Orpha Jerome Smith

Brief Life History of Orpha Jerome

When Orpha Jerome Smith was born on 16 February 1831, in Kent, Litchfield, Connecticut, United States, her father, John Smith, was 35 and her mother, Betsey Mercy Chamberlain, was 32. She married Gaius Nathan Harmon on 29 August 1856, in Malone, Malone, Franklin, New York, United States. They were the parents of at least 6 sons and 1 daughter. She lived in Lawrenceville, Catskill, Greene, New York, United States in 1890 and Lawrence, St. Lawrence, New York, United States for about 5 years. She died on 30 December 1905, at the age of 74, and was buried in Hill Crest Cemetery, Lawrenceville, Lawrence, St. Lawrence, New York, United States.

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Family Time Line

Gaius Nathan Harmon
1826–1909
Orpha Jerome Smith
1831–1905
Marriage: 29 August 1856
Wirt Gaius Harmon
1857–1921
Dwight Dan Harmon
1869–1870
Benjamin Smith Harmon
1859–1916
Samuel E Harmon
1862–1962
Lillie B. Harmon
1865–1941
Schuyler C. Harmon
1866–1929
Dwight Dana Harmon
1870–1945

Sources (15)

  • Orpha Smith in household of John Smith, "United States Census, 1850"
  • Orpha J. Smith Harmon, "Find A Grave Index"
  • Orpha J Harmon in entry for Wint G Harmon and Mrs Louella Smith, "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950"

World Events (8)

1832 · The Black Hawk War

Convinced that a group of Native American tribes were hostile, The United States formed a frontier militia to stop them in their tracks. Even though Black Hawk was hoping to avoid bloodshed while trying to resettle on tribal land, U.S. officials opened fire on the Native Americans. Black Hawk then responded to this confrontation by successfully attacking the militia at the Battle of Stillman's Run and then left northward. After a few months the militia caught up with Black Hawk and his men and defeated them at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. While being weakened by hunger, injuries and desertion, Black Hawk and the rest of the many native survivors retreated towards the Mississippi. Unfortunately, Black Hawk and other leaders were later captured when they surrendered to the US forces and were then imprisoned for a year.

1844

Established in 1844.

1863

Abraham Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in Confederate states to be free.

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.

Possible Related Names

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