William learned farming from his father and was accomplished with lumber. William and Elisabeth removed to Cardington, Morrow County, Ohio where he purchased 80 acres and built a farm house.



WILLIAM AND ELIZABETH SMITH HOME NORTH OF CARDINGTON

They lived and worked there until their retirement when they moved into town. The farm stayed in the Smith family for 138 years.
To them were born twelve children, from which was added twenty-eight grandchildren, and thirty-one great-grandchildren up to1900.

Elisabeth and William’s Children

Cynthia Smith – Born January 10, 1832 and died April 17, 1911.
“Little” Sarah Smith – Born September 28, 1833. She died December 11, 1836. Interred at Ingle Cemetery, Ohio.
Finley McGrew Smith – Born February 11, 1836 and died September 30, 1910.
Thomas Newton Smith – Born May 31, 1838 and died in 1884.
These four were born in Guernsey County, Ohio.

Mary Francis Smith – Born July 11, 1840.
Julia Ann Smith – Born August 25, 1842. Julia died August 22, 1923.
John Britton Smith – Born January 1, 1845 and died December 30, 1924.
Augustus Nehemiah Smith – Born April 24, 1847. He died May 2, 1868 and is interred at Bethel Cemetery, Ohio.
Emily Isabell Smith – Born October 17, 1849 and died December 10, 1929 and is buried in Mt. Gilead.
Leander William Smith – Born May 14, 1852 and died January 21, 1937.
Henry Clifford Smith – Born December 4, 1856 and died July 7, 1941.
Olive Elizabeth Smith – Born May 26, 1861 and died June 5, 1922.
These last eight were born in Cardington, Morrow County, Ohio at the farm house.

Following are pictures of some of the children in later years.



FINLEY MCGREW SMITH



JOHN BRITTON SMITH



MARY FRANCIS SMITH FARLEY (THEN RICHARDSON), JULIA ANN SMITH COLLINS, EMILY ISABEL SMITH KINGMAN, AND OLIVE ELIZABETH SMITH JAMES

William was active in a lodge, possibly Masons or Odd Fellows.



WILLIAM SMITH (ODD FELLOWS?)
Taken October 13, 1868

William Smith died August 12, 1884 (74 years, 11 months and 8 days). Interred at Bethel Cemetery, Cardington, Ohio.

ELISABETH SPECK SMITH

Elisabeth was Olive Elizabeth Smith James’ mother and my Great-Great-Grandmother.
She was born to Augustus and Sarah Reed Speck on October 8, 1813 near Freeport, Ohio.



WILLIAM, OLIVE, AND ELISABETH SMITH
Picture taken by J. B. Clark, photographer, Cardington, Ohio, January 3, 1870.
Olive would have been nine years old.

My mother, Hazel wrote this note: These were my “greats” but I always heard mom (Grandma Russell) call them:
Aunt Cynthia: I remember her. She lived first house on left after we crossed railroad track (going north on North Marion Street) when mama pulled my sled and me up railroad hill. Aunt Cynthia kept cookie jar on low cupboard shelf where I could reach.
Aunt Frant (Mary Francis) – Havensville, Kansas.
Aunt Jule (Julia Ann). Her granddaughter Hazel McKee.
Aunt Bell (Emily Isabel) always wore a wig, looked funny.
Uncle Lan – Leander William
Uncle Cliff (Henry Clifford) – His wife, Aunt Cal, gave me the Majolica Owl. (I now have this owl. I can remember Aunt Cal and Uncle Cliff and remember going to their house. jdw.)
Uncle Fin (Finley McGrew)
Uncle John (John Britton – I remember him. We visited in Cleveland.



AUNT CAL SMITH HOLDING JEAN CAMPBELL WINCHELL AND UNCLE CLIFF SMITH



UNCLE CLIFF AND AUNT CAL SMITH (HOLDING JEAN CAMPBELL WINCHELL), GRANDMA NELLIE AND GRANDPA LENNIE RUSSELL
Taken on Jean’s 2nd birthday, September 1, 1932.

Elisabeth was active in the church and was known for her beautiful singing voice at church as well as at home.



ELISABETH SPECK SMITH



ELISABETH SPECK SMITH
J. B. Clark photographer. October 13, 1866
She was known to sing in this seated position.

Another of Hazel’s notes: Great-Grandma Speck Smith always rocked and sang. Grandma Nellie D. James Russell remembered her rocking and singing. The 12 sons and daughters all sang. They were a singing family. Welsh singers (I don’t know why she wrote Welsh. We know that the Speck’s were German.)

Another note: Grandma Elisabeth Speck Smith was so devilish, full of fun and sing! How she could sing!

Elisabeth and William celebrated their Golden Wedding, on Thursday, January 11, 1881, at their home on North Marion St., Cardington, Ohio. They had no expectation when the day dawned, other than to have a quiet celebration by themselves, but on the morning train their children arrived unexpectedly, and there sat down to the wedding dinner, which the visitors had thoughtfully prepared. Eight of the nine children left to them was present, of these, two came from Kansas, Mary F., and Julia, John B. Smith, from Huron County, Leander from Guernsey County, Ohio, and four, Cynthia, Bell, Clifford and Ollie (Olive Elizabeth) are residents of Morrow County, Ohio.
Those present at the anniversary were Cynthia Farlee, Mary F. Farley, Julia A. Collins, John B. Smith, Emily I. Kingman, Leander W. Smith, Henry C. Smith and Ollie E. James. All of the children were present except Finley Smith.
The fiftieth Wedding Anniversary of this worthy couple will be to them a memorable occasion because of the happy surprise and joyful reunion it brought to them. No happier family ever gathered around a festal board. May they all live to be reunited in the near future. Cardington, Oh, January 13, 1881.

OBITUARY OF ELISABETH SPECK SMITH

Elizabeth Speck was born Oct., 8th, 1813, in Guernsey County, O., and died March 31st, 1898, aged 84 years, 5 months, and 23 days. She was the third child of a family of eleven children that were born to Augustus and Sarah (Reed) Speck. Her grandfather, Godfrey Speck, was born in Saxony, Germany, and immigrated to America to escape impressments into the German army to fight in the wars of Napoleon. (Jean note: This is not what it says in the Speck Book).
She was married to William Smith Jan. 13, 1831. To this union was born twelve children, nine of whom survive her. Besides her own children she leaves twenty-seven grandchildren and thirty-one great grandchildren.
She with her husband moved to Morrow County (then Marion) in 1839, where they endured all the trials subject to pioneer life, but lived to realize the promise that the desert shall bloom as the rose. Her companion died Aug. 12th, 1883, they having shared life’s joys and sorrows together fifty-four years.
She was converted and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in Guernsey County at the age of ten years, and was transferred by letter to the Bethel M. E. Church of Morrow County in 1839. Thus she has lived a faithful Christian sixty-seven years, nearly sixty years of her membership being in Bethel church.
She was a devoted wife and kind mother, loved and was beloved in return by her children, and all who knew her. For some months back her mind and body on account of her great age had been gradually failing, and on Thursday, very early in the morning, her spirit winged its flight to that great beyond.
The funeral was held at Bethel Church at 11 A. M. Saturday, conducted by her pastor, M. T. Ayers. Text, Rev.14th, 13th.

We would not call thee back, but greetings send
From hearts resigned yet sincere,
We know thy dear voice will forever
blend
In sweetest songs of triumph there.

The children of the late Elizabeth Smith return their sincere thanks to all the neighbors and friends who so kindly assisted during the sickness and burial of their mother.