James Lee Smith

Notes:

A digital image of his actual Texas Death Certificate can be viewed online at FamilySearch.org, Texas Deaths, 1890-1976. He is shown as the son of W. H. Smith and Mary Ellen Giddens. The informant was Mrs. Abbie Lee Pratt, his daughter. He was not a veteran, and was shown as a retired farmer. His year of birth was shown as 1878 versus 1875 as shown by White and Toole.

(Research):Census Listings:

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP One
Enumerated 3 and 4 February 1920
SD 326 ED 168 Sheet 26B
524-546
Smith, James L Hd M W 41 M Tx Ark Ark Farmer
Smith, Doshia L Wf F W 32 M Tx Tx Tx
Smith, James O Son M W 17 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Smith, Laura O Dtr F AW 15 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Luther G Son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Abbie L Dtr F W 10 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Johnnie H M W 6 S Tx Tx Tx

(Medical):See attached sources.

James married Theodosia Luma Whittlesey on 4 Jul 1901. Theodosia (daughter of Luther Cogswell Whittlesey and Sophronia Lee Travis) was born on 13 May 1885 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 1 Mar 1960. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. James Odist Smith was born about 1903 in Texas; and died.
2. Laura Ovie Smith was born about 1905 in Texas; and died.
3. Luther "Lute" Guy Smith was born about 1908 in Texas; and died.
4. Abbie Lee Smith was born on 14 Oct 1909 in Sabine County, Texas; died on 9 Nov 1994 in Tyler, Smith County, Texas; was buried on 11 Nov 1994 in Hemphill City Cemetery, Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas.
5. Johnny Harris Smith was born on 17 Sep 1913 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas; died on 12 Sep 1989 in Houston, Harris County, Texas.

William married Mary Ellen Giddens. Mary was born on 14 Feb 1840 in Arkansas; died on 30 Sep 1932 in Hemphill, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Shown as Ellen? on 1880 census? Or was the woman on the 1880 census a second wife?

John married Constance Harris before 1835. Constance was born about 1815 in Louisiana; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Sabine County Reporter
October 22, 2014
Pages 1 and 2

"Milam Cemetery receives marker"

The Texas Historic Cemetery Dedication Ceremony for Milam Cemetery took place on Saturday, October 11, following the annual Nethery reunion...local historian Weldon McDaniel....gave a presentation outlining some of the significant historical events that took place in Milam and the importance of preserving the history of Milam Cemetery. He said as many as 85 percent of all early settlers coming into Texas put their boots in red dirt. Although San Augustine and Nacogdoches counties have a friendly battle over which is older, Milam is just as old as either of them....

Dorothy Nethery Spain had the honor of reading the script engraved on the marker:

"Milam, the first County Seat of Sabine County, has a history of travelers and visitors stretching back centuries. Native Americans and Spanish exploreres, soldiers and missionaries passed through and often camped on Las Boregas Creek. Texian settlers encountering the natural abundance echoed the words of Stephen F. Austin, who recorded in his diary entry of July 16, 1821: "We then suddenly came to an open rolling country thinly timbered soil about the color of Spanish browne, and in some places redder. This Red Land is very productive and is covered with the most luxuriant growth of grass I ever beheld in any country." The settlment first called Red Mound (Red Mount) was the seat of Government for the Sabine District since 1822, and was surveyed as a town site in 1828.

Milam Cemetery is on a high hill overlooking the historic community. The exact dated of the first burial will never be known Spanish Explorers were passing through present-day Milam as early as 1539 and camped on Las Boregas Creek a few hundred yards west of the cemetery. Local hisorians believed Anglo burials occurred here probably as early as 1775, since travelers used the campsite down the hill on the Las Boregas. The land on which the cemetery is located was granted to JOHN SMITH on Feb. 26, 1835. The first marked burial is dated 1864, although more than 100 unmarked graves are suspected. The numerous military Veterans dating back to the Creek War are interred here, as well as prominent early citizens from the CAUSEY, WEATHERRED. McGREW, and NETHERY families. Milam Cemetery may be the oldest organized cemetery in Sabine County, and cherished chronicle of generations of visitors and residents."

John married Mary ???. Mary was born about 1773 in Virginia; died before 1851; was buried in John Smith Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]