Margaret Ophelia Smith

Notes:

Shown in John B. Boddie's SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA FAMILIES, Volume 1, as a daughter of Dr. Charles James Smith and Annie Adeline Tomlinson. Dr. Smith attended medical school in Lexington, KY and moved to Mississippi, then to Texas where he practiced medicine unitl his death at the advanced age of eighty five. The Smith's children were Eliza Jane, m. William CROUCH, Cordelia m. Rufus PRICE; Addison; Conway; m. Libby Shays; Margaret Opehelia, m. A P Cartwright; Charles Figures, and John Smith, Jr.

Henson and Parmelee note that her mother died soon after her birth, and she was raised by her older siblings, in 1860 living in Jefferson with her brother and his wife. (Henson and Parmelee, THE CARTWRIGHTS OF SAN AUGUSTINE, p. 272). Meck died at a relatively young age, and after her father died in December 1886, she joined her two oldest children, Matthew Charles and Annie in Georgetown, Texas, where both were students at Southwestern University. Teenage son Meck accompanied her to attend high school in Georgetown. They later moved to Waco, in order for Matthew Charles to attend business college. Shortly after Matthew graduated, and the other two children completed their school term in June 1890, the entire family moved to Terrell. (ibid, p. 304). Her three married children eventually built houses next door to each other on Griffith Avenue, and Ophelia lived with her daughter Meck, and Meck's banker husband, Walter P. Allen, until her death in 1939. (ibid, p. 311).

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Kaufman County, City of Terrell
Enumerated 21 Jun 1900
SD 6 ED 75 Sheet 34 B
657-667
Cartwright, Ophelia Head W F Aug 1845 54 Wd 3/3 Tx Va Miss
Allen, America P Daug W F Feb 1874 26 Md 6 3/3 Tx Tx Tx
Allen, Walter P S-in-law W M Jan 1870 30 m 6 Tx Ala Tenn Cashier Bank
Allen, Pauline Gdtr W F Jany 1895 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Allen, Ophelia Gdtr W F Jun 1897 2 S Tx Tx Tx
Allen, Walter P Gson W M Oct 1898 1 S Tx Tx Tx
Kennedy, Hetty Servant B F Dec 1869 30 Wd 0 Tx Tx Tx
Francis, Hally Servant B F JNun 1883 16 S Tx Tx Tx

Margaret married Americus "Meck" Peyroux Cartwright on 11 Feb 1869 in Jefferson, Marion County, Texas. Americus (son of Matthew Cartwright and Amanda "Mandy" Holman) was born on 17 Mar 1840 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; died on 11 Aug 1873 in Carthage, Panola County, Texas; was buried in Oakland Memorial Park Cemetery, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Upon hearing of her brother's pending marriage plans, Anna Cartwright wrote her sister Mary "I cannot believe Meck is going to be married until the cermony has already been performed."

1. Matthew Charles Cartwright was born on 24 Nov 1869 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 26 Jan 1960; was buried in Oakland Memorial Park Cemetery, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas.
2. Annie Thompson "Annie T" Cartwright was born on 28 Nov 1871 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 21 Oct 1959 in Dallas, Dallas County, Texas; was buried in Sparkman Hilcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas.
3. America "Meck" Peyroux Cartwright was born on 16 Feb 1874 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 4 Apr 1959 in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas; was buried in Oakland Memorial Park Cemetery, Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas.