The Family of John & Anna (Morgan) Neville

Anna Neville and Family:
Back Row – Bill, John, Bess, Frank, Joe
Front Row – Loretta, Vera, Anna, Margaret, Catherine.

 

Now for Grandma Smith’s Irish side of the family.  (Bear with me, I am trying to cut and paste the following information from my genealogy computer program, and it isn’t working very well).  We can thank Aunt Carol Smith for the picture…she gave me a copy several years ago.

 John Neville1 was born on 5 Feb 1847 in Tullamore, Offaly, Ireland. He died2,3,4 on 5 Jan 1903 in York Co., NE.

John married5 Anna Morgan, daughter of William M. Morgan and Rose Etta Smith, on 7 Feb 1882 in York, York Co., Nebraska. Anna was born6 on 27 May 1863 in McLean, Illinois. She died7,8 on 25 May 1925 in York Co., NE. She was buried in St. Joseph’s Cem., York Co., Nebraska.

They had the following children.

i. William Abraham Neville was born on 11 Nov 1882 in Wahoo, Nebraska. He died on 28 Jan 1968.

William married Jane Wallace in Apr 1913. Jane was born on 14 Aug 1882. She died on 25 Jan 1968.

ii. Francis Patrick Neville was born on 17 Mar 1884 in York Co., Nebraska. He died on 9 May 1976.

Francis married Mary Biede on 7 Oct 1914. Mary was born on 10 Aug 1892 in York Co., Nebraska. She died on 4 Oct 1993.

iii. Rose Etta Neville was born on 3 Oct 1885. She died on 21 Aug 1886.

iv. Margaret Marie Neville was born9,10 on 23 Dec 1886 in York Co., Nebraska. She died11 on 29 Feb 1976 in Geneva, Fillmore Co., Nebraska. She was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.

Margaret married Mark Leo Conroy on 7 Jan 1907. Mark was born on 24 Feb 1883. He died on 20 Jul 1914. He was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.

Margaret also married12,13 John Albert Smith14,15, son of Charles Marshall Smith and Mary Jane Howell, on 24 Nov 1920 in York, York Co., Nebraska. John was born16 on 28 Mar 1879 in McFadden Twp, York Co., Nebraska. He died17,18,19,20 on 28 Feb 1946 in McFadden Twp, York Co., Nebraska. He was buried21 in Greenwood Cem., York, York Co., Nebraska.

v. John Bernard Neville was born on 15 Jan 1889. He died on 14 Apr 1972.

vi. Joseph Lawrence Neville was born on 4 Oct 1891. He died on 21 May 1978.

Joseph married Mary (Molly) O’Meara on 18 Nov 1919. Mary was born on 7 Apr 1891. She died on 2 Jun 1970.

vii. Mary Veronica Neville was born on 10 Nov 1893. She died on 3 Jul 1988.

Mary married Francis Patrick McTygue on 11 Nov 1913. Francis was born on 28 Mar 1886. He died on 4 Oct 1964.

viii. Catherine Ellen Neville was born on 6 Nov 1894. She died on 16 Aug 1988.

Catherine married Reuben Clouse on 24 Apr 1920. Reuben was born on 10 Apr 1886. He died on 2 Feb 1966.

ix. Loretta Ann Neville was born on 8 Aug 1896. She died on 15 Jan 1939.

Loretta married Andrew Lawrence Conroy on 2 Sep 1919. Andrew was born on 12 Nov 1884. He died on 2 Jun 1981.

x. James Edward Neville was born on 1 Feb 1899. He died7 on 10 Feb 1899. He was buried in St. Joseph’s Cem., York, York Co., Nebraska.

xi.           Elizabeth Clare Neville was born on 4 May 1900. She died on 3 Jul 1976.

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1  Nebraska: Rail Road Land Records, No. 5445, 20 Mar 1874.

2    Nebraska, York Co.: Obituary, p. 1, 8 Jan 1903.

3  Nebraska, Saunders Co.: Obituary, 8 Jan 1903.

4  Photo of Gravestones, 8 Jan 1903.

5  Nebraska, York Co.: Marriages, Bk B, p 54.

6  York County Cemeteries.

7  Photo of Gravestones.

8  Nebraska: Certificate of Death.

9    Social Security Application, Form SS-5.

10  1900 Federal Census, Nebraska: Saunders Co., Center Precinct, ED 125, Sh 6, 18 Jun 1900.

11  Nebraska: Certificate of Death.

12  Nebraska, York Co.: Marriages, Bk K, Pg 87.

13  Nebraska, York Co.: Newspaper Clipping, p. 5, 24 Nov 1920.

14  1910 Federal Census: York Co., Nebraska, E.D 201, Sheet ?, Dw 32, Fam 32.

15  1920 Federal Census: York Co., Nebraska, E.D. 215, Sheet 4, Dw 18, Fam 18.

16  Nebraska, York Co.: Obituary, p. 6, col. 3, 1 Mar 1946.

17   Nebraska, York Co.: Obituary, p. 6, col. 3, 1 Mar 1946.

18   Nebraska: Certificate of Death, 1 Mar 1946.

19  Nebraska, York Co.: Probate Record, File #4816, 14 May 1946.

20  Nebraska: Certificate of Death, p. 6, col. 3, 1 Mar 1946.

21  York County Cemeteries, Vol. 1.

 

 

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Grandma Smith’s House

Grandma Smith’s House

Ah…just looking at the picture brings back memories from childhood.  The screen door we ran in and out of constantly, the L-shaped side porch with its potted red geraniums, the long counter Grandma worked at perched on her stool, the worn wooden stairs we played on, the soft, comfy beds crowded into the room.  All of us “Smith Cousins” have many wonderful memories of Grandma’s house before it burned down in 1976.

I’m not sure when the house was built, but I suspect it was built sometime in the late 1800’s by Grandpa Smith’s dad, Charles M. Smith.  The land the house was built on, the “home place”, was purchased from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Co. by Charles M. Smith on 11 Sep 1873[i], being the Northwest quarter of Section 29, Township 9, Range 2 West.  At the time of his purchase, Charles M. Smith resided in Agency City, Wapello County, Iowa.  Shortly after, Charles, and his wife, Mary Jane (Howell), along with several members of her family, made the trek west to settle in York County.  A few years later, in 1877, Charles M. made a Homestead claim for adjoining land lying just to the east (North half of the southwest quarter of Section 28, Township 9, Range 2 West)[ii].  According to the homestead papers, the family resided on the homestead land from 1 Aug 1877 until at least March 1883, which included a sod house, stable, granary, cellar and well.  My guess is that sometime after the homestead was “proved” (they had to live on the land for 5 years), Charles built the house on the land purchased from the railroad…the house we knew as “Grandma’s House”.

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[i] Application to Buy Land in Nebraska, Railroad Land Records (microfilm), Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln.

[ii] Charles M. Smith (York County) homestead file, final certificate no. 10658, Lincoln, Nebraska, Land Office; Land Entry Papers, 1800-1908; Records of the Bureau of Land Management, Record Group 49; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

The Family of John A. & Margaret (Neville) Smith

John and Margaret Smith – circa 1920

“Smith-Conroy.  John A. Smith and Mrs. Margaret Conroy both of McCool were married this afternoon.  The ceremony was performed by Father Hays in the parlors of the Convent.  The bride and groom were attended by Mr. and Mrs. John Spitz.“[i]

When Grandma and Grandpa Smith married on 24 Nov 1920[ii] they created a blended family of 9 children, then added 5 more children to the mix.  Here are all of the Smith-Conroy clan:

Margaret Marie Neville married Mark Leo Conroy on 7 Jan 1907. Mark was born on 24 Feb 1883. He died on 20 Jul 1914. He was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.

They had the following children.

• i.    John Raymond Conroy was born on 8 Dec 1908. He died on 2 Sep 1992.  He was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.  John married Mary Elizabeth Foster on 20 Jul 1937. Mary was born on 30 Apr 1915. She died on 5 Mar 1989. She was buried in Fairmont, Nebraska.
• ii.    Margaret Mary Conroy was born on 22 Sep 1910. She died on 4 Feb 1991. She was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.  Margaret married Basil N. Henriksen on 6 Aug 1934. Basil was born on 13 Dec 1911. He died on 19 Dec 1990. He was buried in Fairmont, Nebraska.
• iii.    Anne Elizabeth Conroy was born on 8 Mar 1912. She died on 22 Jul 1912. She was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.
• iv.    Catherine Ellen Conroy was born on 23 Feb 1914. She died on 21 Jan 1996 in York, York Co., Nebraska. She was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.  Catherine married Theodore G. Arndt on 11 Oct 1935. Theodore was born on 7 Mar 1907. He died on 18 Oct 1972. He was buried in Fairmont, Nebraska.

John Albert Smith married Mabel M. DeBoer on 2 Jan 1901 in McCool Jct., York Co., Nebraska. Mabel was born on 3 Aug 1880. She died on 31 Jan 1919. She was buried in Greenwood Cem., York, York Co., Nebraska.

They had the following children.

• i.    Margurite E. Smith was born on 5 May 1901 in McFadden Twp., York Co., Nebraska. Margurite married George Dyer on 4 May 1917 in McCool Jct., York Co., Nebraska. George was born about 1896.
• ii.    Harold Francis Smith was born on 21 Sep 1902 in McCool Jct., Nebraska. He died on 18 Jan 1981 in York, Nebraska. He was buried in York, Nebraska, Greenwood Cem.. Harold married Mabel Ellen Wolstenholm on 10 Sep 1924 in Council Bluffs, ia. Mabel was born on 29 Sep 1902 in McCool Jct., Nebraska. She died on 5 Aug 1978 in York, Nebraska. She was buried in York, Nebraska, Greenwood Cem..
• iii.    Helen Frances Smith was born on 21 Sep 1902 in McFadden Twp., York Co., Nebraska. She died on 28 Nov 1977 in York, York Co., Nebraska. She was buried in Greenwood Cem., York, York Co., Nebraska.  Helen married Karl George Drier on 14 Jun 1922 in York, York Co., Nebraska. Karl was born on 10 Apr 1899 in McCool Jct., York Co., Nebraska. He died on 9 Jun 1940 in York, York Co., Nebraska. He was buried in Greenwood Cem., York, York Co., Nebraska.  Helen also married Albert E. Miller on 14 Apr 1948. Albert was born on 8 May 1891. He died on 14 Dec 1966 in York, York Co., Nebraska.  Helen also married Harold G. Patterson. Harold was born on 20 Oct 1896. He died on 25 Aug 1976. He was buried in Sutton, Nebraska.
• iv.    John Albert (Jack) , Jr. Smith was born in 1904.  John married Gladys Sheldon.
• v.    Bernice Louise Smith was born in Jul 1908.  Bernice married Dean Witkowski.
• vi.    Floyd Everet Smith was born on 28 Feb 1911. He died on 4 Jan 1931 in York, York Co., Nebraska. He was buried in Greenwood Cem., York, York Co., Nebraska.

John Albert Smith married Margaret Marie Neville on 24 Nov 1920 in York, York Co., Nebraska.

They had the following children.

• vii.    Robert Edwin Smith was born on 26 Jan 1922 in McFadden Twp., York Co., Nebraska. He died on 12 Feb 1995 in York Co., Nebraska. He was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.  Robert married Patricia Ferne Wilger on 14 May 1960. Patricia was born on 12 Mar 1925. She died on 1 Sep 1996 in York Co., Nebraska. She was buried in Fairmont, Nebraska.
• viii.    James Clair Smith was born on 8 Jun 1923. He died on 11 Mar 1987 in Lincoln, Lancaster Co., Nebraska.  James married Norma Jean (Pribble) Stauffacher on 16 Feb 1953.
• ix.    George Hubert Smith was born on 3 Aug 1925 in McFadden Twp., York Co., Nebraska. He died on 16 Mar 1968 in York Co., Nebraska. He was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.  George married Carol Frances White on 28 Oct 1952. Carol was born on 14 Dec 1928.
• x.    Charles Marshall Smith was born on 3 Sep 1927 in McFadden Twp., York Co., Nebraska. He died on 13 Sep 1969 in Lincoln, Lancaster Co., Nebraska. He was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.  Charles married Betty Ellen Taylor, daughter of Charles Arthur Taylor and Amy Ruth Harper, on 12 Feb 1949 in McCool Junction, York, Nebraska. Betty was born on 28 Mar 1929 in Jordan Twp., Monona Co., Iowa. She died on 21 Apr 2007 in Adams, Gage Co., Nebraska. She was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.
• xi.    Maurice Gene Smith was born on 26 Apr 1929 in McFadden Twp., York Co., Nebraska. He died on 27 Dec 1977 in York Co., Nebraska. He was buried in Catholic Cem., Fairmont, Fillmore Co., Nebraska.  Maurice married Karen Worley on 18 Jun 1966. The marriage ended in divorce. Karen was born on 23 Mar 1938.

 

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[i] Newspaper Clipping, York Daily News-Times (microfilm), p. 5, 24 Nov 1920, Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE.

[ii] York Co., Nebraska , Marriage Records, Bk K, p. 87, (microfilm), Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, Nebraska.

Sunday’s Obituary – John Albert Smith

John A. Smith

John A. Smith Dies At Home At McCool.

John A. Smith, 66, life-long resident of the McCool area, died at his home south of McCool at 11:50 o’clock Thursday night.  He had been ill since last April.  Mr. Smith was Born March 28, 1879, on the same farm where he passed away.   He had engaged in farming and was also an auctioneer for a number of years.    Surviving are his wife, Margaret; eight sons, Harold of McCool; John, Jr. of Independence, Mo.; Robert, James, Charles and Gene, at home; George on Okinawa and John Conroy of York; five daughters, Mrs. Marguerite Dyer of Inglewood, Calif.; Mrs. Helen Dreier and Miss Bernice Smith, both of Lincoln; Mrs. Catherine Arndt of Central City and Mrs. Margaret Hendricksen, St. Paul, Minn; a brother, Frank N. Smith of Beaver Crossing; two sisters, Mrs. Maggie Bergstrand of Fairmont and Mrs. Dollie Morgan of Bellflower, California; twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  A son, Floyd, preceded him in death 15 years ago.   Funeral services will be held at the York United Brethren church Monday afternoon at two o’clock, Rev. G. T. Savery officiating.  Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery, York.[i]

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[i] “John A. Smith Dies At Home At McCool,” obituary, York (Nebraska) Daily News-Times, 1 March 1946, p.6, col. 3.

 

A Depression Era Wedding

Charles A. & Amy R. (Harper) Taylor – 1926

Happy Anniversary to Grandma and Grandpa Taylor!  Eighty-seven years ago today, on January 26, 1926, Amy Ruth Harper and Charles Arthur Taylor were married in Onawa, Iowa.  Both of them were 22 years old at the time.  It was in the midst of the Great Depression, so money was scarce.  No fancy wedding clothes or wedding portrait, just a simple ceremony and a simple celebration.  This seems to be such an Spartan beginning to what would become over 55 years of shared life that exemplified marriage built on love and respect.  Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa.

 

Marriage Record of Charles Taylor and Amy Harper

Friday Funny – The Disastrous Date

Amy R. Harper – circa 1921

To the other side of the family today…my maternal grandmother, Amy Ruth Harper Taylor (1903-1993).  In 1986 (at the age of 83) Grandma took a creative writing class through the local community college and wrote several short essays about her life.  What follows is “My Disastrous Date” recalling events that took place while she attended college in Cedar Falls, Iowa in the early 1920’s.

My Disastrous Date                 

By Amy R. Taylor

I had casually met this young man on one or two previous occasions, but I was rather surprised when one Sunday, after church, he asked me to go canoeing with him that evening.

Of course I agreed to go, but I could never understand why I did.  I knew nothing about a canoe and also, I was deathly afraid of any body of water, deeper than a few inches and wider than I could step across. Under those circumstances, I should have known better than to accept.

That evening, we arrived at the edge of the Cedar River, where his bright, shiny canoe waited for our journey.

I was almost beginning to enjoy the ride, when the lights of Cedar Rapids came into view, and he suggested that we anchor the craft and go to a small café nearby, for lunch…and that’s where I met my “Waterloo”.

He pulled over to the bank, jumped out and quickly moored the craft, then held out his hand to assist me.  By that time I was standing, “wobbling” this way and that, wondering how on earth I was going to get my feet on solid ground.

Finally, I stepped on the edge of the canoe, which immediately tipped sidewise, lost my balance, missed his “helping” hand and landed in a foot or more of water.  To say I was embarrassed is putting it mildly.

Of course that cancelled the trip to the café.  He quickly returned me to my dorm, where I could dry out.  Luckily I didn’t meet any of the other girls rooming there.

We had a few more dates, but never another canoe ride.  At the end of the term, he left to enter Princeton University, and I returned to my farm home in western Iowa.[i]

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[i] Amy R. Taylor, Pages of “Memories”, unpublished manuscript, 1986. Privately held by Marcella Smith Garnett, 2013.

Treasure Chest Thursday – Grandma’s Sauce Dish

Sauce Dish owned by six generations of women.

It doesn’t look like anything, just a small, footed glass dish, but it means the world to me.  My grandma, Amy Ruth Harper Taylor (1903-1993), gave it to me in the 1980’s.  Seven matching dishes were also given to my sisters and my mom.  What is so special about this little dish is the note that Grandma enclosed with it.  She said it was called a sauce dish and had been given to her by her mother, Virginia Mae Coate Harper (1874-1950).  The dish had been given to great-grandma from her mother, Candace Coppock Coate (1843-1919), who had been given the dish by her mother, Emily (Milly) Hall Coppock (1818-1904).  Six generations of women attached to this small little dish, probably from the mid-1800’s.  Amazing, I think.

The Smith Boys

Margaret M. Smith and her boys – Bob, Jim, George, Charles, and Gene.

I saw this picture as I was going through my files yesterday and just had to post it.  It shows my Grandma Smith and “her boys” at my mom and dad’s wedding.  When grandma, Margaret M. Neville Conroy Smith, and grandpa, John Albert Smith, were married in 1920, their family became a “his, hers, and ours” type of family, with a total of 13 children.  My dad and his brothers were the “ours” part of the family: Robert E. (1922-1995), James C. (1923-1987), George H. (1925-1968), Charles M. (1927-1969), and M. Gene (1929-1977).  I remember walking down the street in my dad’s hometown as a kid, and people saying, “You’re a Smith. I don’t know who you belong to, but you’re a Smith”.  What a sense of family belonging, even as a young child.

Wedding Wednesday – Charles M. and Betty E. (Taylor) Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Smith
12 Feb 1949

Well, I’m on a roll with my mom and dad, I think this is appropriate.  Charles Marshall Smith and Betty Ellen Taylor were married on February 12, 1949[1] at St. Patrick’s Catholic church in McCool Juction, Nebraska.  They were such an adorable couple, and young, too.  Dad was 21 and mom was 19.

Society News

Betty Ellen Taylor Weds Charles Smith

Miss Betty Ellen Taylor, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Taylor of Moorhead, Iowa, became the bride of Charles M. Smith, son of Mrs. Margaret M. Smith of McCool at 11 o’clock Saturday morning, February 12, at the St. Patrick’s church in McCool.  The Rev. Robert Trausch performed the double ring ceremony.

The bride’s gown of crepeback satin was fashioned with a scalloped neckline princess style with long sleeves coming to points over the hands.  Her full skirt fell into a long train.  A satin ornamental crescent held her finger-tip veil. She carried a white prayer book, marked with a red and white rose bud corsage.  She was given in marriage by her father.

Mrs. Mary Lou Kratz of Moorhead, Iowa was matron of honor and the bridesmaids were Rose Conroy of York and Ruth Neddermeyer, Colleen Smith, and Vivian Olson, all of Omaha.  They wore gowns of rose and baby blue taffeta, identically fashioned, and carried colonial bouquets.

James C. Smith, brother of the groom was best man, Robert Smith, George Smith, Gene Smith and Charles Kratz ushered.

Following the wedding a dinner was served to sixty guests at the York Legionnaire club.

After a short wedding trip the couple will make their home in Ottumwa, Iowa, where the groom is employed.

The out of town guest list was as follows: Mr. and Mrs. Charles Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kratz and Mrs. Loys Neal, all of Moorhead, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bergstrand of Fairmont; Ernie Ross, Eleanor Sorensen, Beverly Lehman, Merrill Goff, Theresa Clouse, Mary Marr, all of Omaha; Mr. and Mrs. John Conroy and family of Dorchester; Ralph Leif of Exeter; Kathryn Neville of Grand Island; Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Conroy, Jr. of Ansley and John Louis and Bette Conroy of Oconto.[2]

 

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[1] Nebraska Department of Health, record of marriage, file no. 1262 (1949), Charles Smith and Betty Taylor; Bureau of Vital Statistics, Lincoln.

[2] “Betty Ellen Taylor Weds Charles Smith”, undated clipping, 1949, from York Daily News Times; privately held by Marcella (Smith) Garnett, Omaha, Nebraska, 2013.

Genealogy Gems – Letters

Charles M. Smith – 1944

Yesterday I was digging through my genealogy files and found something I had forgotten about – a letter my mom had written to my dad’s high school graduating class in celebration of their 50^th reunion.  My dad, Charles M. Smith, graduated in 1944 from McCool Juction (Nebraska) High School at the tender age of 16.  He passed away on September 13, 1969 at 42 years of age.  I just love this letter because it gives lots of details about Mom and Dad’s life together.  It also answers my questions about Dad’s military service.

June 4, 1995

Dear McCool Junction High School Class of 1944,

In response to Imogene’s request for a short synopsis of your classmate Charles Smith’s life and times after high school, I’m sending this with my best wishes to all of you for a great weekend of reminiscing and remembering – a fifty year anniversary is a milestone. Enjoy!

Most of you probably know that after high school Charles stayed on the family farm until some of his brothers returned from military service.  In April of 1946 he joined the U.S. Army serving in the 82^nd Airborne Paratroop Division; most of his service time was spent in the southern states and he dearly loved parachuting and flying the rest of his life.  Shortly after his discharge in the Fall of 1947 he went to Omaha, working as a dispatcher for Rock Island Motor Freight while attending Commercial Extension School of Commerce.

Omaha and CESC is where we met.  There we all knew him as “Chuck”, and it seemed to stick with him from that time on.  Apparently the chemistry and the time were right and we were married in February 1949.  Shortly before our wedding he had been transferred to Ottumwa, IA, so our first home was an apartment there.  I also obtained employment, with the Morrell Meat Packing Co. in that fair city.  Before the end of the year, R.I. transferred Chuck back to Omaha, which really didn’t break our hearts in the least.  In late February 1950 our first child, Cynthia Ellen (Cindy), was born and I became a full time wife and mother.

During the next few years Chuck worked as Purchasing Agent for the Ford Motor Co., and for the Insurance Department of the Provident Loan Company, while attending night classes at Creighton University; we also live in two other apartments before we moved into our first home in one of the many subdivisions of the fifties; our family was also expanding, Deborah Margaret (Debbie) in 1951, Jennifer Ruth in 1953 and Rebecca Mae (Becky) in 1955.  However, the company was also expanding and in 1958 Chuck was transferred to Cedar Rapids, IA as Assistant Manager of the new branch office opening there.

Cedar Rapids was a pretty little city and we really enjoyed our years there.  After renting for a year or so, we moved into our second home.  The girls continued to grow, and we added two my daughters, a cat, a dog, a parakeet, and a pet rabbit to the family; daughters #5 and #6 being Victoria Marie (Vicki) and Penelope Anne (Penny).  We also became more involved in school activities, summer programs, church and community affairs.  We spent much time exploring the many parks, lakes and historical points of interest in eastern and northeastern Iowa; most summer Sundays we loaded a picnic basket and headed wherever our whimsy led us.

However change was on the horizon again; in the summer of 1963 we came back to McCool for a year, here Chuck served the surrounding area as sales representative for the Butler Building Franchise based in Lincoln.  Here too, daughter #7, Marcella Jane (Marcie) arrived.

By late summer of 1964 Chuck was transferred into the Lincoln office, where he continued in sales, the market leaning much more toward commercial buildings by this time.  One last move, this time to South 47^th Street in Lincoln, where in November our first and only SON arrived!!  Honest! It really was a boy.  What a shock – I could hardly believe it; his older sisters were a bit skeptical too.  But it was a real honest to goodness boy whom we named David Charles.

Chuck was a born salesman…he thrived on it.  He had a real talent for public relations, he loved people and could get along with anyone and everyone; they also knew he was dependable, honest and trustworthy.  Business was good and the best was yet to come.  The children were growing up fast; we had been through the Campfire Girl/Bluebird years in Iowa, now we started the Girl Scout/Brownie years.  The older girls were in high school now so we had more band concerts, ball games, proms, etc.  We had kids in three different schools at once  – Oh the joy of juggling parent-teacher conferences, the school programs and the activities, the extra-curricular activities, job schedules, etc.  About this time young men also began appearing on our doorstep; the older girls assumed after school jobs and before we knew it they were graduating from High School.

Charles was diagnosed with Leukemia early in February of 1969.  During the ensuing months there were many hospital stays, frequent days in bed at home for “R & R”, and many transfusions, tests and medical procedures.  However between times there were also a couple of combined “business-pleasure” trips for the two of us as well as frequent family holidays and outings.  Chuck fought a brave and gallant battle, but on September 13, 1969 he departed this life; he is buried at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Fairmont, Nebraska.

Imogene wrote “Charles was always spreading sunshine as he went through high school with us”; to me that is an excellent description of Chuck.  He seldom lost his temper, was angry or depressed.  He was a cheerful, happy, fun-loving person who loved people, life, his work, his family, his faith and his country.  He was a real easy-goin’ fellow; a good husband, father, son, brother and friend.

He did live to see his two oldest daughters marry and to make the acquaintance of his first grandchild.  He would be proud of the adults into which his children developed and also of his grandchildren and the great-grands; one of my greatest desires has been that his grandchildren could have known him.   It is rather ironic to note that Chuck’s son as well as his oldest grandson are both salesmen.  Is there a possibility that another of the third generation (Dave’s son), might also follow in his Dad’s and Grandad’s footsteps?  Only time will tell.[i]

Charles & Betty Smith family 1968

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[i] Betty Smith Schwartman (Lincoln, Nebraska) to McCool Juction High School Class of 1944, letter, 4 June 1995; copy privately held by Marcella Smith Garnett, Omaha, Nebraska, 2013.