Paul Augustus Smith (1895 - 1976)

Born 10 Jun 1895 in Berwindale, Jordan Township, Clearfield, Pennsylvania, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Apr 1976 at age 80 in Halfmoon Township, Centre, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Morgan Land, Pennsylvania One Place Study.

Paul Augustus Smith was born on 10 Jun 1895 in Berwindale, Jordan township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania.^[1] He was the son of Michael Smith and Mary A. McAlister Smith.

On 14 Jun 1900 (date of the 1900 census), Paul, age 4, lived with his father, Michael, age 48 (born Jul 1851), and his mother, Mary, age 48 (born Dec 1859) in Jordon Township, Clearfield County. His parents had been married 19 years. Mary had eight children, seven of them living. Paul was the youngest children; his older siblings were: Martin, age 18 (bornMay 1882); Catharine, age 15 (born Dec 1884); William, age 13 (born Oct 1887); Simon, age 10 (born Nov 1889); Alexander, age 9 (born Jul 1890); and Mary, age 5 (born Aug 1894). Everyone in the family was born in Jordan Township, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Everyone in the household could read, write, and speak English. Catharine, William, and Simon had attended school seven months in the last year. His father and older brother, Martin, worked as a day laborers. They had not been out of work that year. They owned their house, mortgage free. [His neighbors were John and Martin McAlister and Michael Gilligan.]^[2]

On 18 Apr 1910 (the date of the census), Paul, age 14, lived with his father, age 58, and mother, age 50, in Jordan Township. He lived with four siblings: Catharine, age 26; Simon, age 21; Alexander, age 19; and Mary Ann, age 16. His parents had been married 28 years. It was the first marriage for both of them. His mother, Mary Smith had seven children, all of them living. [In the 1900 census, she said he had eight children, seven of them living.] His father was a farmer on a general farm; the farm was rented. Simon and Alexander were laborers on a farm for wages. Alexander had not been out of work in the last year; Simon was out of work for 8 weeks. Everyone in the household could read and write. Paul and Mary Ann attended school.^[3]

World War I

Paul Augustus Smith served as a Private First Class in Co. F, 56th Pioneer Infantry of the U.S. Army during World War I, from 8 Aug 1918 to 24 Jun 1919.^[4]

USS Siboney. US Navy Troop Transport Ship.

He was selected in the 3rd round of the draft. His Registration Card says that he is a natural born citizen from Berwindale, Pennsylvania. He was a farmer who worked for Michael Smith (his father) in Berwindale, Clearfield County. He was single and had never served in the military. He was medium height, medium weight, had brown eyes and black hair. He was not bald.^[5]

On 2 Sep 1918, Pvt. Paul A Smith (Service Number 4243277) departed the U.S. on the U.S.S. Siboney with the Company "F" - 56th Pioneer Infantry. His father, Michael Smith, was his emergency contact in Berwindale, Pennsylvania.^[6]

He departed France for home from St. Nazaire, France on the U.S.S. Mexican on 10 Jun 1919. He arrived back in the U.S. at Camp Dix (Hoboken, N.J. on 22 Jun 1919.^[7] He was discharged on 24 Jun 1919. ^[8]

USS Mexican. US Navy Troop Transport Ship

On 24 Jun 1918, Paul A. Smith, Pvt, 1st Class, Co. "F," 56th Pioneers, was honorably discharged at Camp Dix, New Jersey.^[9] He fought with the 56th Pioneer Infantry in the Meuse Argonne Offensive in France^[10] from 30 Sep to 11 Nov 1918.^[11] The Armistice was signed on 11 Nov 1918. He was in "good" physical condition when discharged. His discharge indicated he had "excellent" character. He served in the American Expeditionary Forces (A.E.F.) in France from 4 Sep 1918 to 22 Jun 1919.^[12]

On 10 Sep 1920, Paul A. Smith, age 24, lived with his father, Michael, age 68, and his mother, Mary, 61, In Jordan Township, Clearfield County. His father was a farmer on a general farm. Paul's two sisters, Catharine, age 36, and Mayme, age 26, both single, lived with them. All members of the household were born in Pennsylvania. His grandparents were from Ireland and spoke "Irish" as their native tongue. Paul's occupation was coal miner for wages. [This is a singular report as an occupation for members of the Smith family. No other Smith worked in the mines, and Paul A. soon moved on to other occupations.]^[13]

Marriage and Children

He married Elizabeth Pearl Beck, from HalfMoon Township, Centre County, date and place unknown. Paul was a devote Roman Catholic; Elizabeth was a protestant.

On 15 May 1930 (date of census), Paul A., age 36, was married to Elizabeth P., age 27, and lived in Stormstown, HalfMoon Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Paul was 29 years old when he married; Elizabeth 21. They had three children: Paul B.; age 5; Mahlon R., age 3; and Mary Lou, age 1. They could read and write. They rented their house, paid $7/month rent, and did not have a radio. Paul worked as a truck driver for the State Highway for wages. ^[14]

In the 1933 local election, Paul A. Smith ran for and was elected to the position of "minority inspector" for Halfmoon Township.^[15]

Bonus Army and CCC Camp

Paul A. Smith was dedicated to military veterans, and was an advocate for them.

On 23 Apr 1940 (date of the census), Paul A., age 44, lived with his wife, Elizabeth, age 38, and their four children: Paul B., age 15; Mahlon, age 13; Mary Lou, age 11; and Florence, age 3, on Route 309 in HalfMoon Township, Centre County, Pa. They did not live on a farm. Paul A. had completed 8th grade in school; Elizabeth completed one year of college. Paul B., completed two years of high school; Mahlon was in grade 7; Mary Lou, grade 6; and Florence was not yet attending school. Paul A. worked as a foreman on a Road Project as part of government public works. He had been out of work for 12 weeks that year. He earned $620 that year and had another source of income.^[16]

World War II

On 27 Apr 1942, Paul A Smith, age 46, registered for the draft for World War II. He lived in Port Matilda, R.D. 1, Halfmoon Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. He was born on 10 Jun 1895 in Berwindale, Clearfield County, Pa. (Telephone exchange: Warriors Mark 12R13). He worked at the McFeely Brick Company in Port Matilda, Pa. He was described as "white, brown eyes, slightly gray hair with ruddy complextion."^[17]

Paul A Smith was selected as a volunteer police officer for Port Matilda, Pennsylvania, district to serve during the World War II under the direction of the Port Matilda chief of police, Leo F. Moerschbacher.^[18]

On 5 Apr 1950 (date of census, Paul A., age 55, lived with his wife, Elizabeth, age 48 in Halfmoon Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Everyone in the household was born in Pennsylvania. Three unmarried children lived with them: Paul B, age 25; Mahlon, age 23; Florence, age 13; and his married daughter, Mary Lou, 21, with her husband, George W. Baney, age 22. In the previous week, Paul A. worked 40 hours as a truck driver at the brick plant; Paul B. worked 40 hours as an auto mechanic at an auto garage; Mahlon worked 80 hours as the owner-operator of a truck hauling business; Mary Lou worked 45 hours as a clerk in a dry good store; and George Baney worekd 40 hours buring brick at the brick plant. Mahlon worked 52 weeks the previous year, and earned $2100. He had no other source of income. He had completed 8th grade. He was a WWII veteran.^[19]

Paul A Smith was a member of the St Matthews Catholic Church of Tyrone. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in State College, Pennsylvania and the American Legion in Port Matilda, Pennsylvania.

Paul A Smith died on 13 Apr 1976 at the Veterans Adminstration Hospital in Altoona "following an extended illness."^[20] Funeral services were held at the Cox Funeral Home in Warriors Mark, Pennsylvania. He was buried at the Centre Line Cemetery.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Obituary Centre Daily TimesPublication Date: 15 Apr 1976; Publication Place: State College, Pennsylvania, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/755276562/?article=bc24c819-4cdb-4c9c-880df7e9abe0343a&focus=0.5177967,0.05162931,0.6675289,0.21724792&xid=3355
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M395-DZL : Thu Oct 05 06:22:06 UTC 2023), Entry for Michael Smith and Mary Smith, 1900.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1910", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MG4Z-WPH : Fri Oct 06 06:23:38 UTC 2023), Entry for Michael Smith and Mary Smith, 1910.
4. ↑ Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-1999. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1929-1990; Archive Collection Number: Series 2-5; Folder Number: 697.
5. ↑ U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Database online. Registration Location: Clearfield County, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1877880; Draft Board: 3.
6. ↑ U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939. The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 578.
7. ↑ U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939. The National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General, 1774-1985; Record Group Number: 92; Roll or Box Number: 202.
8. ↑ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010
9. ↑ Honorable Discharge from the United States Army.
10. ↑ National Archives. Meuse Argonne Offensive, World War I. https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww1/meuse-argonne
11. ↑ United States War Department. Battle Participation of Organizations of the American Expeditionary Forces in France, Belgium, and Italy. 1971-1918. https://archive.org/details/battleparticipat00unitrich/page/82/mode/2up?q=%2256th+pioneer+Infantry%22
12. ↑ Enlistment Record.
13. ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census. Year: 1920; Census Place: Jordan, Clearfield, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1553; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 94; Image: .
14. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census. Database online. Year: 1930; Census Place: Halfmoon, Centre, Pennsylvania; Roll: 2016; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 14; Image: 54.0.
15. ↑ Court of Common Pleas of Centre County. Certificate of General Election. 29 Nov 1933.
16. ↑ 1940 United States Federal Census. Year: 1940; Census Place: Halfmoon, Centre, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3462; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 14-16
17. ↑ U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942. Local board: Centre , Pennsylvania. His emergency contact was Mrs. Paul Smith
18. ↑ War Officers Picked for Port Matilda Area. Centre Daily Times, 8 Jan 1942, p. 1
19. ↑ 1950 United States Federal Census. United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Halfmoon, Centre, Pennsylvania
20. ↑ Obituary, CDT, get details

• 1940 Census: Halfmoon Township, Centre County. Paul Smith, 44, estimated birth year 1896; Elizabeth, wife, 38; Paul, 15; Mahlon, 13; Mary Lou 11; Florence, 3. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/32140597/person/18191787074/facts