Smith Reunion in North Carolina

This is just a fun picture I came across. This is Aunt Rose, me, and Uncle Emerson from the family reunion we had in the Great Smokey Mountains in 2003 (I think).

Sean Patrick Smith

Sean Patrick Smith is the son of my Uncle Richie & Aunt Kellie. This makes him the great grandson of Harry Sr. & Elvira. My aunt just brought to my attention something very cool that I want to share with everyone. As you all know, Harry Sr. was born December 2, 1898. My cousin Sean was born December 2, 1998. This means that Sean was born on Harry Sr.'s 100th birthday. Pretty cool, I must say!

Obituary of Harry Sr.

The Twenty-Third Psalm
The Lord is my shephard; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

IN MEMORY OF
Harry L. Smith, Sr.

BORN
December 2, 1898
Seneca Falls, New York

DIED
January 4, 1994
Willard, New York

SERVICES
Eleven O'Clock Friday
January 7, 1994
Sanderson Funeral Home

OFFICIATING
Rev. Esther B. Wheeler
Tyre United Methodist Church
Tyre, New York

ORGANIST
Mrs. K Albert Nelson

PLACE OF INTERNMENT
Spring Brook Cemetery
Seneca Falls, New York

Emerson, Grandpa, Bob, & Harry Sr.

My grandpa said Harry Sr. lived for about 5 years after this picture was taken.

Waterloo Teen Electrocuted on High-Volt Pole

As y'all can see, some words on the right side of page are cut off but I did my best to figure it out.



WATERLOO- A 17-year-old boy died and his friend was injured when the two climbed a high-voltage electrical pole off the West River Road here yesterday.
Louis Carl Smith Jr., son of Louis and Jeannette Smith of 19 Swift St, was pronounced dead by Seneca County Coroner Arthur Schroeder.
A post-mortem examination by Dr. Paul C. Jenks at Taylor-Brown Memorial Hospital indicated that the death was an accident, and caused by electrocution, according to Schroeder.
State police said Smith and Robert Heye, 16, of 313 W. Main St., were descending the high pole when Smith apparently slipped and fell onto a live wire.
The Heye youth was burned on both hands when he climbed toward Smith and touched the boys shirt, police said. Heye was treated at Taylor-Brown and released.
A third youth, Tracey John Eannetta, 15, of 12 State St., was not injured but was examined at the hospital. Police said he had not climbed the pole.
State police said Smith and Heye had reached the top of the pole, in a remote wooded area between W. River Road and Barge Canal, and were on their way back down when the accident occurred, leaving the Smith boy draped over a crossbar some 60 feet above the ground. A New York State Electric and Gas Company crew turned off power at the Geneva su? station and used a lift-bucket truck to assist in retrieving the boy.
A crewman raised himself in the lift and another climbed the pole tower. Together they placed the boy in a safety belt and lowered him with ropes to the ground where he was pronounced dead.
Power in the Waterloo-Border city was off for more than two hours as the operation went underway.
Involved in the rescue attempt was North Seneca Falls ambulance crews, Waterloo fireman, and the Seneca County Sheriffs Department.
The Smith boy was a student at Waterloo Highschool.

Jackie & Jeannie

Harry Sr. & My Aunt Jackie


Elvira & My Mom at a family picnic at Cayuga Lake State Park

Junior

This is a picture of my grandpa when he was 8 months old. The bottom of the picture says "Bullock - Seneca Falls, New York."

Uncle Beanie & Regina

Here is a picture of Uncle Beanie & Regina when Regina was a year old.

Elvira Smith's Obituary

So it's not really an obituary, but I couldn't think of what to call it. It reads at left:

"O GOD of infinite compassion, who are the comforter of thy children; look down in thy tender love and pity, we beseech thee, upon thy servants. In the stillness of our hearts we entreat for them thy sustaining grace. Be thou their stay, their strength, and their shield, that trusting in thee they may know thy presence near, and in the assurance of thy love be delivered out of their distresses; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

The right reads:

Born
December 16th, 1907
MacDougall, New York

Died
September 29th, 1973
Waterloo, New York

Services
Two O'clock, Wednesday
October 3rd, 1973
Sanderson Funeral Home

Officiating
The Rev. Charles E. Bollinger
Trinity Episcopal Church
Seneca Falls, New York

Organist
Mrs. Wanda Marsh Williams

Place of Internment
Spring Brook Cemetery
Seneca Falls, New York



The additional card reads:

In Loving Memory of
ELVIRA M. SMITH
1907-1973

The Lord is my shepherd! I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of mine enemies; thou annointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Sanderson
FUNERAL SERVICE
Seneca Falls, New York

Grandma & Grandpa's 40th Anniversary

Harry Sr. & Elvira on their 40th wedding anniversary.

Birthday Wishes from Grandma & Grandpa

Here is a birthday card given to my Uncle Harry on his birthday by Harry Sr. & Elvira. It reads:

"Hi Harry. You are a big boy now and soon going to school. Little Richie is going to miss you. Be sure and blow all your candles out on your cake. I can just see you blowing. With all our love & xxxx Grandpa & Grandma."

Elvira's Baby Shower

This is another one of my FAVORITE things that I found in my grandparents' stuff. It is the invitation to Elvira's babyshower when she was pregnant with my grandpa. It says:

There will be a babyshower
for Elvira Smith
Date July 6
Time 8:00 PM
Place Mrs. M.W. Rice
Please Come.
Bring Harry!

The envelope is addressed to:

Mrs. Harry Smith
Black Brook Road
Seneca Falls, NY

And in the bottom, right corner it says RD #1.

Swineharts in the Census

Below is a listing of Swinehart's in the census from 1935, 1929, 1927 that the Seneca Falls historian sent over to me. It tells us at the bottom that Elvira's father, George, was a fireman.

Swinehart
Directories

1935 Elivra
Elery (Ellery) (wife Marguerite E. Seneca Knit) farm laborer 12 Rumsey St
Sylvester emp Hayts Corners boards 10 Rumsey St
George ( wife Myrtle) fireman Goulds 10 Rumsey St (head of house)
1929 Ella ( wife Marguerite Seneca Knit) clerk J.F. Ferrell 12 Rumsey St
George ( wife Myrtle) fireman Goulds 10 Rumsey St (head of household)
Ralph laborer 10 Rumsey St
Sylvester Seneca Falls Machine 10 Rumsey St
1927 Arthur ( wife Grace ) foundry worker Goulds res 46 Rumsey St
Ella E ( Elery) clerk J. Francis Ferrell 10 Rumsey St
George E. ( L. Myrtle) fireman Goulds 10 Rumsey St
Ralph laborer 10 Rumsey St

Story from the Seneca Falls Historian

The Seneca Falls local historian, Kathy Jans-Duffy, has been VERY helpful to me. She is not only doing all she can to tell me about the Smiths and Swineharts, but also helping me learn about my Grandma Sandy's family - the McDermotts and Irelands. At the end of one of her e-mails, she told me a story that I thought I would share with everyone. She said:

"I also remember him as my bus driver from 1954-1959, at the end of the year all of the kids on the bus would take up a collection for a gift. The "big" kids would figure out what to buy - I don't remember what we got him. "

I just thought it was pretty cool that I am all the way in Texas inquiring about my great grandpa, and she personally remembers him. She also included this picture. It is from the Mynderse Academy yearbook in 1957. Harry Sr. is in the front row, farthest right.

Uncle Davis

Thanks to Pam, I was able to obtain some information about Uncle Davis. Uncle Davis was the son of George & Edith Smith - brother of Harry Sr. He married Leeta Jones, and they had 3 children: Eudora, George, and Leeta. Here is a picture of Uncle Davis that was sent to me by the Seneca Falls Local Historian. It is from the Mynderse Academy yearbook in 1954. He was a custodian. He is in the top, left.

Letter from Grandpa

This is one of my most favorite things that I found in my grandparents' things. It is a letter that Harry Sr. wrote to my grandpa and his family. It is dated 12/17/1973 - about 3 months after Elvira passed away. The top, left reads: Seneca Falls, NY P1. The body reads the following:

“Dear Folks,
I received your letter with the pictures 12/10/73 three days from the time you mailed them. They are very nice. Thanks so much for sending them. I wish you all could have come with them. I do not think I can come down at this time due to conditions at this time. They tell me travel is limited some-what at this time. I hope to come at a later date. The weather at this time is very bad snowing very hard and blowing. I hope you are all in the best of health. I keep a going every day thank the good Lord. The familys are all well at this time. Robert and Valara are having a Christmas gathering at their house 12-22-73. Wish you folks could be with us. I have the grave stone at the grave for ma. I am sending a Christmas gift for all of you at this time. Twenty each for Jr and Sandy, five each for the little ones. You may use it as you see fit. I am a very poor shopper so buy what you think will be best for all. Merry Christmas. Please drop me a line anytime you have time. I love you all and wish you were here. With love, dad”

Smith/Swinehart Family Tree

As most of you know, I have been gathering any and all information possible about Harry Sr. and Elvira Mae Swinehart Smith's family tree. I have put all of the information that I have into a family tree that currently has 7 generations on it. It can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=wc5z27rib1&f=345061073580763792

Just copy the link, and paste it in your internet browser. I believe it will allow you to edit your own details, so please feel free to create an account and add to it. It allows you to add your profession, birth place, activities, notes, contact information, etc. There are also some birthdays missing, so please log in & add those. If you notice that family members are out of age sequence, it's because some have birthdays and some do not.