Brief Life History of William Orville
When William Orville Smith was born on 13 July 1879, in Weston, Platte, Missouri, United States, his father, Henry D Smith, was 39 and his mother, Georgia Frances Wells, was 26. He married Alice Mae Kenyon on 12 June 1907, in Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, United States. He lived in School District 39 Lower White Bird, Stillwater, Montana, United States in 1940 and Delta, Delta, Colorado, United States for about 1 years. He died on 20 January 1955, at the age of 75, and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Columbus, Stillwater, Montana, United States.
Photos and Memories (1)
Do you know William Orville? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account
Family Time Line
Sources (11)
- W O Smith, "United States 1950 Census"
- W. Orville Smith, "Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950"
- William O Smith, "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942"
Spouse and Children
1879–1955 Male
1884–1969 Female
Parents and Siblings
1840– Male
1853– Female
Siblings (1)
1879–1955 Male
World Events (8)
1881 · The Assassination of James Garfield
Age 2
1882
Age 3
1900 · Gold for Cash!
Age 21
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.
Discover Even More
As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.
