Bertha Smith

Brief Life History of Bertha

When Bertha Smith was born on 23 July 1873, in Polk Township, Washington, Indiana, United States, her father, George Washington Smith, was 24 and her mother, Martha Racena Finch, was 26. She married George Washington Murrow on 3 August 1893, in Delaware Township, Polk, Iowa, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in Washington Township, Greene, Iowa, United States in 1900 and Merrill Township, Newaygo, Michigan, United States for about 10 years. She died on 28 September 1956, in Newaygo, Michigan, United States, at the age of 83, and was buried in Lilley Township Cemetery, Bitely, Lilley Township, Newaygo, Michigan, United States.

Photos and Memories (1)

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Family Time Line

George Washington Murrow
1870–1927
Bertha Smith
1873–1956
Marriage: 3 August 1893
Harold Stanley Murrow
1894–1975
Robert Dale Murrow
1896–1939
Dorothy Murrow
1900–
Robert Dean Murrow
1905–1936
Daniel George Murrow
1911–1966

Sources (17)

  • Bertha Murrow in household of George W Murrow, "United States Census, 1920"
  • Bertha Smith, "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934"
  • Bertha Smith Murrow, "Find A Grave Index"

World Events (8)

1875 · A Treaty with Hawaii

In the Mid 1870s, The United States sought out the Kingdom of Hawaii to make a free trade agreement. The Treaty gave the Hawaiians access to the United States agricultural markets and it gave the United States a part of land which later became Pearl Harbor.

1879 · New State Capitol Building Dedicated

After the second state capitol had been destroyed, Michigan Governor Henry P. Baldwin initiated the passing of a bill that would cover the costs for a new building. The bill was adopted and raised over $1 million by a six year state income tax. Architect Elijah E. Myers' design named Tuebor, or I will defend, was selected and he was commissioned to design the new capitol building. The renaissance revival brick and sandstone building soared 267 feet from the ground and was dedicated on January 1, 1879.

1896 · Plessy vs. Ferguson

A landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation laws for public facilities if the segregated facilities were equal in quality. It's widely regarded as one of the worst decisions in U.S. Supreme Court history.

Name Meaning

English and Scottish: occupational name denoting a worker in metal, especially iron, such as a blacksmith or farrier, from Middle English smith ‘smith’ (Old English smith, probably a derivative of smītan ‘to strike, hammer’). Early examples are also found in the Latin form Faber . Metal-working was one of the earliest occupations for which specialist skills were required, and its importance ensured that this term and its equivalents in other languages were the most widespread of all occupational surnames in Europe. Medieval smiths were important not only in making horseshoes, plowshares, and other domestic articles, but above all for their skill in forging swords, other weapons, and armor. This is also the most frequent of all surnames in the US. It is very common among African Americans and Native Americans (see also 5 below). This surname (in any of the two possible English senses; see also below) is also found in Haiti. See also Smither .

English: from Middle English smithe ‘smithy, forge’ (Old English smiththe). The surname may be topographic, for someone who lived in or by a blacksmith's shop, occupational, for someone who worked in one, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Smitha in King's Nympton (Devon). Compare Smithey .

Irish and Scottish: sometimes adopted for Gaelic Mac Gobhann, Irish Mac Gabhann ‘son of the smith’. See McGowan .

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

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