As with the post called Doc Grisso "Land Dealer", I am quoting directly from The Grisso Family book.
During the "oil-boom" era of Seminole, 1926-1930, money kept pouring in from the oil wells and Seminole mushroomed to a town of some size. Oil camps were established in Earlsboro, Cromwell, Bowlegs, and all around Seminole; some estimates put the number of people in the Seminole area at around 50,000.
It does not take a lot of imagination to see what sort of disastrous results occurred to the old dirt roads in the area when such a large influx of people and vehicles came to Seminole. Naturally most all of the citizens were concerned, but Doc Grisso was determined to do something to improve the conditions of the roads. At the time he was the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Committee on Roads, and spent a considerable amount of time and money making trips to urge the State Highway Commission to help Seminole make improvements on the roads.
On one such trip in November of 1927, he invited the highway commissioners to come to Seminole and have dinner as guests of the Chamber of Commerce. It seems that there were misgiving about going to this rowdy boom-town, and Doc retorted with, "Hell, I eat in Seminole". Finally they agreed to come, and on their trip from Oklahoma City it began to rain pitchforks at just the right time of day to catch the commissioners on just the right spot on the highway. Congressman Carter said in his speech that he had never made a promise in his twenty years in politics, but that he was going to make one right now. He said he was going to vote a billion dollars to repair a one half mile strip he knew between here and Seminole.
During these years Doc prodded and pushed and politicked for the improvement of roads in Seminole County. He had considerable influence in his county and was gaining a statewide reputation for being a booster of better roads.
His efforts eventually provided State Highway 270 eligible for state and federal funds and the building of a new highway from Ada to Seminole to Prague, State highway 48, presently known as State Highway 99.
Doc worked continually for building roads. He spent a great amount of money promoting roads; some estimate the amount to be in excess of $100,000, and all of it came from his own pocket. As Mrs. Grisso says, "No one will ever know just how much he really did spend on roads."
In addition to being chairman of the State Highway 270 and State Highway 48 committees, Governor E.W. Marland appointed him to the Oklahoma High Commission in 1935 as chairman of the Commission. This appointment was perhaps the most significant honor ever given to a man from Seminole at that time. He had a philosophy by which he was guided on the commission, and that was to "build the roads where the traffic needed them" and to make roads" go someplace". His impact on the highway was of great importance, and the State of Oklahoma owes to this man a debt of gratitude.
The next post about Doc Grisso will be his role as a rancher and conservationist.
Showing posts with label Oklahoma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oklahoma. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016
Tour interruption
Today, I want to take a short break from the ongoing tour of the Grisso Mansion in Seminole, Oklahoma to wish my grandmother, Nina Lorene Smith Grisso, a happy 115 birthday. Last year I wrote about her on her birthday. See that post here... Happy Birthday Lorene Smith Grisso (1901-1984) I am also going to place another writing about her in the featured post section of this blog.
As I have been writing about this Oklahoma Oil Millionaire ( Doc Grisso), I have wondered if Grandpa Bert and Grandma Nina knew him or at least of him. I assumed so since Bert and "Doc" were from the same county in Arkansas. There were four generations of Grissos everywhere in Fulton, County, Arkansas.
One of my favorite treasures is a letter from Grandma Nina to her mother, Estella Smith. The reason I like it so much is that it is signed "Mrs. Bert Grisso". How excited she must have been to be married to Bert. The letter is postmarked from Baggs, Oklahoma. I had been told that Bert and Nina went there on their honeymoon. I have started to wonder if they went there looking for work in a distant relatives oil fields. However, when reading more about "Doc" Grisso, it appears that he may have been just about bankrupt when Bert and Nina made that trip.
While looking for one specific letter, I stopped to read a couple more I found. This is the card Grandma Nina wrote to her parents on her wedding night.
Dear Folks,
We left Jefferson at 5:50 on the Milwaukee road and arrived here[Des Moines] about (9:00 p.m. We will stay here till 7:30 a.m. tomorrow, and arrive in Kansas City about 3:00 o'clock and leave for West Plains about 5:00.
We will make better connections by staying here tonight.
We didn't get a bit cold coming to Jefferson. Are alittle tired and sleep now tho! We are staying at the Hotel Ivern tonight it is near the depot. and is a swell place. I had my first ride on a elevator this evening. Ha. Will write when we get to Moody.
With love,
Nina L. Grisso
As I have been writing about this Oklahoma Oil Millionaire ( Doc Grisso), I have wondered if Grandpa Bert and Grandma Nina knew him or at least of him. I assumed so since Bert and "Doc" were from the same county in Arkansas. There were four generations of Grissos everywhere in Fulton, County, Arkansas.
One of my favorite treasures is a letter from Grandma Nina to her mother, Estella Smith. The reason I like it so much is that it is signed "Mrs. Bert Grisso". How excited she must have been to be married to Bert. The letter is postmarked from Baggs, Oklahoma. I had been told that Bert and Nina went there on their honeymoon. I have started to wonder if they went there looking for work in a distant relatives oil fields. However, when reading more about "Doc" Grisso, it appears that he may have been just about bankrupt when Bert and Nina made that trip.
While looking for one specific letter, I stopped to read a couple more I found. This is the card Grandma Nina wrote to her parents on her wedding night.
Des Moines, Ia
Jan. 31, 1920
We left Jefferson at 5:50 on the Milwaukee road and arrived here[Des Moines] about (9:00 p.m. We will stay here till 7:30 a.m. tomorrow, and arrive in Kansas City about 3:00 o'clock and leave for West Plains about 5:00.
We will make better connections by staying here tonight.
With love,
Nina L. Grisso
Friday, June 10, 2016
And the tour goes on.....
The newspaper article which I consulted said...The Grisso mansion was completed in 1928 when Seminole City was still a boom town. It was planned as the dream home of Grisso's wife, Margaret.
The newspaper article was written in 1977 when Margaret was age 90 and still lived in the house.
We heard from our guide that Margaret, Maggie, was Doc Grisso's third wife. His first wife died as did his second. Maggie had actually been attracted to Doc when they were kids back in Vidette, Arkansas. When he left that area, Maggie was only fourteen and unsuited (according to her parents) for marriage because of her age. Years later when she was older, she traveled to Seminole and went to work at the post office.
She came to Seminole to find him. It looks like it worked. I also enjoyed the stories about the gas stoves. She had carried all the wood she wanted. The contrast between growing up in the hills of the Ozarks and living in such a mansion in their life time is almost too hard to contemplate.
Back to the house. Let's go upstairs.
Four full bathrooms and three half-baths adjoin second floor bedrooms, with the master bedroom having its own sitting room, bath and dressing room.
The newspaper article was written in 1977 when Margaret was age 90 and still lived in the house.
We heard from our guide that Margaret, Maggie, was Doc Grisso's third wife. His first wife died as did his second. Maggie had actually been attracted to Doc when they were kids back in Vidette, Arkansas. When he left that area, Maggie was only fourteen and unsuited (according to her parents) for marriage because of her age. Years later when she was older, she traveled to Seminole and went to work at the post office.
She came to Seminole to find him. It looks like it worked. I also enjoyed the stories about the gas stoves. She had carried all the wood she wanted. The contrast between growing up in the hills of the Ozarks and living in such a mansion in their life time is almost too hard to contemplate.
Back to the house. Let's go upstairs.
Four full bathrooms and three half-baths adjoin second floor bedrooms, with the master bedroom having its own sitting room, bath and dressing room.
 |
| Master Bedroom sitting area |
 |
| Looking carefully at the pink wall behind the door, one can see the design of the bedroom walls. The backside of the door matches this pink design. The wood side or outside of the door matches the hallway. All the doors are like this. They match the wall when closed.
The next post will continue with pictures of the mansion. The beginning of this article which I have been referencing began as follows.
W.E. "Doc" Grisso , who made millions from Greater Seminole Oil Field productions in the 1920's put his money where his faith was, the future of Oklahoma.
His money and energy went into land - "the only real wealth," in his view - road building, education and some $750,000 into the home still known as the Grisso mansion.
|
Monday, June 6, 2016
Seminole, Oklahoma
Grisso Story Continued...
The Oklahoma spring tornadoes did not keep us from arriving in Seminole, Oklahoma on our travels a month ago. Although, it was a bit dicey. I know I would not want to live there. We have tornadoes in our home state, but those in Oklahoma seemed much scarier. We were glued to the weather broadcast on the T.V. for four hours, but we slept safely and enjoyed our short tour of Seminole.
Our first stop was the library where indeed there was a copy of The Grisso Family book. What a shock! It was huge! It has obviously been used often over the years because it is coming apart and not in the best shape. I had to take a picture of it because I never guessed it was such a tome.
I spent a couple of hours reading and copying a few pages to add to what I have. We rode around Seminole looking for Grisso Avenue. It is a lovely boulevard winding itself through the park.
The next day we went to visit the Grisso Mansion. And yes, William Edward "Doc" Grisso was a second cousin once removed to our grandfather, Bert Grisso. They were both born in Fulton County, Arkansas and descended from Jacob Kittinger Grisso of Virginia.
William Edward "Doc" Grisso was the son of Jacob Grisso (1834-1883). Jacob's father, Madison (1807-1870), was the son of Jacob Kittinger Grisso (1772-1844).
This chart might be clearer.
Jacob Kittinger Grisso
George W. Grisso Madison ---- brothers
William Madson Jacob ---- first cousins
John Martin William Edward "Doc" Grisso ----2nd c.
Bert Roscoe Second cousin of "Doc" Grisso once removed from common ancestor Jacob Kittinger Grisso
Mary & siblings Second cousin 2 times removed
Margie & 1st cousins Second cousin 3 times removed
George, Madison, and James were the three brothers who settled
in northern Arkansas in the mid 1800 having left their parental home in Virginia. They migrated first to Tennessee and then on to Fulton, County Arkansas.
Now that we have established the relationship, we will learn a little more about the mansion and Doc Grisso.
Stay tuned.
The Oklahoma spring tornadoes did not keep us from arriving in Seminole, Oklahoma on our travels a month ago. Although, it was a bit dicey. I know I would not want to live there. We have tornadoes in our home state, but those in Oklahoma seemed much scarier. We were glued to the weather broadcast on the T.V. for four hours, but we slept safely and enjoyed our short tour of Seminole.
Our first stop was the library where indeed there was a copy of The Grisso Family book. What a shock! It was huge! It has obviously been used often over the years because it is coming apart and not in the best shape. I had to take a picture of it because I never guessed it was such a tome.
I spent a couple of hours reading and copying a few pages to add to what I have. We rode around Seminole looking for Grisso Avenue. It is a lovely boulevard winding itself through the park.
The next day we went to visit the Grisso Mansion. And yes, William Edward "Doc" Grisso was a second cousin once removed to our grandfather, Bert Grisso. They were both born in Fulton County, Arkansas and descended from Jacob Kittinger Grisso of Virginia.
William Edward "Doc" Grisso was the son of Jacob Grisso (1834-1883). Jacob's father, Madison (1807-1870), was the son of Jacob Kittinger Grisso (1772-1844).
This chart might be clearer.
Jacob Kittinger Grisso
George W. Grisso Madison ---- brothers
William Madson Jacob ---- first cousins
John Martin William Edward "Doc" Grisso ----2nd c.
Bert Roscoe Second cousin of "Doc" Grisso once removed from common ancestor Jacob Kittinger Grisso
Mary & siblings Second cousin 2 times removed
Margie & 1st cousins Second cousin 3 times removed
George, Madison, and James were the three brothers who settled
in northern Arkansas in the mid 1800 having left their parental home in Virginia. They migrated first to Tennessee and then on to Fulton, County Arkansas.
Now that we have established the relationship, we will learn a little more about the mansion and Doc Grisso.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Crossroads
Here I am at that crossroads. You know the one. It is that genealogy crossroads that has signs pointed toward the Wrights, the Tolsdorfs, the Grissos, the Bordens, etc. Recently, I have been consumed with the DeHarts. This worked out well because I could share a journal written by my aunt in 1988. The reason this worked so well was because I could schedule posts while on the road moving from winter residence to summer residence. Once I am settled back down, which way will I go?
Let's talk Grissos today. This is my mother's father's side of the family. Mother, Mary Louise Grisso Wright. Her father, Bert Roscoe Grisso.
As I have mentioned before, my interest in family history was originally piqued by my Great Grandma Estella Smith. Then, came a special day in about 1972 when her son-in-law, my grandfather, spent an afternoon telling me about his heritage. After that day with Bert Grisso, I wanted to learn more about these ancestors who everyone thought came from Italy. Through my own family research and many others interested in the Grisso name, we have learned that the Grissos did not come from Italy, but some cousins just refuse to let that go. What is true is that three Grisso brothers left Virginia along with their wives, who were all Grubb sisters. They settled for a time in Tennessee, but eventually made their way to northern Arkansas around 1842-1844. Most of the Grisso brother's siblings stayed in Virginia. (There is much to be written on the Grisso line in the future.)
In the 1970's, one of my dearest Grisso cousins read about a place in Seminole, Oklahoma called The Grisso Mansion. She was always curious about the place. Who were these Grissos? Were they relatives? Are we rich?
Sometime in the past 10 years or so, another aunt passed on to me part of a document written and complied by a couple of Grisso descendants of Mathias Grisso. This was not the whole document just part of it. It took me many long hours to decipher and understand these pages. It might have been easier if I would have had the whole document. It might have been much easier if every generation didn't need to name their Grisso sons, George or William. I know this is a common complaint among genealogists. I wish I could trade a George for a Henry or a William for a Charles. What names would you like to trade? Oops, digressing.
I have been on the trail of that completed volume of The Grisso Family book for many years. I have come close to finding it a few times. I exchanged emails with one of the authors who said there were no more good copies. I exchanged emails with a very gifted Grisso genealogist who had the book on C.D. Unfortunately, I did not receive the C.D. due to his untimely death. Somewhere through the years, I have learned that copies of this book exist in several libraries where Grissos have lived. There is a copy in Salt Lake City as well as libraries in Virginia, Ohio, Arkansas, and Seminole, Oklahoma.
Now, Seminole, Oklahoma is where the Grisso Mansion is located. AND there is a copy of The Grisso Family in the local library. This definitely has to be a stop on our summer migration route. It really isn't too far out of the way.
Let's talk Grissos today. This is my mother's father's side of the family. Mother, Mary Louise Grisso Wright. Her father, Bert Roscoe Grisso.
As I have mentioned before, my interest in family history was originally piqued by my Great Grandma Estella Smith. Then, came a special day in about 1972 when her son-in-law, my grandfather, spent an afternoon telling me about his heritage. After that day with Bert Grisso, I wanted to learn more about these ancestors who everyone thought came from Italy. Through my own family research and many others interested in the Grisso name, we have learned that the Grissos did not come from Italy, but some cousins just refuse to let that go. What is true is that three Grisso brothers left Virginia along with their wives, who were all Grubb sisters. They settled for a time in Tennessee, but eventually made their way to northern Arkansas around 1842-1844. Most of the Grisso brother's siblings stayed in Virginia. (There is much to be written on the Grisso line in the future.)
In the 1970's, one of my dearest Grisso cousins read about a place in Seminole, Oklahoma called The Grisso Mansion. She was always curious about the place. Who were these Grissos? Were they relatives? Are we rich?
Sometime in the past 10 years or so, another aunt passed on to me part of a document written and complied by a couple of Grisso descendants of Mathias Grisso. This was not the whole document just part of it. It took me many long hours to decipher and understand these pages. It might have been easier if I would have had the whole document. It might have been much easier if every generation didn't need to name their Grisso sons, George or William. I know this is a common complaint among genealogists. I wish I could trade a George for a Henry or a William for a Charles. What names would you like to trade? Oops, digressing.
I have been on the trail of that completed volume of The Grisso Family book for many years. I have come close to finding it a few times. I exchanged emails with one of the authors who said there were no more good copies. I exchanged emails with a very gifted Grisso genealogist who had the book on C.D. Unfortunately, I did not receive the C.D. due to his untimely death. Somewhere through the years, I have learned that copies of this book exist in several libraries where Grissos have lived. There is a copy in Salt Lake City as well as libraries in Virginia, Ohio, Arkansas, and Seminole, Oklahoma.
Now, Seminole, Oklahoma is where the Grisso Mansion is located. AND there is a copy of The Grisso Family in the local library. This definitely has to be a stop on our summer migration route. It really isn't too far out of the way.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Nina Lorene Smith Grisso ( 1901-1984)
The first child of Hiram and Estella Smith is the last one I am writing about in this family group. Nina was the oldest of seven children, six of whom grew to adulthood. She was a sweet kind soul, and she was my grandmother. In 1920 on January 31, she married Bert Roscoe Grisso. They were married in her parents house, which to this day is a lovely home. I don't know the circumstances but Nina and Bert went to Oklahoma following the marriage. I once saw a card that Nina sent to her parents. She signed it " Mrs. Bert Grisso". One could almost feel the joy and happiness in that signature. She was no longer Miss Smith, she was "Mrs. Bert Grisso".
A little further research in those digital newspapers that I love, I found this:
March 31, 1920
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Grisso returned Friday evening from their winter sojourn somewhere in Oklahoma. Mr. Grisso says no more of the southern life for him. Mrs. Grisso was formerly Nina Smith, daughter of H.L. Smith south of town.
www.Jefferson.advantage-preservation.com
I think he was referring to Oklahoma not Missouri where he grew up.
Bert was from Moody, Missouri which sits just north of the Missouri/Arkansas border. His family goes back through four generations in Fulton County, Arkansas. Three Grisso brothers and wives migrated from Virginia in the mid 1800's. There has been a huge amount of Grisso research already done. (More on that to come). So, how did this young Grisso man end up in Greene County, Iowa? Some family lore says he came to Iowa to work. Picking corn (by hand) was a common source of employment in those days. It was hard work suited to strong young men. It is possible Bert's future father-in-law, Hiram Smith, came to the area for the same reason many years earlier.
I don't know much about grandma Nina's formative years. I imagine she was busy helping her mother with babies. She was approximately 8, 9, 12, 13, and 16 when new babies joined the family. She always loved kids. Maybe this is where her training came from. Her grandmother, Ginevra Vorhies and her great-grandmother, Sarah Jane Withrow lived nearby. I imagine they taught her many things.
She attended country school with her brother, Merroll. I love this keepsake. It is probably my teacher side showing.
A little further research in those digital newspapers that I love, I found this:
March 31, 1920
Mr. and Mrs. Bert Grisso returned Friday evening from their winter sojourn somewhere in Oklahoma. Mr. Grisso says no more of the southern life for him. Mrs. Grisso was formerly Nina Smith, daughter of H.L. Smith south of town.
www.Jefferson.advantage-preservation.com
I think he was referring to Oklahoma not Missouri where he grew up.
Bert was from Moody, Missouri which sits just north of the Missouri/Arkansas border. His family goes back through four generations in Fulton County, Arkansas. Three Grisso brothers and wives migrated from Virginia in the mid 1800's. There has been a huge amount of Grisso research already done. (More on that to come). So, how did this young Grisso man end up in Greene County, Iowa? Some family lore says he came to Iowa to work. Picking corn (by hand) was a common source of employment in those days. It was hard work suited to strong young men. It is possible Bert's future father-in-law, Hiram Smith, came to the area for the same reason many years earlier.
I don't know much about grandma Nina's formative years. I imagine she was busy helping her mother with babies. She was approximately 8, 9, 12, 13, and 16 when new babies joined the family. She always loved kids. Maybe this is where her training came from. Her grandmother, Ginevra Vorhies and her great-grandmother, Sarah Jane Withrow lived nearby. I imagine they taught her many things.
She attended country school with her brother, Merroll. I love this keepsake. It is probably my teacher side showing.
With pleasant memories of
happy days
spent together in the schoolroom
this souvenir
is presented to you with the
best wishes of your teacher
As I was working on this post, I found the following letter. I have no idea what grandma Nina was asking for, but I do think this must have been from her teacher, W. C. Henning. I love the beautiful penmanship. I scanned the envelope as well as the letter. Notice the 1 cent stamps.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Hiram Smith (1868-1929)
All I ever knew about my great grandfather, Hiram Smith (1868 -1929) was that he died from being kicked by a horse and that his body was laid out in the living room of Great Grandma Smith's house. As a little girl, I found this to be very spooky. I spent a great amount of time at my great grandmother's house in that very room practicing my piano lessons.
I had found some family notes that said he came from Oklahoma Indian Country. This was also what my mother told me. Official records show he was born in Clark County, Missouri.
In the winter of 2007-08 (or maybe the winter before), I found Hiram's name on a family tree on Ancestry.com. I communicated the dates and facts which I had and discovered that I'd connected to a great granddaughter of Hiram Smith's sister.
Since then I have found out a little more.
1868 May 26. Hiram Lee Smith was born to George Merroll (1842-1932) and Mary Agnes Ford (1847-1924) in Missouri. He was their second child. His older brother was named James W. and was about a year older than Hiram.
1870 Hiram was age 2 at the time of the 1870 census. The family lived in Hurricane, Carroll County, Missouri. George was a farmer.
1880 Now age 12, Hiram and family live in Keota, Keokuk County, Iowa. Brother James is 13 and his sister, Melissa, is 7.
1884 The census of 1920 indicates that Jesse, the fourth child of George and Mary, was born in South Dakota in 1884. I knew about Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. But South Dakota? Wow! New information. Hiram would have been about 16 at this time. He was probably still with his family. His obituary indicates that he came to Greene County around 1893. He would have been around 25 at that time.
1900 This census indicates Hiram's parents and younger brother, Jesse, were living in South Creek, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. Now I see why my mom thought Great Grandpa might have come from Oklahoma Territory.
1920 The 1920 census shows that George, age 76, and Mary, age 73, lived in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Their son, Jesse, was married with three children. It appears they all lived at the same residence. Jesse-36, Rosa-29, Beulah-13, John-10, and Carl-4.
1924 I found this newpaper article from April 3, 1924.
" Hiram L. Smith was called to New Mexico by telegram last Friday, the message announcing the very serious illness of his mother. He left at once, but found the good mother dead upon his arrival. Mr. Smith attended the funeral and arrived home Tuesday night."
1929 Hiram died March 19
1930 Mary has now been gone about 6 years and George is still living in the home of his son, Jesse. Jesse's son,Carl, is now age 14, but also living in the Smith household was their son, John, age 20 and his wife, Viola.
1932 George, Hiram's father, died in July about 90 years of age.
Fast forward about 80 years.
2013 When driving to Arizona in January of 2013, we tried to find the cemetery in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Find a Grave does not show George and Mary buried there, but I thought they must be. However, we could not find their graves because we couldn't even find the cemetery.
2014 In January we drove right by Tucumcari, New Mexico. Rats, I really had hoped we could stop.
2014 Finally, success. December 29, 2014, we found the grave of my great great grandparents, George and Mary Smith. Only a few years ago, I didn't even know their names. As I stood there looking at their stone, I suddenly wondered if my mother, Mary, had been named for this ancestor, her great grandmother.
I had found some family notes that said he came from Oklahoma Indian Country. This was also what my mother told me. Official records show he was born in Clark County, Missouri.
In the winter of 2007-08 (or maybe the winter before), I found Hiram's name on a family tree on Ancestry.com. I communicated the dates and facts which I had and discovered that I'd connected to a great granddaughter of Hiram Smith's sister.
Since then I have found out a little more.
1868 May 26. Hiram Lee Smith was born to George Merroll (1842-1932) and Mary Agnes Ford (1847-1924) in Missouri. He was their second child. His older brother was named James W. and was about a year older than Hiram.
1870 Hiram was age 2 at the time of the 1870 census. The family lived in Hurricane, Carroll County, Missouri. George was a farmer.
1880 Now age 12, Hiram and family live in Keota, Keokuk County, Iowa. Brother James is 13 and his sister, Melissa, is 7.
1884 The census of 1920 indicates that Jesse, the fourth child of George and Mary, was born in South Dakota in 1884. I knew about Missouri, Iowa, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. But South Dakota? Wow! New information. Hiram would have been about 16 at this time. He was probably still with his family. His obituary indicates that he came to Greene County around 1893. He would have been around 25 at that time.
 |
| George, Jesse, Mary Smith |
1900 This census indicates Hiram's parents and younger brother, Jesse, were living in South Creek, Lincoln County, Oklahoma. Now I see why my mom thought Great Grandpa might have come from Oklahoma Territory.
1920 The 1920 census shows that George, age 76, and Mary, age 73, lived in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Their son, Jesse, was married with three children. It appears they all lived at the same residence. Jesse-36, Rosa-29, Beulah-13, John-10, and Carl-4.
1924 I found this newpaper article from April 3, 1924.
" Hiram L. Smith was called to New Mexico by telegram last Friday, the message announcing the very serious illness of his mother. He left at once, but found the good mother dead upon his arrival. Mr. Smith attended the funeral and arrived home Tuesday night."
1929 Hiram died March 19
1930 Mary has now been gone about 6 years and George is still living in the home of his son, Jesse. Jesse's son,Carl, is now age 14, but also living in the Smith household was their son, John, age 20 and his wife, Viola.
1932 George, Hiram's father, died in July about 90 years of age.
Fast forward about 80 years.
2013 When driving to Arizona in January of 2013, we tried to find the cemetery in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Find a Grave does not show George and Mary buried there, but I thought they must be. However, we could not find their graves because we couldn't even find the cemetery.
2014 In January we drove right by Tucumcari, New Mexico. Rats, I really had hoped we could stop.
2014 Finally, success. December 29, 2014, we found the grave of my great great grandparents, George and Mary Smith. Only a few years ago, I didn't even know their names. As I stood there looking at their stone, I suddenly wondered if my mother, Mary, had been named for this ancestor, her great grandmother.
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