Morris M. Smith

Notes:

1870 Ionia County, Odessa Township
106-105
Smith, Moses (sic) 35 M W Carpenter 500 100 NY
Smith, Cynthia 26 F W Keeping House Maine
Smith, FRANKLIN 7 M W NY attended school
Smith, Edith 5 F W NY
Smith, Anna 1 F W NY
Smith, MARIAN 63 F W New Hampshire

Living immediately next door to Morris Smith in Ionia County in 1870 was the following family, these appear to be Morris's two youngest sisters, that were listed with he and his parents on the 1860 Riga, Monroe County, New York census.
105 104
Sickles, Charles 26 Farmer 800 350 MO
Sickles, Sarah 25 Keeping House NY
SMITH, Julie 23 Keeping House NY

1880 Federal Census:
Morris SMITH Self M Male W 44 NY Carpenter MA VT
Cintha SMITH Wife M Female W 36 ME Keeping House MA MA
Frank SMITH Son S Male W 17 NY Carpenter NY ME
Eideth SMITH Dau S Female W 15 NY Servant NY ME
Anna SMITH Dau S Female W 11 NY At School NY ME
Gertie SMITH Dau S Female W 7 MI NY ME
Meriam SMITH Other W Female W 74 NH Keeping House NH NH
Source Information:
Census Place Odessa, Ionia, Michigan
Family History Library Film 1254584
NA Film Number T9-0584
Page Number 316C

"Morris M. Smith, Carpenter, b ca 1835 in NY, resided Odessa, d 12-9-1880, age 44 yrs, 11 mo, 28 days, of consumption, fa. unnamed, mo. Marrian, spouse Cnitha O., daughter Gertrude A. b 11-27-1872." (Courtesy LaVonne Bennett).

Morris married Cynthia F. Carleton about 1862 in New York. Cynthia was born on 23 Dec 1843 in Piscataquis County, Maine; died on 6 Jun 1918 in Woodland, Barry County, Michigan; was buried in Lakeside Cemetery, Lake Odessa, Ionia County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the 1900 Census, he was living in Odessa Township with his wife, Mary, who was born in January 1874, in Ohio. Her mother was born in Pennsylvania and her father born in Ohio. There were no children listed in the household, although the census indicated that they had been married six years, and that Mary was the mother of one living child.

Franklin's occupation was listed as carpenter. He and his wife divorced prior to 1910. At the time of that census, Franklin was living in Woodland, Barry County with his widowed mother and his sister, Gertrude, along with a 14 year old Forrest Smith. It appears that Forrest was his one. At the time of the 1920 census, he and his sister Gertrude were still living together in Woodland. Forrest appeared to be living with his mother in in Grand Rapids.

News items from Lake Odessa Wave newspaper 3-06-1930 - Woodland - Mrs. William Snyder of Blanchard is helping care for her brother, Frank Smith, who is ill.

Liber C, page 242: SMITH, Frank W. died 3-8-1930 in the village of Woodland, MI, of a cerebral hemmorhage. He was 66 years, 10 mo, 20 days of age, a carpenter. He was a divorced widower. His parents were given as Morris SMITH of NY and Cynthia CARLETON of ME.

(Email from LaVonne Bennett on 14 Feb 2001 detailing the results of her visit to the Barry County Courthouse in Hastings, Michigan).

It is POSSIBLE that he remarried before he died, as LaVonne Bennett found the following:

I ran across this today while looking for a client's newspaper obits: "THE LAKE ODESSA WAVE, MI, Thursday, December 6, 1928, front page: "MRS. FRANK SMITH PASSES - Mrs. Frank E. Smith of near Woodbury died last Sunday morning after a long illness. The funeral was held Tuesday at two o'clock at the Lutheran church. Burial was at Lake Side cemetery. Mrs. Smith was a sister-in-law of Mrs. Levi Deeg of this village."

(Email from LaVonne Bennett on 26 April 2001)

(Research):Census Listings:

1920 Federal Census
Michigan, Barry County, Woodland Twp, District 64
North Main Street
13-13
SMITH, Frank E Head O M W 56 D New York New York Maine Carp
enter House
SMITH, Gertrude A Sister F W 47 S Mich New York Maine Correspondent Newspaper

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sept. 29, 1881 Ionia Sentinel

Odessa-This Monday morning Miss Edith Smith, living half a mile south of the Center, was burned in a frightful manner. It seems some meat had been left in the oven over night, and not knowing or thinking of it, she was getting breakfast with the oven shut up. Smelling something, she opened the door, and the flames burst out, striking her so as to burn all the upper portion of her dress entirely off. Her arms, hands, face and hair also suffered severely. She had been away all the season at work and had just came home on account of the illness of her mother. (Courtesy of John R. Waite jrwgen@mvcc.com) LaVonne Bennett notes this might have been another Edith Smith, as she has in her files an Edith Smith Ousterhout born 1861)

LaVonne Bennett found both this snippet of news in the Lake Odessa Wave newspaper:

March 6, 1930 - Woodland - Mrs. William Snyder of Blanchard is helping care for her brother, Frank Smith, who is ill. (Blanchard is in Isabella County. According to census records, Edith Smith and her husband William Snyder lived in Rolland Township, Isabella County, for many years).

Edith married William A. Snyder about 1884 in Michigan. William was born in Jan 1863 in Indiana; died after 1930. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lake Odessa Wave newspaper 3-27-1930 - Woodland - Forrest Smith of Grand Rapids spent the past week with his aunt Miss Gertie Smith.

(Research):Census Listings:

1920 Federal Census
Michigan, Barry County, Woodland Twp, District 64
North Main Street
13-13
SMITH, Frank E Head O M W 56 D New York New York Maine Carp
enter House
SMITH, Gertrude A Sister F W 47 S Mich New York Maine Correspondent Newspaper

1930 Federal Census
Michigan, Barry County, Woodland Twp, District 24
14-14
SMITH, Gertrude Head O 1500 R F W 56 S Mich NY Me Laundress

Notes:

LaVonne Bennett found this snippet of news in the Lake Odessa Wave newspapers:

March 27, 1930 - Woodland - Forrest Smith of Grand Rapids spent the past week with his aunt Miss Gertie Smith.

This appears to be Forrest, living with his mother and stepfather, at the time of the 1920 Federal Census.

Michigan, Kent, Grand Rapids Dist 76 1232 Sherman Street #63-65
ROSZEL, Orrin E Head O M M W 52 M Mich Canada/Eng Canada/Eng RR Baggage
ROSZEL, Kate M(ary?) Wife F W 42 M Ohio PA PA
SMITH, Forrest H Step-son M W 24 M Mi Unknown Oh Electrician
SMITH, Myrtle step Dtr-in-law F W 25 M Illinois Canada/Eng Iowa
SMITH, Marie Granddaughter F W 7 S Illinois Mi Ohio
RYDER, Richard R Boarder M W 37 S New York Ireland France Trimmer Musical Instruments

This was the listing for the ROSZEL family of Grand Rapids ten years earlier, at the time of the 1910 Census. Forrest SMITH was not in the ROSZEL home at the time of the 1910 census, he was instead listed in home of his father, Franklin Smith of Barry County.

Michigan, Kent, Grand Rapids, District 99 228 South Jefferson
ROSZEL, Orin E Head M W 43 M2 4 Mi US US Yardman Furniture Factory
ROSZEL, Katie Wife F 2 34 M2 4 1/1 Ohio Ohio Ohio
HOFMASTER, Frank Lodger Mich Oh PA Foreman Railroad Yard
RIDER, Richard Lodger NY Ma Ma Ma Engineer Railroad

There were several Forrest Smith's approximately the same age as Franklin's son, all with Social Security cards issued in Michigan, on the SSDI at Rootsweb. After ordering the actual Forms SS-5, none of those listed appear to fit into this family.

(1) Forrest Allan Smith, born 27 November 1897 in Waterloo, DeKalb County, Indiana to Charles H. SMITH and Millie ALLAN. He was married to Catherine Margaret GILLIES.

(2) Forrest Allen Smith born 28 April 1892 in Dayton, Ohio to Alonzo SMITH and Mary Ann SCHAFER.

(3) Forrest DeWitt Smith, born 21 August 1899 in Shay, Washington Co, Ohio, to Cuyler Charles SMITH and Sarah Bell McABEE.

Notes:

Rolland Township Death and Burials:
Snyder Vernon Franklin 9-11-1884 5/20/1940* Pine River
Snyder Elton 11/30/1911 3/26/1913

Pine River Cemetery Records (also known as Rolland Township, Blanchard Road)
Snyder Carobelle 66 12/31/1953 4 1 22 I
Vernon Snyder Vernon Franklin 55 5/23/1940* 2 1 22 I
Snyder Kenneth E. 39 11/19/1947 3 1 22 I
Vernon Snyder Elton 1 1 22 I Vernon

*Three day discrepency in death date noted

(Research):
Census Listings:

1910 Census
Michigan, Isabella County, Rolland Twp, Dist 99
SNYDER, Vern 25 M1 2 Mich Oh Mi Farmer
SNYDER, Carria 22 M1 2 2/2 Mich Mich Mich
SNYDER, Kenneth L 2 Mich Mich Mich
SNYDER, Bernice G 2/12 Mich Mich Mich

1920 Census
Michigan, Isabella County, Rolland Twp, Dist 212
SNYDER, Vern M W 35 M Mich Ind Mich Farmer
SNYDER, Cara F W 33 M MIch Mich Mich
SNYDER, Kenneth M W 12 S Mich Mich Mich
SNYDER, Berniece F W 9 S Mich Mich Mich

1930 Census
Michigan, Isabella County, Rolland Twp
SNYDER, Vernon F 45 Mich US US Farmer
SNYDER, Caro B 43 Mich Mich Mich
SNYDER, Kenneth 22 Mich Mich Mich Laborer Road Building

Vernon married Carobelle "Cora" McLean on 19 Oct 1907 in Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan. Carobelle was born about 1887 in Michigan; died on 31 Dec 1953 in Rolland, Isabella County, Michigan; was buried in Pine River Cemetery, Blanchard, Isabella County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

I was not able to locate Fred on either the 1910 or 1920 census. There was a Fred or about the right age living in Barry County in 1920, married to a Floy. It could be that Fred moved to Barry, as he did have cousins in that area.

There is a listing that might be him in 1930 in Isabella County. If this is him, he was not likely the same Fred that lived in Barry County in 1920.

1930 Census Michigan, Isabella County, Nottawa Twp SNYDER, Fred Head R 10 M W 43 M 21 Mich Mich Mich Cook SNYDER, Illma Wife F W 42 M 21 Mich Oh Mich Saleslady SNYDER, Leslie W Son 12 S Mich Mich Mich

Notes:

1920 Federal Census Michigan, Isabella County, Rolland Twp, Dist 212 SNYDER, Lawrence Head M W 23 Mich Pa US Occupation None The above listing MIGHT be for a different person, as Lawrence is also listed with his parents in 1920. The places of birth of his parents are also off.

1930 Federal Census Michigan, Isabella County, Rolland Twp, Dist 17 SNYDER, Lawrence Head 34 M 24 Postmaster Government Mich US Mich SNYDER, Lelah M Wife 28 M 18 Mich Mich Mich SNYDER, Dondea M Dau 8 Mich Mich Mich SNYDER, Laurence A Son 7 Mich Mich Mich

There is a record of an obituary for the son of L.W. Snyder who died January 2, 1924 in the Mt. Pleasant Times, dated January 10, 1924 on page 8, column 4. Buried in Pine River cemetery there is a Richard Eugene SNYDER, born 9-29-1923 and died January 4, 1924. Appears to be the same person, and a son of Lawrence and Lelah. Was he perhaps a twin of Lawrence, who also appears to have been born in 1923?

Pine River Cemetery Records: Snyder Lawrence 77 9/24/1973 3 2 51 I Snyder Lelah Mae 36 1/10/1938 2 2 51 I Lawrence Snyder Mildred 63 5/8/1969 3 2 51 I Lawrence Snyder Richard 3 mos. 1/6/1924 1 2 51 I Lawrence

Laurence married Lelah Mae Olger on 4 May 1920 in Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan. Lelah was born about 1902 in Michigan; died on 10 Jan 1938. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

WILLIAM SNYDER 16 Mar 1898 Jul 1982 49310 (Blanchard, Isabella, MI) (none specified) 375-34-3557 Michigan

Pine River Cemtery Records: Snyder William M. 84 7/22/1982 2 82 III

(Research):Married to Fannie deAlbra Foster.

Notes:

11-20-1947 ISABELLA COUNTY TIMES-NEWS, MI; front page: "BLANCHARD MAN IS GUN VICTIM - Killed While Hunting in Mecosta County - With the 1947 deer hunting season only a week old, at least 20 persons had died from gunshots or other causes. One of the victims was Kenneth E. Snyder of Chippewa Lake, well known in Isabella County.
Snyder, whose home is near Blanchard, was killed instantly Saturday when struck by a shotgun slug, fired by another hunter who mistook the victim for a deer. Officers said Snyder was only 10 feet away from the hunter who fired the fatal charge.

4)11-27-1947 ISABELLA COUNTY TIMES-NEWS, MI: "OBITUARY - Kenneth Snyder, 39, died November 15, 1947. He was accidentally killed while hunting.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, November 19, from the Pine River church with burial at the Pine River cemetery.
Mr. Snyder was born November 29, 1907, the son of Carobell McLean and Vernon F. Snyder. His father preceded him in death May 20, 1940. He received his education in the grade and Blanchard high school. He graduated from Greer college, Chicago.
In September of 1942, he enlisted in the Engineers' Maintenance company, serving as a 3rd technical sereant in World War II in seven countries. He was married to Marie Smith of Chippewa Lake April 12, 1943.
Mr. Snyder was employed by the Earl Equipment Company of Detroit as a Diesel Engineer, covering Michigan.
He was affiliated with the Pleasant View Masonic lodge 487 as a Master Mason and was a member of American Legion, Guy Stanton post 240.
Surviving is his wife, his mother, one sister, Mrs. Berece Boyer of Blanchard, and a step-daughter Jean Marie Smith of Chippewa Lake. (Both courtesy LaVonne Bennett).

His Memorial page at FindAGrave has a photo of his military marker, sevice info inscribed as TEC 3 1468 ENGR MAINT CO WORLD WAR II

Kenneth married Marie Smith on 12 Apr 1943. Marie was born before 1923; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Bernice married Gerald Boyer on 4 May 1929 in Michigan. Gerald was born on 22 Jan 1906 in Latty Township, Paulding County, Ohio; died in Jan 1978 in Isabella County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1-10-1924 MT. PLEASANT TIMES, MI; page 6: "Rolland Center - Our community extends their sympathy to our postmaster, Laurence Snyder and wife because of the death of their baby, Richard, aged three months and one week. He was as well as could be in the evening and the next morning Mrs. Snyder found him dead. He is indeed an angel gone to await his loved ones in the better world." (Courtesy of LaVonne Bennett).