Tag: William McNaught
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
