Willard Israel Smart

Male4 April 1846–3 September 1900

Brief Life History of Willard Israel

When Willard Israel Smart was born on 4 April 1846, in Stephenson, Illinois, United States, his father, Porter M. Smart, was 25 and his mother, Sarah Elmina Stowell, was 22. He married Florence Sarah Martin before 1878, in Argentina. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He lived in Somerville, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States in 1892. His occupation is listed as miner and civil engineer in Somerville, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States. He died on 3 September 1900, in Puerto Cortés, Cortés, Honduras, at the age of 54.

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Family Time Line

Willard Israel Smart
1846–1900
Florence Sarah Martin
1861–1910
Marriage: before 1878
Gordon Samuel Smart
1878–1934

Sources (6)

  • Willard Smart in household of Porter M Smart, "United States Census, 1850"
  • Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974 for Willard I Smart
  • 1860 United States Federal Census

Spouse and Children

  • Marriage
    before 1878Argentina

    • Children (1)

    Parents and Siblings

    Siblings (4)

    World Events (8)

    1848 · Chicago Board of Trade is organized

    Age 2

    Starting as a voluntary association to help buyers and sellers meet to negotiate and make contracts. The Chicago Board of Trade is one of the oldest futures and options exchanges in the world and it is open 22 hours per day to stay competitive.

    1856 · The Largest Map Company in the World

    Age 10

    William Rand opened a small printing shop in Chicago. Doing most of the work himself for the first two years he decided to hire some help. Rand Hired Andrew McNally, an Irish Immigrant, to work in his shop. After doing business with the Chicago Tribune, Rand and McNally were hired to run the Tribune's entire printing operation. Years later, Rand and McNally established Rand McNally & Co after purchasing the Tribune's printing business. They focused mainly on printing tickets, complete railroad guides and timetables for the booming railroad industry around the city. What made the company successful was the detailed maps of roadways, along with directions to certain places. Rand McNally was the first major map publisher to embrace a system of numbered highways and erected many of the roadside highway signs that have been adopted by state and federal highway authorities. The company is still making and updating the world maps that are looked at every day.

    1861 · Simple life to Soldiers

    Age 15

    Illinois contributed 250,000 soldiers to the Union Army, ranking it fourth in terms of the total men fighting for a single state. Troops mainly fought in the Western side of the Appalachian Mountains, but a few regiments played important roles in the East side. Several thousand Illinoisians died during the war. No major battles were fought in the state, although several towns became sites for important supply depots and navy yards. Not everyone in the state supported the war and there were calls for secession in Southern Illinois several residents. However, the movement for secession soon died after the proposal was blocked.

    Name Meaning

    English: nickname for a brisk or active person, from Middle English smert, smart ‘quick, prompt, brisk, vigorous’ (Old English smeart ‘stinging’, ‘painful’, from smeortan ‘to sting’). This name is widespread throughout England (especially Gloucestershire), Wales, and Scotland (mainly Angus).

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

    Possible Related Names

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