William J Smith

Brief Life History of William J

William J Smith was born in 1867, in Pennsylvania, United States. He married Mary Alice Stofflet about 1915, in Pennsylvania, United States. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Montgomery, Pennsylvania, United States in 1920 and Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States in 1940. He died in Pennsylvania, United States.

Photos and Memories (0)

Photos and Memories

Do you know William J? Do you have a story about him that you would like to share? Sign In or Create a FREE Account

Family Time Line

William J Smith
1867–
Mary Alice Stofflet
1891–1963
Marriage: about 1915
Mildred M. Boehm
1911–1990
Franklin F. Smith
1918–1979
Edith Smith
1920–
Elizabeth M. Smith
1922–2001
Leroy Smith
1924–1995

Sources (3)

  • William J Smith, "United States Census, 1920"
  • William Smith in entry for Franklin F. Smith and Catherine V. Stull, "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950"
  • William J Smith in entry for Elizabeth Mary Spacek, "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007"

World Events (8)

1867 · Sorry Mr. President, You can't do that.

This Act was to restrict the power of the President removing certain office holders without approval of the Senate. It denies the President the power to remove any executive officer who had been appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate, unless the Senate approved the removal during the next full session of Congress. The Amendment was later repealed.

1877 · First National Strike in U.S. Begins In Pittsburgh Against Pennsylvania Railroad

Coming out of an economic crisis, everyone was worried when cuts started happening in the railroad. They went on what would the great railroad strike of 1877.

1898 · War with the Spanish

After the explosion of the USS Maine in the Havana Harbor in Cuba, the United States engaged the Spanish in war. The war was fought on two fronts, one in Cuba, which helped gain their independence, and in the Philippines, which helped the US gain another territory for a time.

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

Discover Even More

As a nonprofit, we offer free help to those looking to learn the details of their family story.

Create a FREE Account

Search for Another Deceased Ancestor

Share this with your family and friends.