and Samuel 3. Per census data, William’s wife Mary had given birth to 4 children, all of whom were still living. There was no child name William in this 1900 household suggesting to me that William Davis Jr. is the son of Sarah and William and the same son listed on the 1910 and 1920 census living in their household.

I found William Daniel Davis‘ name on the 1969 disposition of the Estate of Young Smith. William’s address was Maringouin, Louisana. I found him on the 1950 US census living on Gross Tete Bayou Road in Maringouin, Iberville Parish with wife Stella Winsey. Census data recorded that he worked on a cattle farm for sixty hours per week. His Nov. 1993 death records indicates that his parents were William Davis and Sarah Smith. I did not find any children for William Daniel Davis.

Louvenia Smith Marshall Perkins

Lavina (Louvenia) was in New Orleans for the 1900 census but in Calcasieu Parish for the 1910 census. In her 1910 household was: husband JA Perkins,39; daughter Effie Perkins, 9; son-in-law James Williams, 29; married daughter Priscilla, 19; and grandson Lee Howard Williams, 2. Everyone in the household could read and write with the exception of Lee. Census records indicate that JA Perkins owned his home.

Luvenia and Effie were listed on Calcasieu census records living together through 1930. Louvena is living alone by the 1940 census. Her death certificate records that she died Oct. 19, 1947 and that she was born in St Landry Parish. Her daughter Effie Perkins provided the names for Luvenia‘s parents: Joseph and Celeste Smith. The death date, (1947), on Luvenia’s death certificate is very interesting, because Luvenia was listed as a seventy-eight year old widow on the 1950 Chicago, Ill US census living in the household of John M, Luvena and Lee H Perkins.

I could not find Priscilla Perkins, husband John M Williams and Lee Howard on the 1920 census but was able to find them for US census years 1930-1950 living in Chicago. Per the 1930 census, John worked as a mechanic at a garage and Lee Howard as a laborer at a tractor company. The family lived on E. 43rd Street. By 1940 John’s occupation was sewer construction. He and Priscilla lived at 4212 Wabash Ave. The 1930 census data reported that everyone in the household could read and write. Priscilla’s death records her birth as Oct. 20, 1890, in Jeanerette and her death as Jan. 31, 1957.

Lee Howard Williams was born 1907 Lake Charles, LA. The WWII draft registration form described him as 5′ 8 1/2″ with a dark complexion. He was married twice. He and first wife Ruth Evelyn Harris had at least one child, Joy Lavern Williams. His second wife was Hibernis Dangerfield. Lee worked for International Harvestor and lived at 25 E. 23rd Street per the 1950 US census.

Louvenia’s daughter, Effie married Paul Lewis and was listed in the 1961 obit for stepfather James Perkins. That James died after Luvenia told census takers that she was a widow, highlights a thing that I’ve seen over and over again–people often record their marital status as widowed when they were most likely abandoned by a living spouse or separated and not divorced.

Mariah Smith Williams

Maria or Mariah Smith was born about 1854. I only found her on the 1870 Iberia census living with parents Joe and Charlotte Smith. What little I know of Mariah has been gleaned from other family member trees and through limited conversations with cousins. What I’ve been told is that the 1-year-old boy, Addison, listed on the 1870 census was not the son of Joe & Charlotte, but instead the son of sixteen-year-old Maria. Addison’s father was Peter Williams. I have not been able to find any records for Peter Williams and have not been able to trace Maria after the 1870 census.

Mariah’s son, Addison Williams was married twice, once to Alice Mary James. Their children were Sanders James 1896-1936 and Matthew James. His second marriage to Mary Nancy Turner produced at least 6 children: Tarleton, Timothy, Trinity, Sedonia, Beulah and Josephine.

Ella Smith Johnson

With newly found information, I was able to find Ella and husband Tom Johnson on the 1900 Iberia census with their sons: Edward, Abraham Lincoln ‘Foote’, Albert and Joseph. Ella and family were later found on the 1910 census and later years in Calcasieu Parish. Ella died 1949 In Lake Charles, LA. Her death certificate indicated that her father Joseph Smith had been born in Frankfurt, KY and that her mother’s name was Charlotte Smith. She was buried in East Side Cemetery. The informant was A.L. (Abraham Lincoln) Johnson.

Ella Smith’s Descendents:

• Albert Johnson and Eva Woods
  ->Albert, Wilmer, Geneva, Curtis, Mary L and Victoria
• Abraham Lincoln Johnson 1890-1964 Galveston adn Serena Washington
  ->Floyd, Lloyd, Abraham Lincoln, Fabiola, Leolo, Gracie Mae and Frankie
• Joseph Johnson 1898-1963 Port Arthur & Blanche
  ->Ella Johnson born 1916
• Edward Johnson 4/3/1890 Patoutville – 1972
  Served as a Private, Co B, 522 Engineers Service Battalion, shipped out of Hoboken, NJ on 4/8/1918 on the Susquehanna and returned to Newport News on the USS Siboney on 6/3/1919

Charlotte Smith and Thornton Tibbs

I found an April 1, 1895 marriage record for Charlotte and Thornton Tibbs. Witnesses to the marriage were Charlotte Alexandria and William Metts. When I re-examined the 1900 census page that listed Joseph and Charlotte Smith and family, I now noticed that Charlotte and Thornton Tibbs were also listed on the same page with a 4-year-old daughter May E. The same family group was recorded on the 1910 census. By the time of the 1920 census, the household included a 5-year-old daughter named Thelma. Also included in the home was Charlotte’s sixteen- year-old niece, Florence Jenkins (Amelia Smith Jenkins’ daughter).

Charlotte’s daughter May appeared on the 1920 census as Mamie Self, married and living in Longville, Beauregard Parish, LA. I found a marriage announcement in the Era-Leader (Franklinton, LA) June 2, 1921 for Mamie Tibs and Henry Hart.

Charlotte, Thornton and family had moved to Bogalusa, Washington Parish by the time of 1930 census. Thornton worked at sawmill and the family lived at 620 Avenue S. Census data recorded that the family did not own a radio and that Thornton was married at the age of eighteen and Charlotte at the age of fifteen.

The 1940 US census recorded Charlotte, Thornton and children Thelma, Herman and Joy Dee living in Bogalusa, LA. I found something interesting in education data for the family. Charlotte had 2 years of high school education and Thelma 1 year. Thornton had a 3rd grade education and Herman a 6th grade education. Charlotte died Sept. 24, 1941 in New Orleans. The certificate recorded her father’s name as Joseph Smith. Thelma, husband Forest Whitaker and her father were listed on the 1950 US census still living at 620 S. Avenue S.

• Mamie Tibbs 1896-1964 Bogalusa, Washington Parish, LA and Henry Hart
• Thelma Tibbs 1818-1978 & Forest Whitaker
• Herman TIbbs 1919-1967
• Joy Dee Tibbs b1932

Coming soon, the story of Amelia Smith and Oliver Jenkins

Oliver Smith and Alzena Griffin Morris

I first found Oliver on the 1900 Iberia Parish census recorded as Alava Smith, living with parents Joseph and Charlotte and his sisters, Amelia and Cora (Clora). His marital status was married for 2 years, but there was no woman included in the household with him that appeared to be his wife. I searched census records again and found another result for an Oliver Smith living in St Mary Parish. The St Mary household listed Oliver Smith, 21, married 2 years. Also listed in the household was Alzina Griffin Morris, 20, married 2 years and a 5-year-old Elsie Smith. I assumed the Alava Smith in Iberia Parish and the Oliver Smith in St. Mary Parish were the same man.

My assumption was proved to be correct. Listed on the 1910 US census living in St Mary Parish were: Oliver Smith, wife Elzenia, eight-year-old daughter Pearl and stepdaughter Elsie Haywood. Oliver, Alzena and Pearl were listed on the 1920 Jefferson County census living in Port Arthur, TX.

Pearl Smith and husband Philip Eglin were listed on the 1930 Jefferson County, Port Arthur, TX. They were still living in Port Arthur at the time of the 1940 census with son Theaphlus.

So, now I’d found eleven of fifteen children born to Charlotte Phillips and Joseph a.k.a. Young Smith. Charlotte’s known children now included Mariah Smith Williams, Eliza Smith, Ida Smith, Louvenia Smith Marshall Perkins, Lincoln Smith, Ella Smith Johnson, Oliver Smith, Charlotte Smith Tibbs, Sarah Smith Davis, Amelia Smith Jenkins, Cora Smith Henry.

I am not able to definitively say that I’ve found Eliza or Ida Smith after the 1870 census. I have several DNA matches who have an Ida Smith at the top of their maternal family lineage. I have not yet figured out the names of Ida’s parents. Ida was listed on the 1900 census in St Mary Parish with husband Jim Hines and children: Beulah, Pearly and Elias Johnson as well as 1-year-old son Joseph Hines. Ida most likely died between 1900 and 1910. The only child of Ida’s that I have been able to positively identify after 1900 is her daughter Beulah Johnson. Beulah was recorded on the 1910 US Census living with her stepbrother James Robinson, age twenty-five. Beulah married Horace Yelling and it is her descendants that are shared DNA matches a number of key Maryland descendants of Eliza Phillips Torney. Beulah’s death certificate listed her parents as Ida Smith and Jim Key.

I am on the lookout for the names of Charlotte Phillips’s 4 remaining unnamed children. At the time of the 1900 census, it was recorded that she given birth to fifteen children of which 9 were still living. Seven of those 9, that I know were alive in 1900 were: Amelia Smith, Charlotte Smith Tibbs, Ella Louise Smith Johnson, Louvenia Smith Marshall, Oliver Smith, Sarah Smith and Cora Smith. Who were the remaining 2 that were living in 1900? Was it Mariah, Eliza, Ida or Lincoln?

Best,