Me. Here. Right Now.: Matilda Rebecca Smull

Showing posts with label Matilda Rebecca Smull. Show all posts

Monday, February 20, 2017

Smull Family Stories

Peter Smull, was one of three brothers of German descent who settled in Centre County, Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. Peter, a stone mason like brothers Henry and Jacob, eventually moved to Stephenson County, Illinois in the 1850s.

I believe I've confirmed these brothers were all children of Johan Peter Schmoll and Juliana Sarah Mueller.

FROM THE REST OF THE LINE

JESSE SMULL

Brothers Smull: Jesse Smull
Jesse Smull: Henry Bergey Smull
Jesse Smull Family: James Bergey Smull
Jesse Smull Family: John Francis Smull, DDS
James Bergey Smull Family: Judson Gray Smull, Jr.
James Bergey Smull Family: Jesse McGarvey Smull

WAGNER FAMILY

The Waggoner's of Centre County: William Wagner

William Joseph "Bill" Wagner, Professional Baseball Player

THE "OTHER" SMULL FAMILY

There is also a family of Smulls descended from Andrew Smull (1765-1818) who are often mixed in with "our" Smulls. While they followed a similar trajectory in pioneering, they are not from the same direct lineage. Still, some of them keep cropping up - and not in a good way.

The OTHER Smull Family, Pt 1 (Madam Della)
The OTHER Smull Family, Pt 2 (Robber Roy Smull)

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Peter Smull Family: Matilda Rebecca Smull

PETER SMULL > MATILDA REBECCA SMULL m Daniel Meyers

Click image to enlarge

Matilda Rebecca Smull was the fifth child of Peter Smull and Mary Waggoner. The brother presumed to have been born prior to her is unknown, though we know by news account that there were 12 children - six boys and six girls - and by the census records prior to 1850 that a male would fit into this spot. Matilda was born 15 Oct 1828 in Centre County, Pennsylvania. In 1851, in Miles Township, Centre County, she married Daniel Meyer, son of Henry Meyer and Hannah Bierly. The Bierly name is one seen frequently in both Centre County and Stephenson County, Illinois.

Matilda R Smull Meyer
1828-1915
Dakota Cemetery

Daniel's great grandfather, Anthony Bierly (1747-1825) was one of the pioneer settlers of Brush Valley, the same area where the Brothers Smull settled. He was born in Bavaria and came to Snyder County before settling in Brush Valley. He and Daniel's grandfather, Nicholas, cleared enough land to begin work on his 300 acres near Rebersburg. Anthony served in the militia during the Revolutionary War, but little is known of his involvement.

Daniel served an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker in his youth in Pennsylvania under Major John Meyer, but wanted to seek his fortune out west. They arrived in Stephenson County on the last day of 1853. Finding there was no great need for cabinet makers, Meyer started farming and was successful. He retired in 1895 and they moved into Dakota for their retirement. Matilda died in December 1915 and Daniel on 28 Sep 1918 in Dakota.

The Meyer's had nine children, six of whom preceded their parents in death.

1. Sarah was born 19 Dec 1851, in Rebersburg. She married George McGilligan on 02 Mar 1875 in Stephenson County. They had one son, Willard Erwin McGilligan, born 03 Apr 1876 and died 07 May 1944 in Bremer County, Iowa. Sarah died 08 Mar 1898 in Chicago and George died 12 Sep 1924 in Bremer County.

2. Dora Hanna was born 22 Oct 1853 and died 01 Apr 1854 in Stephenson County.

3. Newton Henry was born 28 Jan 1855 and died 01 Jan 1873 in Stephenson County. He died as a result of an accidental shooting while hunting.

4. Thomas Ephriam was born 03 Oct 1856 in Rock Run, Stephenson County. He married Hilda Charlotte Nelson, born 20 Sep 1858 in Sweden, and they had five children. He died 01 Aug 1897 in Winnebago County, Illinois and she on 08 Apr 1935 in Pecatonica, Winnebago County.

5. John Franklin was born 21 Nov 1858 in Stephenson County. He married Anna May Holsapple (another name found in both Centre and Stephenson Counties) on 18 Jul 1883 in Chicago. Anna was born 21 Sep 1870 in Dakota. They had five children. J. F. died in 1950 and Anna on 22 Aug 1928 in Rock Run, Stephenson County.

6. Peter David was born 09 Apr 1861 in Stephenson County and died on 11 Feb 1875 in Rock Run, Stephenson County.

7. Emma Jane was born on 22 Oct 1863 in Dakota. She married Edwin Dietz Lauck on 08 Jan 1885. Ed was born to John A Lauck and Anna Christina Marean on 18 Oct 1863 in Rock Grove, Stephenson County. They operated a creamery and ice cream factory in Spencer, Iowa and in 1905 moved to farm in Peabody, Kansas. I highly recommend you visit this website to learn tons about the history of Ed's family and the early days of Ed and Emma. Ed died 20 Nov 1933 in Peabody, Marion, Kansas and Emma on 16 Nov 1945 in Peabody. They had four children.

Emma, grandson Bobby, and Edwin
photo Donald Good

8. Effie Susan was born 09 Mar 1866 in Rock Run. She married Lincoln A. Goodman in 1893 and they had two children. Lincoln was born 11 Nov 1863 in Wisconsin. He died 19 Jul 1935 in Rock Run from the heat after working near his timber land on the farm. Effie died 14 Oct 1943 in Freeport, Stephenson County.

9. Mary was born 11 Aug 1868 and died 20 Sep 1868 in Stephenson County.

Friday, March 18, 2016

Mystery Muddle: The Children of Peter Smull

Help Solve the Mystery

This is a continuation of the remaining mysteries of the Peter Smull line. His parentage is still a mystery and you can read about it here.

Peter Smull married Mary Waggoner (who are her parents, she asked?), most likely in Centre County, Pennsylvania before 1830. John Waggoner was the father and she had a brother William.

In searching through the cobbled together bits and pieces of various census and news articles, I've been able to identify 11 of the reported 12 children of the couple.

Catherine Smull b 1822 Centre Co. Penn; d 1876 Rock Run, Stephenson, IL m 1842, Pennsylvania; William Kryder, son of John and Susanna Keun, b 1821 in Pennsylvania; d 1902 Dakota, Stephenson, IL. He remarried after her death to Sarah Crock. I've located six children: James Henry, Lydia, Mary Elizabeth, John J, Susannah Elmira, and Norman.

Sarah Ann Smull b 1822 Centre Co Penn; d 1892 Dakota, Stephenson, IL m date UNK David Kryder, son of John and Susanna Keun, b 1823 Pennsylvania; d 1889 Dakota, Stephenson, IL. One child: Samuel (1856-1864)

Mary Smull b 1824 Centre Co Penn; d 1908 Dakota, Stephenson, IL m (1) John Meyer 1844, Pennsylvania, d 1848; One child: Jacob. m (2) George Frantz 1849, Pennsylvania. He was born in 1822 in Pennsylvania and died 1889 in Dakota, Stephenson, Illinois. Three Frantz children: Anna, Henry T and George McClellan (moved to Canada and pioneered in Starbuck, Manitoba.

UNKNOWN SMULL MALE. Believe this son was born between 1826-1830 based on back-tracing the 1830 and 1840 Peter Smull Census.

I'm trying to dissect the various Smulls in Stephenson County to deduce who this man was. If you have information that will help solve this mystery, please let me know by leaving a comment.

Matilda Rebecca SMULL b 1828, Centre Co Penn; d 1915 Stephenson Co, Illinois; m Daniel Meyer, 1851, Miles, Centre Co, Penn; son of Henry Meyer and Hannah Bierly, b 1831 Centre Co Penn; d Dakota, Stephenson, Illinois. I've located nine children: Sarah A, Dora Hannah, Newton Henry, Thomas Ephriam, John Franklin, Peter David, Emma Jane, Effie Susan, and Mary

Julia Ann Smull b 1830 Centre Co, Penn; d 1912 Dakota, Stephenson, Illinois m 1847, Penn; (1) John Haas, son of David Haas and Barbara Mitterling. b 1832 Juniata Co Penn; d 1881 Stateline, Vilas, Wisc., one daughter, Ida, died a spinster, 1938 m bef 1889 (2) UNK Miller

Peter L Smull, SR b abt 1833, Centre Co Penn; d 13 Sep 1900, Dakota, Stephenson Co; Ill at the home of his sister Matilda; m 1861 Rebecca Cronoble (this may have translated from Grenoble and been listed as Grenoble in Pennsylvania); three sons b abt 1835 d UNK probably Stephenson Co, Ill.

Peter is a bit of a mystery. He's referenced in the local paper once in a while and at least for a time, worked as a shoemaker, but he remains a big question mark.
His first child Peter L Jr doesn't seem to have lived with his parents. In 1860 he was living with grandparents Peter and Mary and in 1860, he was a 12-year-old living in the household of Simon & Rebecca Rote in Lancaster, Ill. I would guess as a hired hand.
Second son, Oscar Samuel is with his parents in 1870 and in 1880, when he was 18 and a farm hand for CA and Sarah Sullivan.
No records exist for Rebecca Cronoble (possibly Grenoble) either, other than as referenced parent on various documents related to the children. No death record is available for her or Peter L Sr
The last news item related to this Peter is in 1900. He is not listed as a survivor on his sister Mary Frantz's obituary from 1908, so I would peg his death at sometime between 1900 and 1908. *Update (2/28/2017): I found an obscure reference to his death on 13 Sep 1900 in a Rockford newspaper gossip column. He died at the home of his sister Matilda Meyer in Dakota.

Johnathan Smull b 1834 Centre Co Penn; d 1885 Bradford, Chickasaw Co, Ia; m 1860 Monroe, Wisc Mary Jane Cooper, daughter of William Lloyd Cooper and Elizabeth Beams, b 1842 Rock Grove, Stephenson Co, Ill; d 14 Feb 1905; Plainfield, Bremer, Ia. They had eight children: Ulysses (died as a young man), Franklin Sylvester, Jennie Elnora, Viola Geneva, Katie Mabel, Saidee L, Florence, and Amy, who died as an infant/young child.

Adam Smull b 1836 Centre Co Penn; d 1868 Stephenson, Ill; m 1859 Green Co Wisc; Mary Moses; b 1836 Penn; d 1929 Dakota, Stephenson, Ill. Mary and Adam had no children. She did not remarry.

Samuel Smull b 1840 Centre Co Penn; d 1919 Clark, South Dakota; m 1866 Mitchell, Ia; Lorena Thompson; daughter of Daniel Thompson and Ann Cooper; b 1850 Illinois; d 1918 Clark, South Dakota. They had two sons, Betran and Leon Willis.

Henry Smull b 1842 Cente Co Penn; d 1900 Macon, Macon, Ill; m 1864 Stephenson, Ill; Elizabeth "Lizzie" Smith; b 1846 Stephenson, Ill; d 1933 Decatur, Macon, Ill. He had six children: William W, Henry Arthur, Bertha C (never married), Elizabeth "Lizzie" Plummer, Charles E, and Pet (who died in infancy).

Charlotte Amanda Smull b 1844 Miles, Centre, Penn; d 1883 Dakota, Stephenson, Ill. Charlotte was classified as an "idiot" and lived with her parents and finally with sister Julia and husband John Haas until her death.

I'd be very glad to have people poke holes in this theory of descendancy. And, if you have other information, I'm dying to get all the mysteries solved from the seat at my desk because it's not likely I'll ever get to Centre County!