An American Family History

John Elmer Smith was born January 27, 1889 in Sunnyside, Lincoln County, Kansas. He was the oldest son of Josiah Smith and Eliza Fox. He was named for his father's brother, John Smith.

He was nicknamed Emo by his brothers and sisters. Elmer told his daughter, Virginia Miller, that his first memory was being in a sod house and watching a snake slither across the roof. The Wind in the Willow has family memories about Elmer.

His sister, Twyla's first memory of him was when he and his brother, Harry stopped their father from whipping her for stealing a cookie. She said that every fall Elmer would send a big box home to Red Oak, Iowa. His sisters, Gussie and Twyla always hoped for dolls, but it always turned out to be long underwear and stockings.

His nephew, Bill Smith said

I have nothing, but good memories of Uncle Elmer. He was very family oriented and came across to me as a gentle and kindly person with a sense of humor and he was somewhat of a philosopher. Uncle Elmer was very smart and the best checker player in the family.

He married Emma Bertrand in 1909 when he was twenty years old and they had six children. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on the Elmer and Emma Smith family.

His last occupation, listed on his death certificate, was a Pipe Fitter for Western Pipe and Steel Ship Building, but he worked at many things during his life. He always had a scheme to make some money. His worm business where he sold worms to fisherman was the last, but his son Lee remembers when

he put in a dichondra lawn and it really looked nice.  [His oldest daughter] Hazel got upset with him because he decided to cut out parts of lawn and put it in trays to sell to people to get a start on their lawn.

In his later years he lived in Hawthorne, California with his daughter, Hazel. He was cheerful, loving and affectionate. He made popcorn balls with his grandchildren, drove a Chevy truck, wore a baseball hat and a bandana and shaved with a straight razor.

He died when he was 80 years old on November 30, 1969 in the Centinela Valley Community Hospital in Inglewood, California. He was buried in Section 9, Lot 50, Graves 4 & 5 at West Lawn Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska by his wife, Emma.