L. Windsor Smith – Robert arrives and tragedy strikes

Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series

Evie Spencer Smith gave birth to Robert Windsor Smith in Key West, Florida on April 29th, 1841. Larned Windsor Smith was still serving in his position as a U.S. District Attorney for the southern district of Florida. He served in that capacity until sometime in 1842 when he was succeeded by George W. McRae.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to uncover much information about the Smith family during this period. It is possible that Larned was working as an attorney for hire, but that is just speculation. We do know that on March 3rd, 1845 Florida became the 27th state admitted to the Union. Six months later on September 11th, 1845, Larned and Evie welcomed a second son, Clark Smith, to their family.

This must have been an idyllic time for the young family, but on October 11th, 1846 their lives would be turned upside down. The “Great Havana Hurricane” arrived in Key West that morning after already severely damaging Havana, Cuba.

“In Key West, widespread destruction was noted, with 40 deaths, many vessels rendered unfit, and widespread structural damage, with several buildings swept off of their foundations and hundreds of others flattened. Few supplies arrived in the following days and relief efforts were gradual, with few resources within the town’s vicinity.“

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1846_Havana_hurricane

Prominent attorney and port inspector Stephen Mallory wrote that of 600 houses all but eight were destroyed or damaged.

“The effects of the hurricane were terrible. The graveyard of this town on a high sand ridge on the Southern part of the Island was entirely washed away, and the dead were scattered throughout the forest, many of them lodged in trees.”

https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM8J7T_The_History_Of_The_Southernmost_Point_5_Key_West_FL

One can only imagine what the situation must have been like in Key West after the storm did so much destruction. I don’t know if Larned and his family persisted in the aftermath or removed elsewhere, and whether conditions due to fallout from the storm could be attributed as the cause, but four months after the storm on February 5th, 1847 their second son Clark Smith passed away at the age of ~1 year and 5 months.

I’m not sure of the specifics of the real estate transaction, but apparently at some point in 1847 Larned purchased 35 acres of land bordering “Old Town” (now known as the Key West Historic District). On November 3rd, 1847 Larned was once again appointed to U.S. District Attorney. One week later on November 10th, 1847 he sells some or all of his recently acquired 35 acres to the City of Key West for $400 so a new cemetery can be established. The street bordering the cemetery on the Southwest side still bears his name: Windsor Lane.

I cannot make a judgment as to whether the purchase and subsequent sale of the land was ultimately philanthropic or opportunistic. However, it would signal the close of this chapter of the Smith family’s life. They would soon embark on a move to a new home in Atlanta, Georgia, which at that time was still in its infancy.