Peter Smull Family: Henry Smull

PETER SMULL > HENRY SMULL m. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Smith

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Henry Smull (1842*) was born 23 Feb 1842 in Centre County, Pennsylvania, to Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner. He came with his family to Stephenson County, where he attended school. After school, he began working as a farm hand and also did carpentering on the side. On 04 Nov 1864, he married his wife Elizabeth "Lizzie" Smith, daughter of John S. and Catherine Smith. She was born on 23 Aug 1846 in Stepehenson County.

Please refer to the discussion of the parentage of Henry's father Peter here.

Smulls at work (left to right)
WW Smull (standing), Earl, Charles, Roy,
HA Smull (standing)

In 1875, they moved to Shelby County. Henry purchased a parcel of 80 acres to get his farm started, later adding to the holdings. In the intervening years, he worked to improve his property and effectively cultivate the land until he decided to retire. They moved into Macon in Shelby County and built a home. Even after his retirement, he retained 120 acres. 

Henry was an independent in his politics, and according to the Portrait and Biographical Record of Macon County, 1893, "He has never been an office-seeker, in fact, has always avoided office, and though twice elected Justice of the Peace, refused to serve." 

Henry died 01 Mar 1900 in Macon. His wife Lizzie lived to age 86 and died 22 Mar 1933 in Decatur, Illinois.

The Smulls had six children, two of whom died as the result of a horrible car-train accident and one in infancy.

1. William W. was born 21 Nov 1865 in Stephenson County, Illinois. He married Hannah Belle Curry on 17 Oct 1888 in Mowequa, Shelby County. The couple farmed. She was born 03 Sep 1863 in Indiana to Enos and Catherine Curry. William died 30 Dec 1931 in Penn, Shelby County and Belle on 22 Feb 1947. They had two children: Earl and Edith.

WW Smull Hannah Belle Curry Wedding

2. Henry Arthur Smull was born in Freeport, Stephenson County on 30 Dec 1867. He married Martha Jane "Mattie Denton" 26 Aug 1891 in Shelby County. She was the daughter of Johnathon Denton and Eliza Jane Campbell and was born on 01 May 1868 in Oconee, Shelby County. Henry also farmed. They had six children: Roy Arthur, Ethel, May Lucille, June, Gladys Ruth and Ferne. H. A. died 27 Mar 1954 in Decatur and Mattied preceded him on 20 Jun 1933 in Macon.

3. Bertha C. was born 07 Sep 1871 in Stephenson County and died 27 Feb 1947 in Decatur. She lived with her mother until her death and then retained the family home. In 1930, she was listed as a "gardener." She was critically injured in a car-train accident that killed her sister instantly and injured three other women. Bertha died of her injuries the following day.

4. Elizabeth was born 28 Jul 1876 in Shelby County and married Dr. Oscar F. Plummer in 1913.Dr. Plummer was a widower with two children: Harold and Fred. Dr. Plummer died 14 Jun 1938 in Macon and Elizabeth died 26 Feb 1947 in a car-train accident that took her sister's life and injured three others. 

5. Charles E. was born 24 Feb 1879 in Shelby County. In 1910, he was clerking at Draper and Webb's drug store. He married Eula R. Kitch Koehler, a divorced woman with one child, in 1914. At that time, Charles was a restaurant keeper. He maintained his restaurant for 12 years until his death. Charles had a long illness and died 26 Feb 1925 in Macon. He had no children.

6. Pet was 22 Mar 1883 and died a month later in April in Shelby County.

* I will always refer to this Henry as Henry Smull (1842) in order to differentiate him from his uncle Henry who will play a part in the stories here. He will be referred to as Henry Smull.