When/Where did my great grandfather die

Question

I have hit a brick wall on finding out when & where my great grandfather died.

He was James B. Smith (Smith-126430) born 19 Mar 1858 in Bollinger Co., MO, the son of John A. and Lucinda (Welsh) Smith, and was married 11 Oct 1885 to Artemesia "Artie" Porter (Porter-11501)

James and Artie lived in Greene County, MO according to the 1900 Census, then Artie was listed as a widow in Okmulgee, OK in the 1910 Census, indicating the he died sometime between the two Census reports.

Various family trees have James dying in Oklahoma on 10 Nov either in 1904 or 1908, but none indicate where in Oklahoma.  Another possibility was a J.B. Smith who died on 10 Nov 1910 in a county neighboring  Okmulgee County...a coincidence on the possible name and the day & month?

 I can use any help I can get on this problem.

EuGene Smith (Smith-56571)

Answer 1

From the FamilySearch Wiki:

Before 1883, no deaths were recorded by the county or state, exceptions being the cities of St. Louis (beginning in 1850) and Kansas City (beginning in 1874). In most cases, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place. In 1883, Missouri law required counties to record deaths, although records are incomplete. The practice continued for ten years and stopped in 1893. Deaths were not recorded for most places in Missouri between 1893 and 1910.

Other sources for death information are Wills, probate, newspaper articles, cemetery records, church records, family bibles. If the family was prominent (or paid for it), there may be biographical sketch in a county history.

Comments

For Oklahoma (same source as above):

Before 1908, no deaths were recorded by the state. A few earlier death records exist as part of the Chickasaw Nation, Creek Nation, and Cherokee Outlet records. Some of these records may be available through the current counties. A few of these records have been microfilmed and are available through FamilySearch Centers and Libraries. Find your local FamilySearch Center.

If you know the approximate date and county where the death took place, use the FamilySearch Catalog to see what is available. 

• Search the FamilySearch Catalog by county.
• Select the topic Vital Records. Look for records authored by the county clerk.
• Some records may have been compiled and published.
• Some microfilms may be available to view at a local Family Search Center.

If the death was not found in the microfilm records, you must search substitute records to locate your ancestor’s death date and place. [As for Missouri, above.]

---

My "approximate" date is somewhere between 5 June 1900 (living in the 1900 Greene Co., MO Census) and 27 April 1910 (wife widowed in the 1910 Okmulgee, OK Census).

I haven't found anything indicating that he died in MO between 5 June and 31 December or in Okmulgee county prior to 27 April 1910.  So far I haven't found any death notice or obit.

He was active in the Odd Fellows and I checked with the state office in both MO and OK, but they couldn't find a record of his death.

Family lore by different persons have James dying in OK on 10 November in either 1904 or 1908 but none give a city or county location