John Smith

Brief Life History of John

When John Smith was born in December 1799, in Union, South Carolina, United States, his father, Joseph Smith, was 37 and his mother, Hannah Browne, was 33. He married Elizabeth Martha Koons on 14 July 1822, in Liberty Township, Henry, Indiana, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States in 1850 and Taylor Township, Howard, Indiana, United States in 1850. He died on 12 January 1870, in Grove Township, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States, at the age of 70, and was buried in Mormon Cemetery, Macedonia, Pottawattamie, Iowa, United States.

Photos and Memories (5)

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Family Time Line

John Smith
1799–1870
Elizabeth Martha Koons
1806–1839
Marriage: 14 July 1822
Mary Smith
1823–1860
Patience Smith
1825–1895
Hannah Smith
1826–1903
John Smith
1829–1829
Elizabeth Martha Smith
1831–1896
Lydia Rhoda Smith
1834–1913
Anna Smith
1835–
Stephen Smith
1836–1907
Joseph Samuel Smith
1838–1867

Sources (16)

  • John Smith, "United States Census, 1850"
  • John Smith, "Find A Grave Index"
  • John Smith in entry for Benjamin Smith, "England, Staffordshire, Church Records, 1538-1944"

Parents and Siblings

World Events (8)

1800 · Movement to Washington D.C.

While the growth of the new nation was exponential, the United States didn’t have permanent location to house the Government. The First capital was temporary in New York City but by the second term of George Washington the Capital moved to Philadelphia for the following 10 years. Ultimately during the Presidency of John Adams, the Capital found a permanent home in the District of Columbia.

1803

Historical Boundaries 1803: Louisiana Purchase, United States 1812: Missouri Territory, United States 1821: Missouri, United States

1819 · Panic! of 1819

With the Aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars the global market for trade was down. During this time, America had its first financial crisis and it lasted for only two years. 

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

Story Highlight

John Smith

Name: Smith, John Submitted by: Gail Meyer Kilgore, Mar 2003 Publication: written by Neva Kuhr JOHN SMITH John Smith was born in Rowan County, North Carolina around 1800. In March of 1822 he married …

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