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John C. Smith
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According to the 1840 Mobile City, Alabama, Census records, JOHN C. SMITH is the most likely person to be the father of Maria Smith. Neither JOHN nor a wife can be found on the 1850 Mobile City, Alabama, Census. Mobile burial records show 7 JOHN SMITH's & 7 female Smith's to have died between 1840-50. It is known that Maria's family came to America from Ireland & lived in New York before settling in Mobile City, Alabama. The family tells the story that Ed Smith discovered a silver mine in California. He wanted his brother-in-law, Henry Turner, to move to California, but Henry would not. Ed sent his sister Maria Turner Smith a shell shaped berry spoon made from the silver from his mine. I can find no evidence of this being true. Ed did send Maria a silver shell shaped berry spoon from California, but according to the 1870 and 1880 California Census, Ed was a Dairyman. In his letters to his niece Maggie he refers to collecting his milk money. He also speaks about Mary before they were married in 1869 and again as his wife in 1870. He mentions Michael in his letters and the 1880 Census shows him as his brother. Also living with him is an unmarried brother-in-law and an unmarried sister-in-law by the last name of Moore. Therefore, his wife must be Mary Moore. Ed Smith and his sister Maria both named their first daughters Kate - perhaps the name of their mother. The 1880 Census shows that Ed, Michael, and both their parents were born in Ireland. References: Marie Alberta Kastner ---------- 1840 Mobile City, Alabama, Census JOHN C. SMITH 1 m 10 - 15 1 m 15 - 20 7 m 20 - 30 4 m 30 - 40 2 m 40 - 50 2 f 10 - 15 2 f 20 - 30 - Maria & Julia? 1 f 40 - 50 ---------- 1850 Mobile City, Alabama, Census p. 358 Jno Sloan 28 Ireland Julia 31 Ireland Jane 11 New York Edward Smith 14 New York p. 486 Michael Smith 30 Ireland p. 302 Henry Turner & family - see their statistics ---------- 1870 Santa Clara Township County P. O. Alvids, California, Census p. 186 Smith, Edward 37 Milkman Ireland Mary 26 Wisconsin Michael 49 Milkman Ireland Cunning, Frank 30 Driving Milk Wagon Indiana ---------- 1880 Santa Clara County, California, Census p. 46 391/409 Lived on Empire Street Smith, Edward S. 47 Dairyman Ireland Ireland Ireland Mary E. 36 Wife Wisconsin Ireland Ireland Kate 9 Dau Calif Ireland Wisconsin Hellen 7 Dau " " " Edward M. 5 Son " " " Charles M. 3 Son " " " Michael A. 60 Brother Ireland Ireland Ireland Moore, Neetie G. 27 Sister-in-law Wisc Ireland Ireland Charles T. 30 Brother-in-law Wisc Ireland Ireland Leaky, William 25 Servant California ---------- To Maggie Turner Lewis from Ed Smith brother of her mother Maria Smith Turner San Jose Dec 27, 1869 Dear Niece, Maggie your of 12 came to hand and I can assure you it was a Christmas treat. That is the kind of letters that I like to receive and no mistake. I think that my Scolding has had a good effect of you as that is the best letter that I have gotten I sometime and I think I will have to start in after Kate if she does not improve before long. Your Ma has written at last. I gave him the letter he prefers getting letters that way as he has no time to write and think that I might do his writing he is pleased to hear from Mobile and Sends his love to all the long looked for rain has come at last and farmers look pleased it rained A Christmas morning cleared of about noon I had invitation from Miss Tully to turkey with her. I accepted of course and took out a friend of hers Miss Kate Doody and remained until Sunday afternoon and had a very nice time of it I busted the buttons of my vest eating or laughing. I don't know which. You may think that I was tight but are very much mistaken as the wine was very weak and we did not have anything stronger. I only had one glass of eggnog on Christmas and Kate made that so I have no headache today. I might have enjoyed myself better in Mobile. Mary spent her Christmas in San Francisco with a friend I have terrible hankering after that girl. I was in hopes she would be married before I got back but she had no such good luck. So I have to bother my head about her She is the only one that gave me a Christmas present of all my female acquaintances. I suppose you all got loaded down with presents. I did not make a present as I did not like to make hard feelings. I did propose giving a pair of Mocking birds away and the requested me to keep and feed them until the wanted them. What would you do in a case of that kind keep them I suppose. Well when New Years if over then we will have to turn over a new leaf and do better as their May be room for improvements in us all. The streets is quite muddy from the last rain and it is not very pleasant getting around a foot it does not dry up as fast here as it does in your burgh. Maggie you did not say any thing about that protector you say you will grow a little. Oh please don't grow larger. I think you are getting tired of my nonsense. give my love to your father, mother, Kate, Mary, Charles, and Louis. I should like to see Louis pout once to keep it fresh in my memory. Also to Mr. & Mrs. O'Connel, John & Katy and Susan and to Mr. Mrs Yeind and family. Also to Mr. & Mrs. S. D. Hooks and family and Cha Hooks and family and Jesse Harris. How is she. Hoping this will find you all as well as it leaves me at present I will bid you good bye from your affectionate Uncle Edward S. Smith ---------- To Maggie Turner Lewis from Ed Smith brother of her mother Maria Smith Turner San Jose June 12, 1870 Dear Niece, Maggie your surprise arrived safe and gave me great pleasure to know that I had one niece that would write occasionally. I hope you all will escape that dreadful disease that is prevailing in your City. I think you would be out of danger across the bay. And if you should go over the bay you would have use for the linen coat by Sewing up the front--you must excuse me if I neglected answering one of your letters as I might have been in doubt as to what name to address it to but I see their has been no change yet therefore I can write withe Safety and make no mistakes how is "Johnny" everything's progressing all round satisfactory no "Doubt" your sickness was not caused by not writing to me no by writing to me. Then what caused it Some little nonsense quite likely. (This was before Maggie's marriage to Arthur Lewis and it sounds as if her boyfriend was John somebody instead of Eugene Sweeney - Eugene's letters were not love letters). The birds are healthy billy as well. A little dull thats all. The old bird is the best of all. I intended to send you a spoon by Mrs. Ulmer. She left we thought. My seeing hers quite likely you have see her before this and she will tell you all about my intention. I sent through the post office a small box containing a pair of earrings and sleeve buttons to Mary (Maggie's sister) if she should ever get them. If the are to long she can take them apart and make two pair. The pin had been sold. the letter is registered. Sly boots has been down to see you with her Mother where is her husband and how does Maggie look. You all seem to have come to the conclusion that I am coming to Mobile in the fall I did not say so I might and I might not circumstances alter cases. I have got an interest in the gift entertainment and if I should draw 50,000 dollars you may look for me on the first boat -- it does not come off before the first of September Maggie you see it takes very little to Satisfy me. Michael joins me in Sending love to all. Hoping that this will find you all as well as it leaves us at present. I remain your affectionate uncle. Edward S. Smith ---------- To Maggie Turner Lewis from Ed Smith brother of her mother Maria Smith Turner San Jose August 13, 1870 Dear Niece, Maggie you must excuse me for not writing Sooner. As I have had a good deal on hand at one time. doing something new to me. And it was quite a job to do in a workman like manner. The thing is did as well as Father Gray could do it and I am living at home like a white man. The first home I ever possessed and it Seems so good that I cant stay away from it long enough to collect Milk bills. I have a nice Shanty on that beautiful road between San Jose and Santa Clara and everything a reasonable man could ask for I expect more when the Gift enterprise comes of the last of October then if I am lucky all right. Maggie I don't know about that (are Hair) I am getting bald and my wife objects to my giving my few hairs away to anybody but you. I shall comply withe your request the first opportunity I only wish you could see how nicely I am fixed up I know it would do you all good. And wishe one that I love and loves me in return it is domestic bliss sure enough Michael is here and seem happy also and we are all enjoying the best of health and hope you have the same blessing the cake and champagne is about all gone if I thought there was any prospect of your coming soon I should save a piece. I am afraid it would be to stale for use. tell Mary I shall answer her letter when I get over my surprise on receiving a letter from her. Mary must send me her picture as I have plenty of room in our album for my relations and friends give my love to Mrs. O'Connell and Kate also to John & Eddy. And tell Kate I got married in the Nice Shirt she made for the purpose jesting it turned out in ernest. Such is life every year bring "Some new thing". Michael joins me the old lady in sending love to all give my respects to all inquiring friends, Yours truly, E. S. Smith
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