In a letter from the Great-Granddaughter of Hugh Smith Ruth Louise (nee Smith) Gordon) to her Sister Jean Neva ( nee Smith) Weaver from 1963, the following biographical data was obtained:
“Smythe now Smith”
The Smythe’s were Linen weavers in Belfast, Ireland. They had a large factory there. They also were large land owners. One day the Catholic Church confiscated a lot of their land. The Smythe’s were Catholics. In those days the Catholic Church had the right to take anything they wanted without paying for it. This made two of the Smythe brothers very angry so they left the Catholic Church and came to this country. This would be your Great Grandfather whose name was Hugh. He married Esther Selfridge. She was a descendant of the the Hessions who were hired from Germany during the Revolutionary to fight for the Americans.
Your Great-Grandfather Smythe settled in the city of Chicago. There were Indians on the warparth. The soldiers told him to take his wife to a safe place. They took everything they could but hid an old trunk in some bushes. When they came back the trunk was gone along with the deed to their property. Anyway, they finally settled in Marion Co. Illinois, and became farmers.
Hugh and Esther Smythe (Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother) had three children, two boys and a girl*. Remember Uncle Henry? He was one of them. John Neal Smith was on son and as you know your Grandfather. He was a carpenter when Grandmother Smith met him (Juliette Maley). They were married in Stanwood Iowa on April 7, 1870. They had 11 children, including 2 sets of twins. I think they farmed in Stanwood Iowa.
(The letter continues but does not relate to Hugh and/or Esther)
*It is also known that Hugh and Ester had at least one more child. The 1850 Federal Census lists him as "Hugh" and he was 12 years of age. The 1856 Iowa Census does not list him but he would have been 18 years of Age and would have likely moved-on. Maybe the "Henry" noted in the above bio might have been a Nick-Name for Hugh. (to be continued...)
In a letter from the Great-Granddaughter of Hugh Smith Ruth Louise (nee Smith) Gordon) to her Sister Jean Neva ( nee Smith) Weaver from 1963, the following biographical data was obtained:
“Smythe now Smith”
The Smythe’s were Linen weavers in Belfast, Ireland. They had a large factory there. They also were large land owners. One day the Catholic Church confiscated a lot of their land. The Smythe’s were Catholics. In those days the Catholic Church had the right to take anything they wanted without paying for it. This made two of the Smythe brothers very angry so they left the Catholic Church and came to this country. This would be your Great Grandfather whose name was Hugh. He married Esther Selfridge. She was a descendant of the the Hessions who were hired from Germany during the Revolutionary to fight for the Americans.
Your Great-Grandfather Smythe settled in the city of Chicago. There were Indians on the warparth. The soldiers told him to take his wife to a safe place. They took everything they could but hid an old trunk in some bushes. When they came back the trunk was gone along with the deed to their property. Anyway, they finally settled in Marion Co. Illinois, and became farmers.
Hugh and Esther Smythe (Great-Grandfather and Great-Grandmother) had three children, two boys and a girl*. Remember Uncle Henry? He was one of them. John Neal Smith was on son and as you know your Grandfather. He was a carpenter when Grandmother Smith met him (Juliette Maley). They were married in Stanwood Iowa on April 7, 1870. They had 11 children, including 2 sets of twins. I think they farmed in Stanwood Iowa.
(The letter continues but does not relate to Hugh and/or Esther)
*It is also known that Hugh and Ester had at least one more child. The 1850 Federal Census lists him as "Hugh" and he was 12 years of age. The 1856 Iowa Census does not list him but he would have been 18 years of Age and would have likely moved-on. Maybe the "Henry" noted in the above bio might have been a Nick-Name for Hugh. (to be continued...)
