Silas Sanford Smith

Brief Life History of Silas Sanford

When Silas Sanford Smith was born on 20 October 1830, in Stockholm, St. Lawrence, New York, United States, his father, Silas Smith, was 51 and his mother, Mary Aikens, was 33. He married Clarinda Ann Ricks on 9 July 1851, in Layton, Davis, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. He immigrated to Deseret, Millard, Utah, United States in 1856 and lived in La Isla, Conejos, Colorado, United States in 1900 and Kaysville, Davis, Utah, United States in 1910. He registered for military service in 1857. In 1880, at the age of 50, his occupation is listed as farmer. He died on 11 October 1910, in Layton, Davis, Utah, United States, at the age of 79, and was buried in Kaysville City Cemetery, Kaysville, Davis, Utah, United States.

Photos and Memories (132)

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Family Time Line

Silas Sanford Smith
1830–1910
Martha Eliza Bennett
1850–1924
Marriage: 19 July 1865
Sarah Ann Smith
1868–1900
Martha Eliza Smith
1870–1957
Curtis Bennett Smith
1871–1942
Elias Austin Smith
1874–1925
Emma Jane Smith
1876–1951
George Essex Smith Sr
1878–1949
Erastus Snow Smith
1881–1890
Hyrum Asahel Smith
1883–1941
Lucy Edith Smith
1886–1963
Joseph Francis Smith
1889–1920
Clara Estella Smith
1891–1992
Verlie Dorcas Smith
1894–1894

Sources (136)

  • S S Smith, "Colorado State Census, 1885"
  • Silas Sanford Smith in U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
  • Silas Sanford Smith in Utah, Death and Military Death Certificates, 1904-1961

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.

1839 · Nauvoo is Settled

After the Saints had been chased out of Missouri they moved to a swampy area located next to the Mississippi River. Here they settled and named the place Nauvoo which translates into the city beautiful.

1851

Historical Boundaries: 1851: Utah Territory, United States 1851: Iron, Utah Territory, United States 1896: Iron, Utah, United States

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

Mentioned in Journal

My ancestor [George Benjamin Wallace] wrote the following in his journal Friday Nov 23 (1855) Stormy. It snowed most of the day. About 2 o’clock Bro. Lyman and Company left for Salt Lake City. I wrot …

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