An American Family History

John Elmer Smith's ancestors were from Tennessee. Heinrich and Mary Schmidt first settled in Sullivan County, Tennessee in the the early 19th century.

The John Pitts and Sarah Stanfield family were from South Carolina and then came to Sullivan and Washington Counties in Tennessee in the early 19th century.

John Elmer Smith's grandfather, Josiah Smith, Sr., was in the 5th Tennessee Cavalry during the Civil War until he was captured by Union troops. In exchange for his freedom, he signed an oath not to return south of the Ohio River. The family left Tennessee and made their way to Illinois and then to Iowa. The Wind in the Willow is a book of Josiah Smith Family memories.

Josiah Sr. was the son of John Smith and Catherine Humpheries who were early settlers in Piney Flats, Sullivan County, Tennessee. John Smith was a soldier in the War of 1812.

John Smith married Catherine Humphreys whose father, David Humphreys, was a soldier in the American Revolution. David's parents, John and Susannah Humphreys, were very early settlers in Tennessee.

click here for the Table of Contents for other families in East Tennessee

John and Susannah Humphreys about 1745

Washington County, Tennessee (was Virginia) -part became Carter County

• William Humphreys
• David Humphreys
• Richard Humphreys
• Moses Humphreys
• Mary Humpreys Tullis
• Jesse Humphreys
• Elizabeth Humphreys Greenway
• Elisha Humphreys
• George Humphreys

• Leonard Hart
• Elizabeth Hart Humphreys
• William Hart

• Catharine Smith Humphreys

Henry and Mary Smith about 1786

Sullivan County, Tennessee

• John Smith
• George Smith
• Mary (Polly) Smith Malone
• Magdalene Smith Cox

John Smith and Catharine Humphreys 1808

• Mary Ann Smith (died young)
• George Washington Smith
• Elizabeth (Bettie) Smith Deck
• John Humphreys Smith
• King Henry Smith
• Polly Eliza Smith Webb
• Prince David Smith
• Nancy Ann Cross Smith Massengill
• Samuel Rhea Smith
• Josiah Smith
• William Hart Smith (died young)

• James Stanfield
• Thomas Stanfield

• Sarah Stanfield Pitts

John Pitts and Sarah Stanfield 1820
Jonesborough, Washington County, Tennessee

John Pitts

• Edna Pitts Stanfield
• Amos Pitts
• Sarah Pitts Smith
• Polly Pitts
• Nancy Pitts Hammet

Josiah Smith and Sarah Pitts 1846

Blountville, Sullivan County, Tennessee
Decatur, Meigs County, Tennessee
Tazewell County, Illinois
Benton Township, Lucas County, Iowa

• Elizabeth Jane Smith Frank
• Allison Woodrow Smith
• Nancy Ann Smith Wilson
• Mary Ellen Smith Widaman Dixon
• David Henry Smith
• Josiah Allen Smith
• John Smith
• George Washington Smith
• William Smith
• Ida Belle Smith Hoops
• Sarah Catherine Smith Hoops
• Charles Elmer Smith
• Cora Edna Smith Downard

Josiah Smith and Eliza Fox 1886-1920

Josiah Smith and Eliza Fox After 1920

Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa
Sunnyside, Lincon County, Kansas
Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa
Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa
Baseman Township, Carleton County, Minnesota
Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa
Moorcroft, Crook County, Wyoming

Eliza Fox and her Ancestors

• Mary Grace Smith White Hanley
• John Elmer Smith
• Bertha Edna Smith Kimsey
• Harry William Smith
• Ethel Edith Smith Taylor
• Bryan Sewell Smith
• Augusta Lena Smith Larson
• Andrew Jack Smith
• Twyla May Smith White

John Elmer Smith and Emma Bertrand 1909

Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa
Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa
Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska
Hawthorne, Los Angeles County, California

Emma Bertrand and her Ancestors

• Hazel Izetta Smith Hamilton
• Joseph Elmer Smith
• Robert Gillis Smith
• Virginia Maxine Smith Miller
• Norman Bertrand Smith
• Lee Roy Smith