Wiley, my maternal great-grandfather, was a son of Alexander and Lourana Emory Smith who were married on December 31, 1835 in Jackson Co., TN by Richard Alcorn, a Minister of the Gospel in Jackson Co., TN. (Richard Alcorn was a brother of my paternal ggg-grandfather, Robert Alcorn).
Wiley was named after an uncle, Wiley W. Harris, but I have never discovered what the middle initial "W" stands for. He had 4 siblings: Louisa Smith Hargate, James Alexander Smith, Martha E. Smith Smith, and Rice Ross Smith.
He served in the Civil War as a private in the Union Army in the 87th Illinois Infantry, Co. F out of Carmi, White Co., IL.
After he was discharged, he married his first wife, Emily Ann Austin, on August 21, 1865 in White County, IL and moved to Missouri, eventually settling in Van Buren, Carter Co., MO. They had no children, although they raised Wiley's brother, James, 2 orphaned children, Samantha Jane Smith Wright and James Alfred Smith.
Emily passed away in 1900 and on May 31, 1902, Wiley married Julia Ann McClary in Van Buren. They had two children, Wiley, Jr. (1903-1973) and Jettie Alice (b. between 1905-1907 and d. 1916). Uncle Jimmy said he remembers his dad, Wiley, Jr., telling him he learned to swim by being tossed into the Current River in Van Buren by his dad who immediately jumped in behind him to make sure he was safe.
Great-Grandpa Wiley was a photographer in the late 1890s (how I wish our family had any of those photos) and was also in the butchering business, owning a butcher shop for several years in Van Buren called "City Meat Market".
His obituary appeared in the 3-27-1913 edition of The Current Local, Van Buren, Carter Co., MO, on page 4 (used with permission) (this article was regarding his death on March 22, 1913).
"W.W. Smith, one of our aged and respected citizens, passed away Saturday evening, his ailment being pneumonia fever, with slight complications, perhaps, which, together with his advanced years, proved too much for him. He had been ill but a short time, comparatively, and for a few days seemed to be improving. His advancement toward health again was very slight and he had gone beyond recovery.
The remains were interred Sunday afternoon in the town cemetery, in the presence of a large number of people. Mr. Smith was one of the oldest residents of Van Buren and was known over a large portion of the country, where his death will be greatly deplored.
He was an old soldier, having served in the Union army in the Civil War, and had practically retired from any sort of business, living upon his pension and the income from his property on the east side of town. He leaves a sister and a small son here in town, and numerous relatives elsewhere, and a large number of friends and acquaintances. These relatives, and especially the orphaned son, have the sympathy of the whole community."
Wiley was named after an uncle, Wiley W. Harris, but I have never discovered what the middle initial "W" stands for. He had 4 siblings: Louisa Smith Hargate, James Alexander Smith, Martha E. Smith Smith, and Rice Ross Smith.
He served in the Civil War as a private in the Union Army in the 87th Illinois Infantry, Co. F out of Carmi, White Co., IL.
After he was discharged, he married his first wife, Emily Ann Austin, on August 21, 1865 in White County, IL and moved to Missouri, eventually settling in Van Buren, Carter Co., MO. They had no children, although they raised Wiley's brother, James, 2 orphaned children, Samantha Jane Smith Wright and James Alfred Smith.
Emily passed away in 1900 and on May 31, 1902, Wiley married Julia Ann McClary in Van Buren. They had two children, Wiley, Jr. (1903-1973) and Jettie Alice (b. between 1905-1907 and d. 1916). Uncle Jimmy said he remembers his dad, Wiley, Jr., telling him he learned to swim by being tossed into the Current River in Van Buren by his dad who immediately jumped in behind him to make sure he was safe.
Great-Grandpa Wiley was a photographer in the late 1890s (how I wish our family had any of those photos) and was also in the butchering business, owning a butcher shop for several years in Van Buren called "City Meat Market".
His obituary appeared in the 3-27-1913 edition of The Current Local, Van Buren, Carter Co., MO, on page 4 (used with permission) (this article was regarding his death on March 22, 1913).
"W.W. Smith, one of our aged and respected citizens, passed away Saturday evening, his ailment being pneumonia fever, with slight complications, perhaps, which, together with his advanced years, proved too much for him. He had been ill but a short time, comparatively, and for a few days seemed to be improving. His advancement toward health again was very slight and he had gone beyond recovery.
The remains were interred Sunday afternoon in the town cemetery, in the presence of a large number of people. Mr. Smith was one of the oldest residents of Van Buren and was known over a large portion of the country, where his death will be greatly deplored.
He was an old soldier, having served in the Union army in the Civil War, and had practically retired from any sort of business, living upon his pension and the income from his property on the east side of town. He leaves a sister and a small son here in town, and numerous relatives elsewhere, and a large number of friends and acquaintances. These relatives, and especially the orphaned son, have the sympathy of the whole community."
Wiley, my maternal great-grandfather, was a son of Alexander and Lourana Emory Smith who were married on December 31, 1835 in Jackson Co., TN by Richard Alcorn, a Minister of the Gospel in Jackson Co., TN. (Richard Alcorn was a brother of my paternal ggg-grandfather, Robert Alcorn).
Wiley was named after an uncle, Wiley W. Harris, but I have never discovered what the middle initial "W" stands for. He had 4 siblings: Louisa Smith Hargate, James Alexander Smith, Martha E. Smith Smith, and Rice Ross Smith.
He served in the Civil War as a private in the Union Army in the 87th Illinois Infantry, Co. F out of Carmi, White Co., IL.
After he was discharged, he married his first wife, Emily Ann Austin, on August 21, 1865 in White County, IL and moved to Missouri, eventually settling in Van Buren, Carter Co., MO. They had no children, although they raised Wiley's brother, James, 2 orphaned children, Samantha Jane Smith Wright and James Alfred Smith.
Emily passed away in 1900 and on May 31, 1902, Wiley married Julia Ann McClary in Van Buren. They had two children, Wiley, Jr. (1903-1973) and Jettie Alice (b. between 1905-1907 and d. 1916). Uncle Jimmy said he remembers his dad, Wiley, Jr., telling him he learned to swim by being tossed into the Current River in Van Buren by his dad who immediately jumped in behind him to make sure he was safe.
Great-Grandpa Wiley was a photographer in the late 1890s (how I wish our family had any of those photos) and was also in the butchering business, owning a butcher shop for several years in Van Buren called "City Meat Market".
His obituary appeared in the 3-27-1913 edition of The Current Local, Van Buren, Carter Co., MO, on page 4 (used with permission) (this article was regarding his death on March 22, 1913).
"W.W. Smith, one of our aged and respected citizens, passed away Saturday evening, his ailment being pneumonia fever, with slight complications, perhaps, which, together with his advanced years, proved too much for him. He had been ill but a short time, comparatively, and for a few days seemed to be improving. His advancement toward health again was very slight and he had gone beyond recovery.
The remains were interred Sunday afternoon in the town cemetery, in the presence of a large number of people. Mr. Smith was one of the oldest residents of Van Buren and was known over a large portion of the country, where his death will be greatly deplored.
He was an old soldier, having served in the Union army in the Civil War, and had practically retired from any sort of business, living upon his pension and the income from his property on the east side of town. He leaves a sister and a small son here in town, and numerous relatives elsewhere, and a large number of friends and acquaintances. These relatives, and especially the orphaned son, have the sympathy of the whole community."
Wiley was named after an uncle, Wiley W. Harris, but I have never discovered what the middle initial "W" stands for. He had 4 siblings: Louisa Smith Hargate, James Alexander Smith, Martha E. Smith Smith, and Rice Ross Smith.
He served in the Civil War as a private in the Union Army in the 87th Illinois Infantry, Co. F out of Carmi, White Co., IL.
After he was discharged, he married his first wife, Emily Ann Austin, on August 21, 1865 in White County, IL and moved to Missouri, eventually settling in Van Buren, Carter Co., MO. They had no children, although they raised Wiley's brother, James, 2 orphaned children, Samantha Jane Smith Wright and James Alfred Smith.
Emily passed away in 1900 and on May 31, 1902, Wiley married Julia Ann McClary in Van Buren. They had two children, Wiley, Jr. (1903-1973) and Jettie Alice (b. between 1905-1907 and d. 1916). Uncle Jimmy said he remembers his dad, Wiley, Jr., telling him he learned to swim by being tossed into the Current River in Van Buren by his dad who immediately jumped in behind him to make sure he was safe.
Great-Grandpa Wiley was a photographer in the late 1890s (how I wish our family had any of those photos) and was also in the butchering business, owning a butcher shop for several years in Van Buren called "City Meat Market".
His obituary appeared in the 3-27-1913 edition of The Current Local, Van Buren, Carter Co., MO, on page 4 (used with permission) (this article was regarding his death on March 22, 1913).
"W.W. Smith, one of our aged and respected citizens, passed away Saturday evening, his ailment being pneumonia fever, with slight complications, perhaps, which, together with his advanced years, proved too much for him. He had been ill but a short time, comparatively, and for a few days seemed to be improving. His advancement toward health again was very slight and he had gone beyond recovery.
The remains were interred Sunday afternoon in the town cemetery, in the presence of a large number of people. Mr. Smith was one of the oldest residents of Van Buren and was known over a large portion of the country, where his death will be greatly deplored.
He was an old soldier, having served in the Union army in the Civil War, and had practically retired from any sort of business, living upon his pension and the income from his property on the east side of town. He leaves a sister and a small son here in town, and numerous relatives elsewhere, and a large number of friends and acquaintances. These relatives, and especially the orphaned son, have the sympathy of the whole community."
Inscription
A stone was provided by the Veterans Administration and was placed on Wiley's grave next to his 1st wife, Emily Ann Austin Smith, on 8-9-2018 by the awesome McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, Carter Co., MO.
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