This biography was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import. It's a rough draft and still needs to be edited, but it's getting much better!
Birth
John Williams Smith was born on January 26, 1848 in Erwinna, Bucks, Pennsylvania to Jonas Smith and Ann Eliza Williams.
Marriage
He married Eva C. Barber (note that this was marrying out of meeting).... What is interesting about their marriage record is that it says that he was a resident of North Carolina. As far as I know, he never lived there. HOWEVER, it is conceivable that he made a "business trip" there (probably "shopping" for mill-related items. "Aunt Betty Stout" (nee Coltrain), who was a long-time family friend of Charles Austin Smith and Edith May (Sherwood) Smith, was born in North Carolina and moved to New Jersey before 1880. She is enumerated in John and Eva's household in both the 1880 and 1900 censuses as a domestic servant. I suspect that John somehow "helped" her to make the trip from North Carolina to New Jersey -- possibly even traveling with her.
The Mill at Stockton, New Jersey
Even though it skipped a few generations, John Williams Smith had milling in his blood. His father, Jonas Smith (a tailor), was descended from the Smith family who owned and operated the mill at what was then known as Smithtown, PA. (This was in Bucks County, in the area of Tinicum Township.) John W. Smith bought the mill at Prallsville (just north of Stockton), which had been named for the Prall family. After his sons were old enough to be actively involved in the running of the mill, the company was known as J. W. Smith and Sons.
Religious life and Community involvement
John Williams Smith was a birthright Quaker. However, at some point (probably during his lifetime), his family left the Quaker faith. Only one of his children was married in meeting. John Williams Smith is NOT buried at Buckingham Friends in Lahaska, PA with his parents. I could be wrong, but I do not believe that any of his three sons are buried there either. (Note: I do not know where Joseph Smith, Senior is buried. If any of the three sons are buried at Buckingham, he's the most likely candidate.) John's wife, Eva (Barber) Smith, was very involved in the Stockton Presbyterian church, as was his mother in later years. (Note: Eva definitely belonged to the Presbyterian church. I'm not certain whether Ann Eliza (Williams) Smith was involved in the Presbyterian church or the Methodist Episcopal church of Stockton!)
Death
11 JUL 1923
Stockton, Hunterdon, New Jersey, United States
Attach sources
Burial
John W. Smith was buried in Barber Burying Ground, near Lambertville, Hunterdon, New Jersey with his wife and her ancestors.
Attach link to findagrave here
Will
Names his three sons, his namesake (John Frankenfield of Philadelphia), his two (unmarried) Barber sisters-in-law, and all of his grandchildren (except Stanley's child who died young) are also named in the will.
Hunterdon County Estate INDEX Images 123-4, Line 36
There IS info in the Orphans Court records -- probably concerning his grandchildren. I believe that Joseph Smith's children were the only minors living in Hunterdon County who were named in John W. Smith's will.
(Transcribed from the handwritten sheets of paper in the red genealogy binder. The original probate packet is around here somewhere.)
Will of John W. Smith
Probated 23 July 1923
I, John W. Smith, of Stockton, NJ.
Revoke all previous wills & codicils
All just debts & funeral expenses to be paid
To each of my grandchildren, Edgar S. Smith, Joseph Smith, Janet W. Smith, Eva Barber Smith, Dorothy K. Smith, Arnold W. Smith & Mary Grace Smith, a $100 liberty bond.
To my oldest son living at time of my death, the ancient 8-day clock, during his life, & then to revert to my oldest grandson then living, provided he is man of excellent character & good habits, but if he is not, then to go to the next oldest grandchild who fills the above requirements. This clock came from the Erwin family, about 1840, to my Aunt Mary P. Smith (who with her father occupied the Erwin house at Erwinna for many years) who in her last will bequeathed it to Isaiah P. Smith to hold as long as he desired & then to go to John W. Smith. Said Mary P. Smith will filed in Doylestown, Pa.
To my deceased wife's sister Anna M. Barber $200 yearly in semi-annual installments during life. To my deceased wife's sister Elizabeth K. Barber $300 yearly in semi-annual installments during life. Upon death of either, her annuity to be paid her survivor during life.
To Anna M. Barber & Elizabeth K. Barber, or survivor, furniture, bedding & household goods sufficient to furnish small house or apt. If during my life I purchase a dwelling in Lambertville suitable for their occupancy, they shall have dwelling free of rent as long as either lives, all taxes, insurance, exterior repairs, heating apparatus & plumbing paid by my estate. If I do not purchase such a dwelling, to Anna & Eliz. Barber, additionally $250 annually to assist in paying rent for a dwelling.
All my clothing to be disposed of by gift to members of my family or to worthy or needy people.
To John W. Frankenfield, who was named for me & who now resides at 4106 N. 8th St., Phila., $100.
To my son Joseph Smith, lot in Prallsville & dwelling now occupied by him, which I purchased from Jane Bodine & John Bodine. Joseph Smith to claim nothing for improvements thereon for which he has paid.
To my son Charles A. Smith, $2,400 & to my son Stanley W. Smith, $2,400
All residue of estate to my 3 sons, Charles A. Smith, Joseph Smith & Stanley W. Smith, equally.
All inheritance taxes paid out of my estate.
Executors: My 3 sons, Charles A. Smith
Joseph Smith
Stanley W. Smith
without bond
Will dated 28 March 1923
Witnesses: John S. Wilson
Egbert T. Bush
Note
Stockton Forms New Fire Company Has New House, New Apparatus and New Water System--Officers
(page before his grandmother, Christiana (Moore) Williams & two households away from hers)
Access date: 19 June, 2012
Place of birth of this person, “ “ of Father, “ “ of Mother
Jonas Smith, 46, Tailor, PA, Real estate: 1500, Personal estate: 500 :: Aneliza (sic) Smith, 45, PA
John W. Smith, 12, PA, attending school
Elizabeth Williams, 15, England(!), attending school (Note: I suspect that this Elizabeth Williams is the future wife of Michael Frankenfield and mother of John W. Frankenfield, John W. Smith's namesake. (There are only TWO women named Elizabeth born in England about the right time who are living in Bucks County in the 1860 census.)
Next-door to Ann Eliza (Williams) Smith's sister, Caroline M. (Williams) Harris. Two doors down from her brother, Barzilla Williams.
(Note: This is the idiotic enumerator who marked that NOBODY in Lambertville could read or write in the 1870 census!)
I’m quite sure that this Isaiah Smith is John W’s cousin.
Just noticed something odd: NOONE in the household has any real estate or personal property! (I’m quite sure that Harriet Livezey owned the house and that Isaiah, John, and Eli were all boarders.)
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