John Archibald Smith
John A. Smith was born on the 27th of
December, 1873, a late Christmas present to his parents Donald C. Smith and
Caroline (Ramsay) Smith.1 Interestingly, in the
1920 census John's parents are both listed as having been born in Maine. It
doesn’t appear, however, that they ever left Prince Edward Island Canada, where
they were born and died. They were married
in 1867.
2
John A Smith and Sarah J Dickson Smith - Thanks Aunt Geri!
Records of John's early years are limited,
but we can piece together quite a bit.
His ancestry stretched back several generations on
Prince Edward Island, and before that to Scotland.
According to the 1920 Los Angeles County California census returns, John entered the United States in 1890. The 1891 Prince Edward Island Canada census shows him still living at home. So his entry into the states may have been pretty soon after that census. Based on the oral history of the family that his “aunt” Agnes owned some apartment buildings in Boston in her later years, it may be surmised that at least part of his family made the trip south with him. No records of an aunt Agnes in either the Ramsay or the Smith families (or marriages) have been found in the Prince Edward Island literature, as of December, 2008. It is likely that he was in Massachusetts from the time of his entry to the United States (or shortly thereafter) until sometime around 1905 or so when he took his new wife Sarah Jane (Dixon) Smith, whom he married in Massachusetts in 1897, and his daughter Gertrude C. (born in 1899 according to the 1900 census where the family lived in Middlesex Massachusetts) to the Drumheller precinct of Spokane Washington, clear across the states. His motivation for such a move has not withstood the intervening years. 1900 Census found at Ancestry.com.
From NEHGS database comes proof that 1897 is the correct date for John and Sarah Jane Dickson's marriage and it was in Boston. The records give the answer to who her parents were! The correlation of a John A Smith in the former and Sarah J Dickson in the latter (Both in Vol. 471 page 258) is a great find. Full Date Occupation Family data Records seem to prove conclusively that James Dunlop (1900 census), the man who married John and Sarah, was of Presbyterian leanings. His church in was in Roxbury, well south of John and sarah's 1900 census location in 1904, 1908 and 1915. Presbyterian was John's religion, does this mean that Sarah was not Catholic or that she was but abandoned it for John's religion? Were her nascent catholic beliefs the cause of friction with her daughter Dorothy after Morgan's birth and Dorothy's divorce from Morgan?
From the same source (NEHGS) this June 1897 map of the houses and streets of Everett Massachusetts where John and Sarah Smith lived in 1900! The path of the 1900 census taker can be seen as he (the enumerator's name was Thomas Valentine) walked Southwest down Chestnut Place hitting house 1 & 3 (our Smiths) and moving counterclockwise to 4 and 2 before moving Northwest one block to Hall street where he did the same. Sanborn fire insurance maps are the most frequently consulted maps in both public and academic libraries and are large-scale plans containing data that can be used to estimate the potential risk for urban structures. This includes information such as the outline of each building, the size, shape and construction materials, heights, and function of structures, location of windows and doors. The maps also give street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, building use, and house and block numbers.
It is possible that
some
amplifying data has been found detailing more precisely when, and with whose
help John A Smith was able to build a new life in Washington state. This
is not definite, but it is a strong possibility.
One view of his wife Sarah Jane's ancestry was that she was born to a shopkeeper in the county of Roscommon, in the district of Athlone, Ireland, by the name of John Dixon, and his wife Mary Anne (Moore) Dixon. Born on the 15th of November in the year 1872, on Main Street, Sarah most likely accompanied her parents over from Ireland in 1893.3 Jane's possible Birth certificate. This version has been proven incorrect with regard to mother's name with discovery of marriage record above.
One researcher with Prince Edward Island ties has the Roscommon, Ireland birth location, but a completely different set of parents. See Ira Smith's version of the pedigree (also accessible from early Smith ancestry page). This version has been updated from previous versions, but Ira' source of surname of Jane's mother is uncertain.
Another view holds that a John and Margaret were Sarah Jane's parents: "On a family group sheet submitted by Gertrude Clara Smith, sister of Dorothy or Dorothea Smith, she names John Dickson and Margaret Bingham as Sarah Jane's parents. I did find a couple by that name in the 1901 Ireland Census of Drumadonald, Down Co. John was age 61 and Margaret age 66 which would make them the right age to be Sarah Jane's parents. No proof since Sarah Jane was in America before then. There were only 4 Dickson families on the entire census and they were all grouped together at the very end of the roll of film I viewed. Interestingly, the census record showed their names as 'Dickson', but the actual record was signed 'Dixon' "- Geri Leighton Friday, December 06, 2002 1:23 PM The problem with this is that in 1931, when Gertrude filled out the death certificate information, she didn't appear to know her grandparents' names. Additionally, from the LDS website, it appears as if the submitter was actually Erma L. Cowgill, likely a daughter of Gertrude. This above map of Ireland shows the Free State and the counties comprising Northern Ireland. Gertrude, Sarah's daughter, in her 1930 census return, states her mother was born in the Free State. The 1930 census return of the lady believed to be our Sarah J Dickson Smith states she was from Northern Ireland. Obviously, more research is needed.
In 1903, John and Sarah had a child who does not later appear with the family. Significantly, this narrows down the time for migration from Boston to Spokane Washington, where this birth took place to before 7 June 1903.
On the 26th day of September, 1906, Dorothy
Marian Smith was
born to the couple. They were to refer to her as Daisy for
many years to come.
Getrude and Dorothea Smith c 1909
In July of 1909, according to the
census conducted on
the 24th of April 1910, the following year, a son was born to the Smith household.
The record states the birth occurred in
June 1909. The census is difficult to read, but the
name appears to be an unusual one, Kirmit (From other records). This son is not to appear on the census of a
decade later, and one wonders whether he was one of the many children who died
in their early years at this period in our country's history.
Kirmet R Smith's 10 September 1910 death recorded in Washington death records (his birth was likely on or around 22 June 1909) - from Familysearchlabs.org
What the 1900 census, the 1903 birth, the 1906
birth, the 1909 birth and the 1910 census, with the addresses the records
contain, all tell us is that John and Sarah moved around a lot and dealt with
many changes in that first decade of the 20th century. Then, sometime in the winter of 1911/1912, John
brought his family south to Los Angeles county California.4
According to oral history surviving in the
family, John drove for Pacific Electric Railroad from San Bernadino to Santa
Monica, where he lived. Before driving for PE, he "owned 1/2 of Dragon's
Den, which burned down around 1914".5
Research undertaken by the Sierra Research Center, in cooperation with the San
Diego Public Library (Coronado branch), confirms that on the evening of
Tuesday, the 3rd of September, 1912, a huge fire roared unchecked into the
night from Ocean Park (now part of Santa Monica). According to the Los Angeles
Times of September 4th, 5th and 7th, thousands of people watched the horrendous
blaze with horror. Among the many buildings and concessions destroyed along
with Fraser's "Million Dollar Pier", was the "Dragon's Gorge", a building which contained a number of
concessions such as a cafe, a roller coaster, an auto maze and others. The fire
was believed to have been started from a cigarette thrown carelessly into a
heap of bedding (arson?). According to the newspaper articles, the fire was so
great that if the wind hadn't changed direction, all of Santa Monica itself was
in danger of catching fire. At least 5 people died and scores were injured in
the blaze. Literally hundreds were made homeless in an inferno which was
estimated to cost (in 1912 dollars) three million. According to the L.A. Times
of the next day:
"One of the most awe-inspiring sights of
the conflagration was the burning of the Dragon's Gorge, a $200,000 amusement
resort owned by Charles Hyle and others. The sight was far from spectacular to
Hyle's eyes, as he had no insurance and watched $100,000 worth of his own
property go up in flames. The gorge burned in the space of a few minutes. The
painted canvas minarets and towers blazed up and sent millions of sparks flying
out to sea. Floating out over the water they had the appearance of immense
swarms of glow worms.
Just to the north of the Dragon's Gorge was
one of the many 'refugee camps'. There were nearly a dozen of these scattered
about Ocean Park, all of them filled with people keeping a jealous guard over
the few things they had been able to save from the fire. Children were lying
asleep on the sand, some of them covered with a few pieces of bed clothing,
while others were wrapped in table cloths and rags to keep warm while they
slept."6
Additional reports of haunted history of Ocean Park and Dragon's Gorge can be found in a search through old Los Angeles Times newspaper articles.
Newspaper accounts of the blaze: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
John's attempt to become a businessman like
his “aunt” in Boston had failed. While the city of Ocean Park immediately went
ahead with new plans to build a new and better pier, it is doubtful that John
had anything to do with it. That any oral history at all survives the
generations indicates the severity of the situation for John and Sarah.
New Data (8Sept04) - John Archibould Smith's WW1 Registration papers! - From Ancestry.com!
According to the
1920 census
returns, John
and his wife were naturalized in 1909. This occurred most likely in Spokane,
but as of yet, no records for a more precise date have been located.
John went to work for
Pacific Electric as a
machinist. He did this until his
death on
August 12th, 1920 of Uremia and a dilation of the heart. His wife Sarah and he
had lived at 237 W. 62nd street. He had been in the hospital for three days and
died early in the morning (2:30 am) of Aug 11/12. He had been 46 years old. His
daughter Dorothy was a month and two weeks away from her 14th birthday.
Was
he involved in this construction?
Map of Pacific Electric routes unknown how accurate during John's time A representative train from the era
Dorothy was
married to Herbert Morgan Harris on the 29th of August, 1924 under less than
ideal circumstances.7 Her mother Sarah must
have been a comfort to her in the pain which followed. But since Sarah's death
certificate was filled out by a lady named Gertrude Cowgill ( her eldest daughter), one wonders how
close their relationship was. How much had the death of her husband affected
Sarah? She died on the 24th of October at 7:10 am of chronic Myocarditis, which
she had had for 10-15 years, and a ruptured heart muscle which happened two
days prior to her death. Unlike her husband, who was buried back in Spokane
Washington, Sarah (Dixon) Smith was buried in Inglewood cemetery three days
later. She was a little over two weeks shy of her 58th birthday. It is unknown
whether she spent much time with her grandson Hubert Kirmet Harris (who would
go through life as Jack Kenneth Leighton). He was only six years old when she
died.
Probable Sarah Smith, widow of John Archibald in 1930 federal census - age of marriage (25 fits her 1897 marriage), age, widowed, location, 1910 fits well with 1909 (in earlier census) for naturalization date (if not "immigration" date specified on census), and place of birth all fit for our Sarah. Another look through California 1930 census returns shows few other Sarah Smiths who match any of these characteristics, and none match all of them as does this lady. Subsequent research into our Sarah's life before she married John in Boston match this woman's occupation, as well. After his death she found employment with a family who had locations in common with her (Canada and Ireland) and she returned to an occupation she knew about.
Dorothy (Smith) Holland in 1930 census! - found 08Feb04 at Ancestry.com Amplification on who the head of the house was - Frances B Markey with husband William in 1920 census
Dorothy Marian Smith
Leighton's social security application
Dorothy Smith with husband Roland Leighton
From L.A. Public Library, these Los Angeles directories A B C D with Smith and Markey. 1911-1922 John Smiths, latter two also have Sarah Smiths. Dorothy Smith, Roland Leighton, Frances Markey in latter volumes. Bolded are confirmed "ours": 1911 B cvr * 1912 cvr * 1913 cvr intro * 1914 B cvr * 1915 cvr * 1916 * 1918 cvr * 1920 B C cvr * 1921 cvr * 1922 B C cvr * 1923 cvr * 1924 cvr * 1925 Frances Markey (widow) cvr * 1926 Dorothy and John N Holland (not ours) C cvr * 1929 - Wm H Markey Dorothy Holland B cvr * 1930 cvr info * 1931 Dorothy Holland cvr * 1934 - Roland and Dorothy Leighton cvr * 1935 - Roland and Dorothy Leighton zoom * 1936 cvr
By matching the above Los Angeles city directories acquired at the LA Public Library in January with the LA voting records (Republican in every one) on Ancestry.com we find Sarah Jane (Dickson) Smith after the death of John A. She was living with her daughter Gertrude and her husband. This doesn't illuminate why she and Dorothy didn't get along (other than the fact that Dorothy was of the opposite political party for every return we have), but it does shed some light on how Sarah fared and where she lived, and worked for a while as a machine operator, it seems. It is interesting to compare Sarah's stable addresses with Dorothy's various addresses (and marriages) for the same period. Sarah: 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 * Gertrude: 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1934
Dorothy Holland in 1928 California voting records with "Nana" Frances Markey living on Miramonte street in Los Angeles
William Holland's Ancestry.com birth record (22 June 1928) - note Dorothy's maiden name given as Markey, not Smith: what happened to Mr Holland? Jean Leighton has stated Bill's father was James, so 1926 directory of John N probably not ours. 1926 voting record shows this Dorothy as a Republican (and so, she is probably not ours) Was Bill's blindness a motivation for abandonment? His memorial card from Jean Leighton's files.
Dorothy Holland in 1930 California voting records with "Nana" Frances Markey living on Miramonte street in Los Angeles - it would seem that Dorothy was living with 'nana' from 1928 until her marriage to Roland in or after 1931.
Dorothy Leighton in 1932 California voting records - she and Roland do not appear in any further voting records until these below, probably due to depression and extreme poverty
1938-40 California Voter lists (both Roland, a fireman, and Dorothy are listed as Democrats) 2 - Santa Barbara
1942-44 California Voter lists (both Roland, a fireman, and Dorothy are listed as Democrats 2 - Santa Barbara
Dorothy (Smith) Harris - Holland - Leighton - Robbins tombstone, obituary, and cemetery
Aunt Geri has sent
some memories of Dorothy and her life but it does not yet seem appropriate to
post most of these on the internet.
This on her relationships
Listing of earthquakes - difficult to tell which impacted Roland Leighton by destroying eggs and bankrupting him.
Some information on Gertrude C Smith Cowgill and husband William
Sources:
1.
Death certificate of John A. Smith filed in the state of
California.
2.
Letter to Jean Leighton of
20 March 1962 from the Division of Vital Statistics of the Province of Prince
Edward Island, Canada. Passed down within the family.
3.
Birth certificate acquired from Ireland on the
24th of March, 1962 by Jean Leighton and passed down in the family; 1920 LA
Calif. census returns.
4. Based on the death
certificates of both John and
Sarah
Smith
and the timing of the fire of September 1912.
5. Based on Notes taken by
Jean Leighton during her genealogical studies in the 1960's and passed down
within the family.
6. Los Angeles Times newspaper
Sept 4th, 1912 page 6, far right column.
7. Covered more extensively
under
Elmer Morgan Harris'
biography.