Rev. June Aldous Smith

Notes:

He was a Methodist Minister.

Family/Spouse: Bennie "Bennye" Louise Richards. Bennie was born on 25 Jan 1927 in San Augustine County, Texas; died on 18 Dec 2016 in San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas; was buried in Sunset Memorial Park, Nacogdoches, Nacogdoches County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Fred Wayne Smith was born on 9 Jul 1946 in Jasper County, Texas; died on 1 Mar 2018 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Hill Memorial Garden, San Augustine, San Augustine County, Texas.
2. Living

Notes:

"Old Timers of Sabine County, Texas" by Virgie Speights
Page 23

June Smith October 3, 1963

June Smith sat on the porch of his home near Pineland and regaled more than 100 persons at his 80th birthday party with tales of early days in East Texas.

Born at Sabinetown, he was the son of Henry and Martha Ann Morris Smith, and grandson of Shadrach Morris, who gave 200 acres of land in the early 1830s to found Sabinetown. His great grandfather, Gideon Morris, had donated a like amount for the founding of Morristown, Tennessee in the 1700s.

His father Henry Smith who died before he was born, came from England to teach school at Milam and Sabinetown. As a boy, he grew up the hard way, but with lots of fun and frolicking. He recalls working hard, long hours on logging rafts, floating logs to Orange. He did the cooking before he was old enough to push logs.

Frank Davis, a mail contractor, hired him at the sum of $5.00 a month to carry the mail from Hemphill to Geneva, when he was just a boy.

At the age of 18, Mr. Smith helped to move his sister and family, the Ide Russells from Louisiana across the Sabine to Sabine County. There was a post office, a church, a school, a doctor, F.S. Love and 52 families. June Smith stayed there and farmed, first with his sister's family and then with his own until recently when he had to move nearer a doctor. His wife the former Miss Vessie Brittain, is an invalid since a fall a few years ago, which broke her hip. His was the last family to leave this now deserted community. He moved over to Pineland to live in a house owned by his son, Brittain Smith, who lives nearby. He does, however, still drive over regularly to care for his cattle, fix fences and dream of wonderful years when he was raising his family there.
Not long after he helped move the Russells in an ox-drawn wagon, he met and married Miss Vessie Brittain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. S. Brittain. There was a church wedding in 1904 with Burnis and Mattie Lou Honeycutt Vickers as attendants.

The Brittains gave the couple 67 acres on which Ide Rusell helped his brother in law build a two room house with cypress shingles, stick and dirt chimney, big rooms and wide porches. There they worked hard, were self-sustaining and gradually prospered, buying more land, clearing and raising cotton for money crop, sheep for clothing, and hogs and cattle.

Mr. Smith refused to shear the sheep, but accommodating neighbors Abb Vickers and Perkins Harvey were willing to help out. He liked to raise hogs and trained his to come when he called. There was the whole country for the cattle, sheep, goats, horses and hogs to roam in, even being taken across the river into Louisiana when grass or cane shoots were better there.
Nothing was wasted. When land needed clearing, the whole community came in to help. Cooking went on for days, with food being cooked in huge iron pots. It was a frolic for the young people, who were expected to help in the work, though. The logs were used for houses, barns, rail fences, stove wood, etc.

At butchering time, the same community spirit prevailed and the same thrift and utilization of everything. Cold weather was necessary, and the meat saved by curing the smoke. Everyone had a smokehouse, quite large with a fire of hickory wood, kept smoldering for weeks in the center of the dirt floor. Meat was hung from the rafters to absorb that hickory flavor.

"They don't make that kind of meat these days," says Mr. Smith. They made what they called souse, now known as hogshead cheese. Excessive fat was trimmed off, after the sausage meat was set aside, and rendered into lard. Big iron pots outdoors over a fire were filled with these bits of fat, which were slowly stirred until nothing was left but cracklings. From these cracklings came the family soap. Lye, leeched from hardwood ashes, mixed with the cracklings, water added and cooked until bubbly thick. When cool, this soap was stored in crocks and used at laundry time. Clothes were boiled, after being soaked in soapy water, placed on a block and battled. This was to removed embedded soil from work cloths. The Smiths owned a "crackling squeezer", a luxury in those days, which squeezed the last bit of grease from the fat. Cracklings were also delicious cooked in cornbread. They also had a fine sausage mill.

Once Mr. Smith's four year old daughter, Eula, caught her finger in the sausage mill. Afraid to turn the mill for fear it would cut off her ginger, they carried her to Dr. Love, sausage hanging by a bit of skin. The doctor splinted it up and Eula, now Mrs. Judge Cordray, has her finger just a bit scarred.

Mr. Smith was active in church and community affairs. When the Rev CA Perkins an outstanding evangelist in the area, established the Methodist Sabine Circuit with both sides of the river as his charge, he credited Mr. Smith with being a factor in its establishment. He also owned the second car in Sabine County, a beautiful Model T Ford.

Besides Mrs. Cordray of Isla community, his children are Mrs. Zelma Blasingame of Garland, Texas, Reece Smith of the Sexton community, Brittain Smith of Pineland, and Aldous Smith, a Methodist Minister, of Dayton, Bulah, who married Roy Allen, died in 1930 and Clarence died in 1928. There are 19 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren.

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Texas, Sabine, JP 5
Enumerated 16 & 17 of January 1920 by Callin A. McDaniel
SD 326 ED 172 Sheet 10 A
184-185
Smith, J.A. Hd M W 36 M Tx England English Tx Farmer Own Fa
rm
Smith, Vessie Wife F W 34 M Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Beulah Dtr F W 14 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Eula Dtr F W 12 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Myrtis Dtr F W 9 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Reece Son M W 7 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Britton Son M W 5 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Clarence Son M W 10/12 Tx Tx Tx
Jones, Casey Servant M B 19 S Tx Ga Tx Farmhand

1930
Texas, Sabine County, JP 5
Enumerated April 14 & 15, 1930
ED 202-7, Sd 19 Sheet 4A Stamped 88
72-76
Smith, June A Hd Y M W 48 M 23 Tx England US Farmer
Smith, Docia M Wf F W 43 M 18 Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Reece T Son M W ? S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Smith, Britton L Son M W 12 S Tx Tx Tx Laborer Farm
Smith, Zelma Dtr F W 8 S Tx Tx Tx
Smith, Aldus Son W 6 S Tx Tx Tx
Britton, Margarett A Mother in law F W 68 Wd Tx Ga Al
Saupe?, Carme? Boarder F W 19? S Tx Tx Tx Teacher School

June married Vessie Mae Brittain about 1904. Vessie (daughter of Thomas Strouse "Bud" Brittain and Margaret "Peggy" A. Harvey) was born on 1 Oct 1886 in Time, Sabine County, Texas; died on 1 Oct 1968 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Liberty Springs Cemetery, Milam, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

It appears that Vissie's mother, Margarett E. Britton, a 68 year old widow, born in Texas, was living with them at the time of the 1930 Federal Census. Her father was born in Georgia, and her mother in Alabama. Her Texas Death Certificate indicates she was the daughter of Bud Brittian and Peggy Harvey. The informant was Mrs. Judge Cordray, a daughter.

Name: Vessie Mae Smith
Death Date: 01 Oct 1968
Death Place: Pineland, Precinct 2, Sabine, Texas
Gender: Female
Race: W
Death Age: 82 years
Estimated Birth Date:
Birth Date: 01 Oct 1886
Birthplace: Texas
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: Bud Brittian
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Peggy Harvy
Mother's Birthplace:
Occupation: Housewife
Place of Residence: Pineland, Precinct # 2, Sabine, Texas
Cemetery: Liberty Springs
Burial Place: Sabine County, Texas
Burial Date: 03 Oct 1968
Additional Relatives: X
Film Number: 2137188
Digital Film Number: 4188418
Image Number: 2673
Reference Number: cn 73705
Collection: Texas Deaths, 1890-1976


(Medical):Her death certificate also indicated she had been an invalid for about 40 years, with the cause unknown

Notes:

Married:
"There was a church wedding in 1904 with Burnis and Mattie Lou Honeycutt Vickers as attendants.

Henry married Mary Ann Morris before 1868. Mary (daughter of Shadrach H. Morris and Mary "Polly" Sarah Nelson) was born on 18 Feb 1836 in Louisiana; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married 1st a Roberts (sic) and 2nd Henry Smith. (White and Toole, p 63).

On the 1880 Sabine County census, a Robert Patrick, step-son, is listed in the household as well. (White and Toole, p 33).

Peggy Choate emailed, in February 2012, that " . Mary Ann was married first to Henry Patrick and they had 3 children: Ida Alice, Henry Hood and Robert Patrick. He died after the 3rd child was born. After Henry Patrick, died Mary Morris married Henry Smith. She then became know as Grandma Smith. She was present at my father's birth in Zwolle Louisiana in 1922. Present were Mary Ann Morris Patrick Smith, her daugheter Ida Alice Patrick Burns, granddaughter Mary Annie Burns Henderson and gtgranddaughter Martha Henderson McCormick and baby Hugh McCormick (my Dad). It seems that the women of that family are long lived."



(Research):

Census Listings:

1870 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Hemphill Beat No. 1, PO Hemphill
Enumerated 28 Jun 1870
Page 6
Smith, Henry 42 M W Teacher 500 200 England
Smith, Mary A 29 M W Keeping House La
Smith (sic), Ida Alice 8 F W La
Smith (sic), Henry H 6 M W Tx
Smith (sic), Robert L 5 M W Tx
Smith, Margaret 2 F W La
Smith, Simon W 1 M W Tx

1880 Census
Texas, Sabine County, JP 4
Enumerated 22 Jun 1880
Page 8 SD 1 ED 85
73-74
Smith, Henry W M 53 School Teacher England England England
Smith, Mary Ann W F 40 Wf Keeping House LA Tn NC
Smith, Margarett W F 11 Dtr At Home Tx
Smith, Morris W M 6 S Tx
Smith, Fountain W M 5 Son Tx
Smith, Eben W M 2 Son Tx
Patrick, Robert L W M 14 Stepson Tx

Notes:

Tombstone inscribed "At Rest-We will meet again-Aged 53 years and 3 months."

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Texas, Sabine County, Precinct 5
Enumerated 13 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 72 Sheet 14A
186-186
Brittain, Thomas S. Head W M Oct 1858 41 m 19 Tx Ark Tx Farmer
Brittain, Margaret Wf W F Feb 1863 37 M 19 3/3 Tx La La
Brittain, Robert Son W M Jan 1883 17 S Tx Tx Tx Farm Laborer
Brittain, Vessie M Dtr W F Oct 1886 13 S Tx Tx Tx
Brittain, Lena Dtr W F Sept 1892 7 S Tx Tx Tx

Thomas married Margaret "Peggy" A. Harvey on 26 Mar 1881. Margaret was born on 7 Feb 1862 in Texas; died on 2 Nov 1932 in Texas; was buried in Harvey Cemetery, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

White and Toole write that he "Rec'd a large Mexican grant of land in 1835, and gave 200 acres upon which Sabinetown was built, but in 1850 he is listed on the Sabine Parish (Many), Louisiana U.S. Census. Served in the War of 1812 from Louisiana." (White and Toole, p 63).

The Sabinetown Cemetery index lists his service as taking place with the Kentucky Pvt 10 Regt LA Militia War of 1812.

Kathy Casagranda notes that he is believed by some to be the son of Gideon Morris. He received 2,915 acres of land from a Mexican Land Grant on June 17, 1835. The Historical Marker in Sabinetown names him among the earliest settlers. (1850 Sabine Parish Census, p 78). Ann McElhaney does not think that he a son of Gideon Morris, as detailed in her notes below.

Ann McElhaney,annmclpc@aol.com, a descendant of Shadrach's son Amon Perry Morris, supplied the following biographical notes about Shadrach and Mary Morris:

Shadrach H Morris says on the census register that he was born in Kentucky. We know he was in Louisiana during the War of 1812.

Bettye Wagstaff has a census note of a census in LA in 1810 that is handwritten which she may have had for many years which lists: Shadrack Morris, 1-male under 5, 1-male 5-10, 1 male 30-40, 2 females under 5, 1 female 10-15, 1 female 20-30 Other information says Bib Creek, waters of the Tangipoha River, now Tangipahoa Parish, LA

84 Washington Parish 1810:
Shadrack Morris: 1 male 10-15, 1 male 80-90; 1 femail 10-15; 1 female 40-50 lived in the area of Sunny Hill and present day Mt. Herman, LA Shadrach H Morris is likely out of the house as he was old enough to fight shortly thereafter in the War of 1812.

We are told that he married Mary Sarah Nelson in Mississippi in 1822.

In 1820 Washington Parish, LA:
W.H. Morris: between the ages of 16-26 has a wife and two sons and a daughter
Wm Wadkins(Watkins)-father of Alfred J L Watkins who marries Mary Drucilla Kemp(parents of Mary Ann Watkins who will marry Amon Morris
Berry Wadkins(Watkins) brother to Alfred

In 1820 on the East Baton Rouge, LA census: Shadrach Morris _ _ _ 2 1 /no females. This would be Shad Sr, then Shad jr either lives with him at this time with one other 26-45 male or Shad jr is somewhere else and two brothers are at home. The following is possible: In the county next to Baton Rouge is Iberville Parish. In Iberville there is a Martin Nelson with a daughter the age of Mary Sarah Nelson. There are no other Nelsons in the area, that possibly this is how they met. Perhaps our information is incorrect and they married in LA or perhaps these Nelsons moved to Mississippi and Shad followed in hot pursuit to marry Sarah Nelson.

In 1830 I believe this is our Shadrach in Washington Parish, LA. The other Morris listed nearby are likely brothers as well as the Shadrach Sr who could be our Shad's father:

Shadrack Morris 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Shad is 30-40; wife is between 20-30

Bradford Kemp 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Kemp is 60-70

William Morris 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Will is 20-30

Whittenhall U.Morris 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Whitten is 30-39

Thomas Morris 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Thomas is 20-30


Shadrack Morris Sr. 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Shadrack M Sr is between 80-90-which does exactly jive with the info on the 1810 census

I am not certain that this completely demonstrates that Shad is not the son of Gideon Morris of Morristown, Tenn, but it is better evidence than anything else I am aware of us having. Gideon had a son named Shadrach, but we know he did not come south. Furthermore, the Morrisville folks deny there is any evidence that our Shad belongs to Gideon's group. There is some indication that there may be a connection between our Shad and Hamon Morris of Hamblen County, Tenn. Nevertheless if Shad said he was from Kentucky, that is all we have to go on for now. Our Shad could write and his signature is distinct so finding his signature anywhere is helpful.

The Bradford Kemp (1764-1838) listed in this census is most likely the father of Mary Drucilla Kemp who married Alfred J L Watkins.

1840 Natchitoches, LA: Shad and Mary Ann and 9 children. Also close in proximity and in the same Parish: G B(Green Berry) Watkins; A L(Alfred, Mary Ann's father)Watkins. Possible relations also present: Benjamin Morris-perhaps Shadrach's younger brother; John Nelson-perhaps Mary Sarah Nelson's brother.

In 1850 in Sabine County, Texas: William W. Watkins(who is Green Berry Watkins' son); Amon and family including his mother-in-law, Mary Drucilla Kemp Watkins; Shad and Sarah and family.

The 4 Smith girls who are living with Shad and Mary Sarah Morris are the daughters of Sarah's sister, Elizabeth Nelson who married John D. Smith. Both parents died. Shadrach and Sarah became the court-ordered guardians for the girls.

SMITH Sarah 12 F Texas
SMITH Elizabeth 10 F Texas
SMITH Emaline 8 F Texas
SMITH Lydia 6 F Texas

Shadrach married Mary "Polly" Sarah Nelson about 1820. Mary was born about 1807 in South Carolina; died about 1866 in Sabine County, Texas; was buried in Sabinetown, Sabine County, Texas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):

Ann McElhaney,annmclpc@aol.com, a descendant of Shadrach's son Amon Perry Morris, supplied the following information:

In case you want to help find Mary Sarah Nelson's parents, in Mississippi the following Nelsons are listed as in Mississippi:
1805 Mississippi Washington Dist: Christian Nelson
1810 Mississippi (territory) census: Ichabod Nelson
Amite County: David Nelson; Christian Nelson; Thomas Nelson
Lawrence Co: Eleazar Nelson; William Nelson
1820 Mississippi census: Lawrence County: William Nelson, Elisea Nelson
Warren County: Peter Nelson
1822, 1823, 1825 Mississippi: Wilkinson County: Hugh Nelson
1823 Mississippi: Claiborne County: William Nelson; James Nelson
?b?rdrbrdrsrdrw30rsp20 1824 Mississippi: Lawrence County: James Nelson?/b?