Family Group Sheet
NameWilliam Edward Smedley, Half 1C5R
Birth11 Dec 1865, Putnam Co., Indiana
Death30 May 1942, Rowan Co., Kentucky
BurialSmedley Cemetery, Rowan Co., Ky
FatherSamuel Smedley Jr. (1833-1901)
MotherDelilah Jane Brown (1832-1903)
Marriage29 Jun 1885, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseElizabeth ("Lizzie") Morris
Birth4 May 1866, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death1933, Rowan Co., Kentucky
BurialSmedley Cemetery, Rowan Co., Ky
FatherZachariah Morris (~1827-)
MotherNancy Triplett (~1836-1878)
Children
1 MMelvin Claude Smedley, Half 2C4R
Birth8 Sep 1890, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death12 Jun 1979, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseRebecca “Becky” F. Ginter , 1C3R
2 MSamuel Ollie Smedley, Half 2C4R
Birth3 Feb 1896, Clearfield, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death21 Aug 1988, Morehead, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseLue "Eva" Dehart , 1C2R
3 MJohn Morris Smedley, Half 2C4R
Birth6 Apr 1898, Rowan Co., Kentucky
4 MWilliam Goebel Smedley, Half 2C4R
Birth6 Feb 1900, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseSarah Florence Foster , 3C2R
5 MLinzie B. Smedley, Half 2C4R
Birth6 May 1901, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death3 May 1981, Fayette Co., Kentucky
SpouseLola Baldridge
6 FPeach Smedley (Died as Child), Half 2C4R
Birth10 May 1904, Rowan Co., Kentucky
Death19 Aug 1913, Rowan Co., Kentucky
SpouseIna Susan Dehart , 1C2R
Notes for William Edward Smedley
The 1870 and 1880 census readings where William appears as a child both say that he was born in Kentucky.
But the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses where he appears as a head of household say he was born in Indiana, and the 1930 census listings for his sons Samuel and Andy both say their father was born in Indiana. Since it is unusual to enter an out-of-state birthplace for someone really born in the state, but the converse is quite common, Indiana seems more likely. But certainly he grew up in Rowan Co.
His mother, Delilah Jane Brown, had three sisters, Martha Jane, Sesa and Emily, who all moved to Putnam Co., Indiana with their husbands sometime around 1865. My guess is that so did William’s parents, briefly, but that they moved back to Rowan County before 1870.
His death certificate (Vol. 25, #12446) records Wm E. Smedley, age 76 years 5 months 18 days, born in Putnam Co., Indiana, died 30 May 1942 in Clearfield, Rowan Co., Ky, farmer, married, husband of Myrtie Riddle Smedley, father Samuel Smedley, mother’s maiden name De Brown, birthplaces unknown, cause of death parkinson’s disease, informant Melvin Smedley, burial in Dry Creek Cemetery.
But the 1910, 1920, and 1930 censuses where he appears as a head of household say he was born in Indiana, and the 1930 census listings for his sons Samuel and Andy both say their father was born in Indiana. Since it is unusual to enter an out-of-state birthplace for someone really born in the state, but the converse is quite common, Indiana seems more likely. But certainly he grew up in Rowan Co.
His mother, Delilah Jane Brown, had three sisters, Martha Jane, Sesa and Emily, who all moved to Putnam Co., Indiana with their husbands sometime around 1865. My guess is that so did William’s parents, briefly, but that they moved back to Rowan County before 1870.
His death certificate (Vol. 25, #12446) records Wm E. Smedley, age 76 years 5 months 18 days, born in Putnam Co., Indiana, died 30 May 1942 in Clearfield, Rowan Co., Ky, farmer, married, husband of Myrtie Riddle Smedley, father Samuel Smedley, mother’s maiden name De Brown, birthplaces unknown, cause of death parkinson’s disease, informant Melvin Smedley, burial in Dry Creek Cemetery.
Notes for Elizabeth ("Lizzie") Morris
She may have actually been born in 1865. She was listed in the census as 6 in 1870 and 14 in 1880.
Notes for William Edward & Elizabeth ("Lizzie") (Family)
Rowan Co. Marriage Register A, p. 66, records marriage of William E. Smedly & Lizzie Morris on 29 June 1885.
Census
1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 27 April, lists as family #144/146:
Smedley, William E., 44, Ind Ky Ky; Elizabeth, 43, Ky Ky Ky; married 23 years, mother of 10 children, 9 living; Millvern, son, 19; Samuel, son, 14; John, son, 12; Goebel, son, 10; Linzie B., son, 9; Peachie, dau, 5; Andy, son, 3; Flora, dau, 4. All children are listed as born Ky Ind Ky, except Flora who is listed as born Ky Unknown Unknown. That combined with her being listed out of birth order suggests that she may be adopted.
1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 28 Jan, lists on p. 13A as family #123/126:
Smedley, Wm E., 54, farmer, b. Ind Ky Ky; Elizabeth, wife, 53; Linzy, son, 18; Flora, dau, 14; Andy, son, 12. All but Wm born Ky Ky Ky.
1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Dry Creek precinct, enumerated Apr 17, lists on p. 6B as family #105 (after his sons Sam and Andy):
Smedley, William E., 64, b. Indiana/Ky/Ky, merchant at general store, age at first marriage 16; wife Elizabeth, 64, b. Ky/Ky/Ky, age at first marriage 20.
Smedley, William E., 44, Ind Ky Ky; Elizabeth, 43, Ky Ky Ky; married 23 years, mother of 10 children, 9 living; Millvern, son, 19; Samuel, son, 14; John, son, 12; Goebel, son, 10; Linzie B., son, 9; Peachie, dau, 5; Andy, son, 3; Flora, dau, 4. All children are listed as born Ky Ind Ky, except Flora who is listed as born Ky Unknown Unknown. That combined with her being listed out of birth order suggests that she may be adopted.
1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 28 Jan, lists on p. 13A as family #123/126:
Smedley, Wm E., 54, farmer, b. Ind Ky Ky; Elizabeth, wife, 53; Linzy, son, 18; Flora, dau, 14; Andy, son, 12. All but Wm born Ky Ky Ky.
1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Dry Creek precinct, enumerated Apr 17, lists on p. 6B as family #105 (after his sons Sam and Andy):
Smedley, William E., 64, b. Indiana/Ky/Ky, merchant at general store, age at first marriage 16; wife Elizabeth, 64, b. Ky/Ky/Ky, age at first marriage 20.
