All ‘Smith family history’ blog posts in chronological order
- Smith family history: Part 1
Where are we and how did we get here? If you haven’t read my introduction yet, please head over there first: Introduction Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series In order to set the stage I think it’s important to start with an initial look at Robert Windsor Smith’s home in Kirkwood and how the… Read more: Smith family history: Part 1 - Smith family history: Part 2
L. Windsor Smith – Life in Herkimer County, New York Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Robert Windsor Smith’s father’s given name was Larned (a variant of Leonard) Windsor Smith. He seemed to more frequently go by L. Windsor Smith. Larned was born March 27th, 1802 in Fairfield, Herkimer County, New York. Interestingly, Larned… Read more: Smith family history: Part 2 - Smith family history: Part 3
L. Windsor Smith – NY to FL Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Sometime in 1835 I believe that Robert’s father L. Windsor Smith left his home in Herkimer County, New York and went South until he could go no further, eventually settling in Key West. The Florida Keys had become part of the… Read more: Smith family history: Part 3 - Smith family history: Part 4
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… Read more: Smith family history: Part 4 - Smith family history: Part 5
L. Windsor Smith – “Virtually in the wilderness” Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series After the devastation of the 1846 “Great Havana Hurricane” and the loss of 1 year old second son Clark Smith it is not difficult to see why Robert’s father Larned wanted to make a change. That change would be yet… Read more: Smith family history: Part 5 - Smith family history: Part 6
L. Windsor Smith – Initial Atlanta real estate transactions Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series On 12/16/1848 Robert Windsor Smith’s father acquired 21 1/4 acres from Charner Humphries, the owner of the White Hall tavern. Here are images of the recording of the DeKalb County deed, and following I will include my attempt to… Read more: Smith family history: Part 6 - Smith family history: Part 7
L. Windsor Smith – Early 1850s Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series In the early 1850s Atlanta was growing rapidly, in no small part due to the railroads converging on the place. However, Atlanta was still notably smaller than Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, and still less than half the size of Macon. City 1850 U.S.… Read more: Smith family history: Part 7 - Smith family history: Part 8
L. Windsor Smith – Mid-1850s to 1860 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series In the mid-1850s Atlanta was growing and so was the Smith family. Born over 12 years after Robert Windsor Smith, Leonard Windsor Smith was born May 12, 1853 in Atlanta. Throughout most of his life he is primarily referred to as… Read more: Smith family history: Part 8 - Smith family history: Part 9
L. Windsor Smith – GA to TN Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series After South Carolina seceded in December 1860, six more southern states followed suit by February 1861, including Georgia. On January 19, 1861 members of the Georgia Secession Convention voted, with 208 votes in favor of secession, and 89 opposed. On February… Read more: Smith family history: Part 9 - Smith family history: Part 10
L. Windsor Smith – Last will and estate Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Larned Windsor Smith passed away at his property acquired from Meredith Webb Legg in Cleveland, TN on Jul 7, 1861. Bradley county records were apparently burned by Union forces so there is no record of the transaction. I was able… Read more: Smith family history: Part 10 - Smith family history: Part 11
Smith – McNaught correspondence highlights Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series As I mentioned in the last post, the Atlanta History Center has in its collection correspondence between the Smith family and William McNaught. Finding this correspondence was a true stroke of luck, and I think highlights what an invaluable resource the Kenan Research… Read more: Smith family history: Part 11 - Smith family history: Part 12
Mary Cleveland Wright Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series As we saw in the last post, Robert became engaged to a “Mary W.” around three weeks after his father’s death in late July, 1861. Robert and Mary would eventually be married in March of 1864, despite the concerns Robert’s mother Eveline expressed in a… Read more: Smith family history: Part 12 - Smith family history: Part 13
Civil War Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series I’m certainly not a Civil War historian, but I will try to provide some contextual information along with comments specifically relevant to the Smith family. On September 29, 1862 Robert Windsor Smith had written to his uncle William McNaught stating: The Conscription Act has concluded to… Read more: Smith family history: Part 13 - Smith family history: Part 14
Civil War – Aftermath Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series In early 1865 Atlanta lay in ruins, Abraham Lincoln had been re-elected, and Sherman’s forces had completed their March to the Sea, capturing Savannah. Robert Windsor Smith was registered as a deserter on March 9, 1865 in Charleston, South Carolina. One month later on… Read more: Smith family history: Part 14 - Smith family history: Part 15
Reconstruction era – 1865-1868 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series V. T. Barnwell’s “Atlanta City Directory and Strangers’ Guide” was published sometime in mid-1867. It includes a “Condensed History of Atlanta” section that describes the circumstances of Atlanta residents returning after Sherman’s forces had effectively razed the city. By those who returned to Atlanta… Read more: Smith family history: Part 15 - Smith family history: Part 16
Reconstruction era – 1869 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series In early 1869 Robert Windsor Smith and his wife Mary were living in Atlanta. Mary was pregnant with their third child. Their first had died after only 3 months in 1866 and their son Eugene had turned 1 in September of 1868. Robert was… Read more: Smith family history: Part 16 - Smith family history: Part 17
Reconstruction era – 1870-1871 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Robert and Mary’s family was enumerated in the 1870 federal census on June 16, 1870. In addition to Robert, Mary (M C), son Eugene Everton (E E), and daughter Evelyn Alexander (E A) the census lists a 28 year old domestic servant, Lucia Turner,… Read more: Smith family history: Part 17 - Smith family history: Part 18
Reconstruction era – 1871-1873 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series In the early 1870’s Atlanta was still rapidly rebuilding, including the commercial and retail area of downtown. The (first) Kimball House hotel began construction in March 1870 and was still underway in October of that year. The Kimball House was an important symbol of… Read more: Smith family history: Part 18 - Smith family history: Part 19
Reconstruction era – 1874-1877 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series The Scofield v. McNaught case was decided in the Georgia Supreme Court January term in 1874. I’m certainly no lawyer and will spare you my attempt to try and interpret the decision, but feel free to read through it yourself. It is interesting to… Read more: Smith family history: Part 19 - Smith family history: Part 20
Gilded Age – 1877-1883 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Reconstruction had ended with the Compromise of 1877, and Georgia wasted little time in imposing Jim Crow laws like the 1877 statewide poll tax. The poll tax had existed in a previous form, but the 1877 poll tax required voters to also pay any… Read more: Smith family history: Part 20 - Smith family history: Part 21
Turk II – 1881-1887 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series A brief note today, about what may initially seem like an inconsequential fact. During the years 1881-1887, I was able to find mentions of Robert Windsor Smith owning, showing, and breeding a mastiff named Turk II. While the details of Robert’s activities with his… Read more: Smith family history: Part 21 - Smith family history: Part 22
Significant events 1888-1890 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series At the conclusion of the previous post I referred to a series of events leading up to Robert Windsor Smith’s move to the village of Kirkwood. In forthcoming posts I will provide a little background history on Kirkwood, but first will now discuss the significant… Read more: Smith family history: Part 22 - Smith family history: Part 23
Later residents of 339 Whitehall Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series As we saw in the previous post, several significant events led up to the Smith family’s move away from their home on Whitehall Street in ~1890. Robert Windsor Smith had lived on the Whitehall property for approximately forty years. The land was purchased… Read more: Smith family history: Part 23 - Smith family history: Part 24
Kirkwood facts and early settlers Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Part of the ‘Kirkwood history’ series In the next several posts I’ll be providing background on the Kirkwood neighborhood of Atlanta. Hopefully this will help shed some light on why the Smith family would have moved here from their home on Whitehall, or… Read more: Smith family history: Part 24 - Smith family history: Part 25
Kirkpatrick family Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Part of the ‘Kirkwood history’ series I have insufficient information (and inclination) to compile an exhaustive review of James Hutchinson Kirkpatrick, but I do think it’s a worthwhile endeavor to at least try to understand a bit more about the Kirkpatrick family’s landholdings, and the subsequent… Read more: Smith family history: Part 25 - Smith family history: Part 26
Robson family, part 1 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Part of the ‘Kirkwood history’ series As we saw at the end of the previous post, after James H. Kirkpatrick’s death in 1853, the majority of the Kirkpatrick family real estate holdings were willed to (favorite?) son Dr. John Lycan Kirkpatrick. Dr. Kirkpatrick served… Read more: Smith family history: Part 26 - Smith family history: Part 27
Robson family, part 2 Part of the ‘Smith family history’ series Part of the ‘Kirkwood history’ series I stopped by the DeKalb County courthouse again the other day to see if any of the missing deed books were returned to the shelves. It seems that books “L” through “P” are still missing, but the “G/Q”… Read more: Smith family history: Part 27
Birds of Kirkwood 