David Devier Smith (1863 - 1920)

Born 15 Oct 1863 in Rolling Prairie, Dodge, Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Died 2 Feb 1920 at age 56 in San Diego, San Diego, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Randy Seaver [send private message]

Biography

David Devier Smith was born on October 15, 1863 in Rolling Prairie, Dodge, Wisconsin, United States, son of Devier James Smith (1839–1894) and Abigail A. Vaux (1844–1931).

David died on February 2, 1920 in San Diego, San Diego, California, United States, aged 56.

Research Notes

David Devier Smith, known as Davie and D.D., owned and ran the Blue Front Livery Stable in McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska in the time period 1888-1897.

A letter from David D. Smith in McCook to his mother, Abigail (Vaux) Smith in National City in June 1889 noted that he had married a woman named Leava on 20 May 1889 in McCook, and that Leava's family resided in Jefferson County, Colorado at the time. David and Leava had one daughter, Eva Etta Smith, born 6 May 1890 in McCook, Nebraska.

David and Leava (--?--) Smith divorced in about 1895, probably in McCook, Nebraska. D.D. Smith's Livery is still shown on the 1897 Sanborn Map for McCook, Nebraska.

He moved to San Diego before 1902, and lived in or near downtown San Diego between 1903 and 1909, according to the San Diego City Directories, and was listed as a driver for several hack companies.

After he moved to San Diego, David D. Smith married Amy Ashdown, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Ashdown. The San Diego County Marriage Index (on the shelf at the Carlsbad Cole Library) on microfiche lists their marriage date as 25 May 1908, although their daughter Maybelle was born in 1902.

David D. Smith was not found in the 1900 United States census, despite concerted efforts using different given names (e.g., Dav*, Dev* and D.) and birth year and birth state in the every-name index on www.ancestry.com.

In the 1910 United States census, this family resided at 1431 Union Street in San Diego city, San Diego County, California (1910 United States Census population schedule, California, San Diego County, Enumeration district 147, Page 2A, Line 6, David E. Smith household, Roll 94, National Archives Microform Series T624). The household included:

• David E. Smith - head, male, white, age 46, first marriage, married 9 years, born WI, parents born NY/NY, a wharfman, works for steamship company, owns home with a mortgage.

* Emma Smith - wife, female, white, age 32, first marriage, married 9 years, 1 child born, 1 living, born CA, parents born England/England.

* Mabelle Smith - daughter, female, white, single, born CA, parents born WI/CA.

* Thomas Ashcomb - father-in-law, male, white, age 63, widowed, born England, parents born England/England, no occupation.

* Mary Cramer - sister, female, white, divorced, 0 children born, born WI, parents born NY/NY, nurse.

In the 1920 United States census (taken as of 1 January 1920), this family resided at 2803 Imperial Avenue in San Diego city, San Diego County, California (1920 United States Census population schedule, California, San Diego County, Enumeration district 332, Page 1B, Line 85, David D. Smith household, Roll 132, National Archives Microform Series T625). The household included:

* David D. Smith - head, male, white, age 55, married, born IA, parents born US/US, a chauffeur, unemployed, owns home with a mortgage.

* Amy A. Smith - wife, female, white, age 42, married, born CA, parents born England/England.

* Maybelle C. Smith - daughter, female, white, age 17, single, born CA, parents born IA/CA, an apprentice, works in clock shop.

David D. Smith died 2 February 1920 in San Diego. His obituary provides the only clues of his family, listing his mother Mrs. D.J. Smith, his sisters Mrs. Della Carringer of San Diego and Mrs. Matie Cramer of Portland, Oregon, his wife Amy A. Smith, and his two daughters, Mrs. Howard DeFrance and Miss Mabelle Smith.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDKM-F9N : Tue Mar 05 07:13:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Devier Smith and Abbie Smith, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF5N-76T : Sun Mar 10 00:34:56 UTC 2024), Entry for D. J. Smith and Abba A. Smith, 1880.
• "United States Census, 1920", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHWX-DM1 : Thu Mar 07 21:41:26 UTC 2024), Entry for David D Smith and Amy A Smith, 1920.
• "California Death Index, 1905-1939", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKSM-DLTF : Sun Mar 10 08:04:59 UTC 2024), Entry for David D Smith, 01 Feb 1920.
• "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPBH-VMVR : Thu Mar 14 20:51:49 UTC 2024), Entry for David D Smith and Amy A Smith, 03 Feb 1920.

Acknowledgments

• This profile was created through the import of randys ancestors-10generations.ged on 10 March 2011.