Pages

November 25, 2012

The Children (and grandchildren) of Francis Marion "Frank" Smith

Francis Marion "Frank" Smith was born on November 24, 1867 to James Luther and Henrietta DeGlando Smith.  On September 19, 1886, he married Nettie Watson.  Nettie was born on September 4, 1868 in Harrisonburg.

Frank died on July 7, 1953 and Nettie died on August 9, 1946.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.


Frank and Nettie had the following children: 



Isom James was born on August 3, 1887.  He was a railroad agent at a small depot in Chase for about a year.  While there he met and married Otis McNair in 1914.  Otis was born on April 9, 1991.  Isom and Otis later moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where Isom followed his grandfather's vocation of carpentry.  During the 1930s they moved to Sicily Island.  (Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith)

Isom and Otis had the following children:
Eugenia, 1915-2001 (m. Robert Ritchie, 1918-1974)
Howard Louis, 1919-1998

Isom died on November 30, 1972 and Otis died on April 22, 1976.  Both are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's Note:  Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)



Jennie was born on October 24, 1888.  In 1914, she married Shelleah Polk "S. P." Cantrell.  S. P. was born on June 19, 1885.  He was employed by the railroad and came to Sicily Island during the construction of the railroad through here.  After the completion of the work, they moved to Little Rock, Arkansas.  After S. P.'s death, Jennie and her children moved back to Sicily Island. (Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith)

The following children were born to Jennie and S. P.:
Fay Lea, 1916-2000 (m. Byron Odell "Bo" Robertson)
Sadie Raye, 1917-2000 (m. Clyde M. Garbett)
Shelleah Polk, Jr., 1924-1973

Jennie died on March 27, 1963 and S. P. died on February 5, 1937.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.




Mollie B. was born on October 16, 1890.  In 1912, she married Fredrick Timothy "Fred" Chambless, who was born on April 15, 1888.  Fred was a relief depot agent in Sicily Island when they married.  After their marriage, they moved to Huttig, Arkansas for two years.  Fred was transferred back to Sicily Island around 1915 where they remained until their retirement.  (Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith)

Mollie and Fred had the following children:

Lewis, 1914-?
Mabel Louise, 1916-2001 (m. Mark Dudely Wentz)
Marguerite, 1919-1984 (m. Charles Gordon)
Fredrick Francis, 1921-1999 (m. Barbara Nell Passman)
Jessica, 1924-1936

Mollie died on February 16, 1970 and Fred died on July 20, 1975.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.


Jessie was born on August 16, 1892.  In 1913, she married Thomas Jefferson "T. J." Peniston.  T. J., born on May 1, 1889, was the son of Horace Marshall and Anna Doniphan Peniston.  Jessie and T. J. lived on Highway 15, across the street from the old Graves Super Store, near the old DMV / S.I. Substation.

Jessie and T. J. had the following children:
Horace M, 1917-? (m. Marie Wactor)
Inez, 1919-?
Thomas Jefferson, Jr., 1920-1972
Frank Wallace, 1928-1946

Jessie died on September 12, 1988 and T. J. died on July 9, 1977.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.



Clayton Francis was born on March 8, 1894.  In 1921, he married Willie May Sapp.  Willie May, born April 15, 1900, was the daughter of Asa Jourdon and Mary Elizabeth Glover Sapp.  She and Clayton lived in Sicily Island for a few years while Clayton worked for the railroad.  They later moved to Baton Rouge where he worked for Standard Oil Company.  

Clayton and Willie May had one child named Frances.

Clayton died on October 23, 1970 and Willie May died on June 24, 1972.  Both are buried in Roselawn Memorial Park in Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of Mary Agnes Hammett at FindAGrave.com)



William Edward "Buck" was born on April 9, 1896.  In 1915, he married Mildred M. Harris, who was the daughter of Richard Hines and Laura Archer Scott Harris, Jr.  Mildred was born on June 23, 1898. 

Buck drove a livery buggy for Edmon Clark Chambers before going to work with the railroad.  Buck and Mildred opened a restaurant in the lower floor of the The Woodmen Hall, then later moved across the street where they had a grocery store and a short-order cafe.  Buck also had a contract to carry the mail from the post office to the depot and back to the post office.  During WWII, Buck did construction work out of town with A. A. Tucker.  Afterward, he and Mildred returned home and built a small store beside their home which Mildred operated while Buck truck-farmed.  He always had an abundance of beautiful vegetables which he sold and generously shared with friends.  He was an avid fisherman with the reputation of knowing where the big white perch were biting.  (Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith)

The following children were born to the marriage of Buck and Mildred:
Geraldine M, 1916-?
Clayton Francis "Sonny", 1918-2003 (m. Mildred "Mickie" Farmer)
Richard Dunbar, 1920-1992 (m. 1.Nadine Freda Husher; 2.Winnie Wynn)
Kay, 1938-?

Buck died on December 24, 1964 and Mildred died on September 25, 1975.  Both are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's Note:  Tombstone photograph is courtesy of Dorothy S. Tiser at FindAGrave.com)


Sadye (twin to Sidney Usher) was born on January 6, 1898.  She married Marvin Bishop Nolen, Sr. in  May of 1920.  Marvin, born on January 12, 1894, came to Sicily Island to supervise railroad work.  As a supervisor, he traveled from one location to another as directed and Sadye and son traveled with him.  When their son, Marvin Bishop, Jr. was school age, Marvin, Sr.and Sadye purchased a house in Sicily Island so their son could attend one school without being moved so often during the school year.  In the summers, they continued to travel with Marvin, Sr.  (Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith)

A 1956 article was written by Mary Scott Hair in The Ozarks Mountaineers about Sadye and her roving home of 36 years.  The title of the article was 'Bunk Car Lady'-Life on a Railroad Work Train.

Sadye and Marvin, Sr. had one child, Marvin Bishop Nolen, Jr., born in 1923.

Sadye died on May 28, 1957 and Marvin, Sr. died on June 27, 1976.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.












Sidney Usher (twin to Sadye) was born on January 6, 1898.  In 1921, he married Lillian Vic who was born on December 21, 1900 in Clinton, Louisiana.  Lillian was teaching school in Sicily Island when they married.  Shortly afterward, they moved to Baton Rouge where Sidney worked for Standard Oil Company.  

Sidney and Lillian had the following children:
Sidney Fred, 1921-?
Lionel Moore, 1929-1982

Sidney died on February 14, 1968 and Lillian died on August 31, 1863.  Both are buried in Roselawn Memorial Park, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.  No photographs of their tombstones are available at this time.

2 comments:

  1. Sadie Raye was my grandmother. I was indirectly named after Sheallah Polk, or SP, the great uncle "Cheese", as my initials are SP (Shawn Patrick). Bo and Faye raised my father and he took after his mannerisms. Wonderful people, and I remember going to Sicily Island and visiting many times as a child. I still have Jennie's Duncan table.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Shawn, Thank you for commenting. Jennie's father, Francis Marion "Frank" Smith was a brother to my 2great grandmother, Virginia. I also remember Bo as the milkman who delivered milk to my grandfather's drive-in there in Sicily Island.

      Delete