One Smith Family (Part 8)

 

by Rocky Macy

(More profiles of the SMITH family descendants who were defendants in the 1920 lawsuit over the estate of William C. SMITH of Newton County, MIssouri.)


13.  T.D. ROUSE has yet to be identified.  The forty-seven defendants in the legal notices all appear to have been grouped by the SMITH sibling from whom they descended, and that pattern would indicate that T.D. ROUSE descended from William SMITH’s younger sister, Elizabeth M. (SMITH) BOYD.   Of David Wilson and Elizabeth M. (SMITH) BOYD”s seven children, only the fate of the second child, Martha BOYD (born around 1860), remains unknown, making her the most likely parent or grandparent of T.D.ROUSE. Also, it seems probable that T.D. ROUSE was a male because all of the other eight defendants and one plaintiff who were identified by their first two initials were males - a manner of identification which seemed prevalent for the times.

The surname ROUSE as well as several variant spellings were explored through multiple sources with no positive results.

14.  Samuel H. RAINWATER was born Samuel Henry RAINWATER to William Finas and Sarah Catherine (BOYD) RAINWATER in the state of Missouri on June 19, 1887.   His mother, Sarah Catherine (BOYD) RAINWATER, was the daughter of William C. SMITH’s younger sister, Elizabeth M. (SMITH) BOYD, which made Sarah Catherine (BOYD) RAINWATER William’s niece, and her son, Samuel Henry RAINWATER, William’s grandnephew.

Sarah Catherine (BOYD) RAINWATER (born August 13, 1858 in Missouri) passed away in Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri on August 5, 1891, nearly thirty years before her Uncle William died, thus eventually making her two surviving children, Samuel and Emily, heirs to the estate of William C. SMITH.

Samuel H. RAINWATER made his first appearance in the US census record of 1900 when he was living in Marion Township (now defunct) of Jasper County, Missouri, near, or possibly in, the town of Carthage.  Samuel (age 11) was the youngest family member in the household of his father, William RAINWATER (43) and his step-mother, Ella RAINWATER (25).  Also in the household were other children:  a son, James H. RAINWATER (19) and a daughter, Wellie H. RAINWATER (16).  The census taker recorded the family surname for each individual as “RIMWATER.”

The 1910 census found the RAINWATER family living in Ward 1 of Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri, with Samuel H. RAINWATER (24) as the only offspring of William RAINWATER who was still living at home.  The census stated that Samuel was working as a salesman.  Also in the household were Samuel’s father, Wm. F. RAINWATER (56), described as a “saloonkeeper,” Samuel’s step-mother, Ella M. RAINWATER (32), and William’s younger, single brother, James D. RAINWATER (54), who was also described as a “saloonkeeper.” 

Sometime between the 1910 census and when he registered for the World War I draft on June 5, 1917, Samuel H. RAINWATER married Ella Faye BRUCE (born December 5, 1901), the daughter of George A. and Emma C. (DANIELSON) BRUCE.  Samuel’s draft registration contained other interesting information aside from the fact that he was married.   The document revealed that he had been working as a bartender at “Rainwater Bros” in Carthage. Samuel also stated on his draft registration that he had one year of previous military service with the “Missouri Military Academy” where his rank was “Chief Trumpeter.”

Samuel H. RAINWATER served on active duty with the US Army during the First World War  as a Private with the “Evacuation Hospital #26, of the Med Dept of Camp Jackson, South Carolina.   He enlisted on April 14, 1918, and was discharged on April 1, 1919. Samuel and his unit sailed from New York to France on October 17, 1918, and returned to the United States - at Newport News, Virginia - four months later on February 18, 1918.

S.H. RAINWATER (40), his wife, Ella (28) and their son, James (6) were living in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, when the 1930 census was taken.  There they owned their own home, valued at $5,000, and Samuel worked as a sewing machine salesman.  According to information on that census form, the family owned a radio. The 1930 census also revealed that Samuel had first been married at age nineteen - which meant that he would have had a wife before Ella.  Also in the household in Pasadena was Paul PHIPPS (18), a lodger.

California voter registration listed Samuel H. RAINWATER, a Democrat, as living in Los Angeles in 1934.  His voter registration placed him in Los Angeles again, though at a different street address, in 1936.    Samuel declined to state his party affiliation on the 1936 voter registration form.  Voter registration again placed Samuel H. RAINWATER, at yet another street address in Los Angeles in 1940, and indicated that he was a Democrat who was working as a salesman.

Samuel H. RAINWATER married Ruth Ethel McINTOSH in either Galveston, Galveston County, Texas, on July 22, 1940 (according to his obituary) or in Harris County, Texas, on July 24, 1940, according to theirTexas marriage registration.

The 1940 census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, notes three members of the RAINWATER family:  Samuel H.  (52), Ruth “F.” (45), and James ”C.” (Samuel’s son, age 16).

Samuel remained married to Ruth Ethel for the remainder of his life, but he oddly listed his sister, Mrs. George PARK, as his next of kin when he registered for the World War II draft, and he listed his sister’s home address as his place of residence.

Sometime toward the end of his life, Samuel and Ruth Ethel (McINTOSH) RAINWATER moved to Windsor, Missouri,  They were living in Windsor in early 1966 when Samuel was admitted to the VA Hospital at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.  He passed away there on January 27, 1966.

The following obituary is from “The Windsor Review” (Windsor, Missouri), February 3, 1966 - page seven:

“S.H. Rainwater Dies in Veterans Hospital”

“Funeral services for Samuel H. Rainwater, 79, 211 East Beaton street, were held Saturday afternoon at the Gouge Funeral Home, conducted by Rev. E. L. DeVore, pastor of the Methodist church.  Burial was in Laurel Oak Cemetery.

“Mr. Rainwater died Jan. 27 at the Veterans Hospital, Leavenworth, Kan.

“Rev. Lonnie Hulsey, pastor of Harmony Baptist church sang “The Lord’s Prayer,” accompanied by Mrs. Belford Jackson, organist.

“Pallbearers were Urvin Whitton, Elijah Whitton, Harry Ordway, Lloyd Merryfield, P.J. Kirby, and Taylor Silver. 

“Mr. Rainwater was born in Carthage, June 18, 1886 (sic), son of the late William F. and Mary (sic) Catherine Rainwater.  On July 22, 1940, in Galveston, Tex., he was married to Ruth Ethel McIntosh.  He was a veteran of World War I, enlisting in 1918 and serving overseas for a year.

“Surviving are the wife of the home;  one son James A. of Sacramento, Calif.,  one daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Dillender, Dallas, Texas;  one sister, Mrs. George Park, Los Angeles, Calif; five grandsons and one granddaughter.”

(Note:  the daughter, Dorothy, does not appear in any other records.  She may have been a step-daughter by Ruth Ethel.)

15.  Emily NICHOLSON was born Emily RAINWATER to William Finas and Sarah Catherine (BOYD) RAINWATER in the state of Missouri around 1879.  Her mother, Sarah Catherine (BOYD) RAINWATER, was the daughter of William C. SMITH’s younger sister, Elizabeth M. (SMITH) BOYD, which made Sarah Catherine (BOYD) RAINWATER William’s niece, and her daughter, Emily RAINWATER, William’s grandniece.

Sarah Catherine (BOYD) RAINWATER (born August 13, 1858 in Missouri) passed away in Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri, on August 5, 1891, nearly thirty years before her Uncle William died, thus eventually making her two surviving children, Samuel and Emily, heirs to the estate of William C. SMITH.

The historical record on Emily (RAINWATER) NICHOLSON is relatively thin.  At the age of one she was included in the 1880 US census for Newtonia, Newton County, Missouri, living in the home of her parents who were listed as Wm. ‘KARNWATER” (25) and Sarah “KARNWATER” (21).  There was a 4-year-old daughter in the household who was noted as M.J. “KARNWATER,” and Emily’s name was given as E.M. “KARNWATER.”

In 1905 while she was living on her own and still single, Emily RAINWATER was noted in the city directory for Carthage, Jasper, Missouri, as living at 203 Clinton.  Seven years later, in 1912, the Carthage city directory had her name as “Emily NICHOLSON” and she was residing at 812 Clinton.

Mr. NICHOLSON has yet to be identified, and, at this time, nothing further is known of Emily other than she was named as an inheritor in the estate of her granduncle,  William C. SMITH of Newton County, Missouri, in 1920.

16.  Lillie Sherer was born Lillian May BURKHART to John E. and Mary F. (BOYD) BURKHART in Newton County, Missouri, on February 12, 1889.  Her mother, Mary F. (BOYD) BURKHART, was the daughter of William C. SMITH’s younger sister, Elizabeth M. (SMITH) BOYD, which made Mary F. (BOYD) BURKHART William’s niece, and her daughter, Lillian May BURKHART, William’s grandniece.

Lillian made her first appearance in the public record in the 1900 US census for Seneca, Newton County, Missouri, where she was recorded as 10-year-old “Lilie” BURKHART in the home of her parents, John E. BURKHART (49) and Mary F. BURKHART (37).   “Lilie” also had six siblings (all BURKHARTs) living in the household:  Arly (24), John W. (14), Lusinda (12), Mont R. (6), Lola (3), and Ernest L (1).

(There is some evidence in the public record that Lillian might have been born in 1890 or 1891, but the preponderance of documentation points to 1889 as the correct year.)

“Lilian” May BURKHART married J. D. (Joseph Duncan) SHERER in Neosho, Newton County, Missouri on July 12, 1905, when she was just sixteen-years-old.  It was noted on the marriage license that the bride’s father, J.E. BURKHART, gave his consent in writing for his daughter to get married.

  
By the time of the 1910 census, Joseph D. SHERER (29) and his wife, “Lilian” M. SHERER (21) had established their household on Virta Bonet Street in Glendora, Los Angeles County, California.  They had two daughters, both SHERERs:  Ercell N. (3) and Verna J. (0).

Mrs. Lillie May SHERER registered to vote as a Republican in Los Angeles, California, in 1916.  She was living on North Minnesota Avenue.  She gave her occupation as housewife.

Four years later when the 1920 census was taken, Joseph D. SHERER (39) and his wife, “Lilian” M. SHERER (28) were back in Glendora, Los Angeles County, California, this time living on North Wabash.   There were still two daughters, both SHERERs, in the household:  "Percell" N. (13) and Josephine V. (10).

Mrs. Lillian M. SHERER again registered to vote as a Republican in 1924 while still at the address on Wabash Avenue, and she listed her occupation as housewife.  Two years later in 1926 she registered to vote (address illegible) in Los Angeles, again as a Republican and a housewife.

The 1930 census found Joseph D. SHERER (50) and Lillian M. SHERER (39) living in an apartment complex on West 41st Street in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California.   Their youngest daughter, Josephine V. SHERER (20), was still residing in the household.

In June of 1939 a woman by the name of Lillian May WELCH, who was born February 12, 1891, in Newton County, Missouri, and whose father’s name was John E. BURKHART and whose mother’s name was Mary F. BOYD, registered for Social Security.  Lillian and Joseph had apparently divorced and she had remarried - and may have subtracted a couple of years from her age.

(Joseph Duncan SHERER registered for the World War II draft as a 61-year-old male who had been born in Seneca, Missouri, on November 2 1880, and who was residing in Yuma, Arizona.  No spouse was listed on that registration.  Joseph Duncan SHERER passed away  in Los Angeles, California on January 31, 1960, and again no spouse was listed on his entry on the internet Find-a-Grave site.  That site also listed his date of birth as November 2, 1880 and his date of death as January 31, 1960.)

By the mid-1950’s Lillian was back to using her former married name.  She registered to vote in 1954, as Mrs. Lillian May SHERER, a Republican who was living on W. Alosta Avenue in Los Angeles, in 1956 as Mrs Lillian May SHERER, a Republican who was living on Atlantic Avenue in Los Angeles, and in 1958 as Mrs. Lillian May SHEARER, a Republican still at the same address on Atlantic Avenue in Los Angeles.

Lillian married Earl T. RICHARDSON of Durate, California, on May 9, 1959, in Glendora, California.   An article on page 2 of the Monrovia, California, “Daily News-Post” had this to say about their marriage ceremony:

“Duarteans Are Wed At Quiet Rites”

“At a quiet evening ceremony earlier this month, Earl T. Richardson, longtime Duarte resident, and Mrs. Lillian May Sherer, of Long Beach and Duarte were united in marriage.  The ceremony was performed at the Lorraine Avenue Baptist Church in Glendora with the Rev. Alton B. Cross officiating.

“Attending their parents at the small wedding were members of the family:  Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Smith (Dorothy Richardson) of Glendora, and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hey (Jospehine Sherer) of Los Angeles.

“For her wedding Mrs Sherer wore a suit of pale gray with blue accessories.  Her flowers were a corsage of carnations.  

“Following the ceremony the wedding party was served refreshments at the home of the Reginald Smith's, where a large wedding cake was the table centerpiece.

“The Richardson’s plan to make their home at 1220 Mountain Ave., Duarte, where Mr. Richardson has lived since 1911.   A well known Duarte citizen, he has been active in civic affairs and served on the school board at an earlier date.

“His son, Stanley, and Mrs. Sherer’s daughter, Ercell Nichols, were unable to attend the wedding.”

According to California state death records, Lillian M. RICHARDSON passed away in Los Angeles, California, on October 18, 1967.  

(Note:  Lillain was an inheritor in the estate of her granduncle, William C. SMITH, of Seneca, Missouri.  Interestingly, three of her siblings - Margaret Lusinda SPARLIN, Leo BURKHART, and John W. BURKHART - made up half of the plaintiff’s who went to court to try and partition the other forty-seven inheritors, including Lillian, out of the estate.)

(Four more members of the BURKHART family will be profiled in Part 9 of this series.)