New member introducing myself

Question

Hello! I'm slowly familiarizing myself with WikiTree, although adding the sources to my tree in the proper format is a little confusing. I'm still a novice to genealogy in general.

My brick wall is Benoni Richard Smith (b. 1840 in Tennessee, d. 1928 in Kansas) and his parents, Sterling Wainbush Smith and ?Elizabeth Beasley, both born in Virginia.  According to FTDNA's Big Y-700, there is a strong DNA connection from our Smith branch to a Stone family in the 1700s-early 1800s (perhaps an adoption or an NPE?).  Also, I have discovered that I have distant Black cousins, with our most common recent ancestor possibly in the mid 1700s.  

I'm determined to find some answers, or at the very least some clues!

Answer 1

Hi Stacy!  Welcome to WikiTree.  The information is on Family Search:  The profile number is KN4V-3R8

WikiTree will teach you, for free, like they taught me!

Benoni Richard Smith (1840–1928) • Person • Family Tree • FamilySearch

When Benoni Richard Smith was born on 12 September 1840, in Tennessee, United States, his father, Sterling Wainbush Smith, was 40 and his mother, Martha Francis Beazley, was 32. He married Marilla Cowles on 29 December 1870, in Girard, Crawford, Kansas, United States. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in El Dorado Township, Butler, Kansas, United States in 1900 and El Dorado, Butler, Kansas, United States in 1910. He died on 9 December 1928, in Crawford Township, Crawford, Kansas, United States, at the age of 88, and was buried in El Dorado, Butler, Kansas, United States.

Benoni Richard Smith

Male12 September 1840 – 9 December 1928

 •KN4V-3R8

Spouse: Marilla Cowles

Female28 February 1849 – 22 March 1929 •L55J-WMP

Comments

Thanks, David.  I do have an account on Family Search.  Unfortunately, the information is only as good as its sources, and I have yet to see any documentation on Sterling Wainbush Smith's wife's name.  Their son William's death certificate lists it as Elizabeth Beazley.  Many people's trees show Martha Francis Beazley but no official references; they also show birth and death dates but, again, no documentation.  I will keep looking, though!

Answer 2

Hi Stacy...it's me again. Benoni was a little more difficult to find on Find A Grave:

WikiTree has powerful search apps. They are free to download and use.  In this case, since Benoni Richard Smith didn't have a profile, the Sourcer app didn't help me.  Benoni's Find A Grave Memorial was not attached to his family.  When you add Benoni Richard Smith, you will be asked for sources.  The Find A Grave "Source" is next to the "Memorial ID 115750880 View Source click on "View Source"  This is what you want to ad as a source:

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115750880/benoni-richard-smith: accessed 30 December 2023), memorial page for Benoni Richard Smith (Sep 1840–Dec 1928), Find a Grave Memorial ID 115750880, citing Sunset Lawns Cemetery, El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas, USA; Maintained by Judy Mayfield (contributor 46636512).

Go to my profile page:  Contents: 1.11 WikiTree Apps  I have links and descriptions to the Apps WikiTree offers.  There are two that you will want.  Browser and Sourcer

But for now you want Sourcer!  Download it and if you need help come back to the forum for help.  

Benoni Richard Smith

BIRTH

Sep 1840

DEATH

Dec 1928 (aged 88)

BURIAL

Sunset Lawns Cemetery

El Dorado, Butler County, Kansas, USA Add to Map

PLOT

Section: SS Lot: 995 Space: 5 Burial Date:

MEMORIAL ID

115750880 · View Source