Bridges in the USA

There remains much to be learned about John Wesley Smith. He was likely born in 1835, thoug h early census records suggest 1843 or 1844. Throughout his life, John Wesley appears in seve ral counties in southwest Missouri. In 1850, a John Wesley Smith is listed in the Polk Count y census with the Leonard West Family. In Polk County 1860, he's found with the A.C. Mitchel l family. (A.C. Mitchell was married to mahala Smith, daughter of Darling Smith. Research o f Darling Smith's will shows no heirs named John. This does not disprove a father-son relatio nship, but does make it unlikely.) In Polk 1870, he's married to Mary and has children Georg e Daniel, James J., and Eliza C. In 1880, he shows in nearby Greene County, with his second w ife, Frances Katherine Hoover. In 1900, he's in nearby Dade County, married to Frances. In 19 10, he's again in Greene County, living with wife Frances and their son Leonard. In 1920, h e appears in Dade County, again with son Leonard. However, Frances is no longer listed, and i s likely deceased.

John Wesley Smith's parents may have died young, since he lived with other families in his yo uth. His burial site is unknown. The Hoovers had a small family cemetery in Dade County, bu t it was either moved to make room for Lake Stocton, or is under water. John Wesley Smith ma y be buried in that cemetery, with his second wife.

Mary Katherine Welsh Smith likely died during the 1870's. Her tombstone in the Welsh Cemeter y lists her date of death as February 28, 1864. This date is probably wrong, since the 1870 c ensus shows John Wesley Smith still married to a Mary. In addition, the fact that John Wesle y remarried in 1875 is a clue; a single man with young children probably would not wait eleve n years to remarry. It's reasonable to assume that Mary Katherine died on February 29, 1874 , and that the engraver notched an incorrect digit.

John Wesley's children with wife Frances included John H., Leonard A., Franklin C., Cora Bell , and Alexander.