Person Page - 2864

     Susan Smyth was born on 30 April 1826 at County Tyrone, Ireland.^1,2 She was the daughter of Jeremiah Smyth and Nancy Ann McElhenny. Susan Smyth married James Charles Alexander on 20 June 1849 at Linn Co., IA, Ceremony by Rev. A. M. Stewart. Susan Smyth died on 20 October 1904 at Linn Co., IA, at age 78. She was buried in October 1904 at Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., IA, Findagrave #142207590.

     Warren Smyth was born in 1891 at Linn Co., IA. He was the son of John Jeremiah Smyth and Ellen L. Warren. Warren Smyth died in 1893 at Linn Co., IA. He was buried in 1893 at Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., IA.

     William Smyth was born circa 1854 at Pennsylvania.¹ He was the son of John Smyth and Sarah Jane Wilson.

     Judge William Smyth was born on 3 January 1824 at Eden Townland, Donaghedy Parish, County Tyrone, Ireland.¹ He was the son of Jeremiah Smyth and Nancy Ann McElhenny. Occupation: Admitted to Iowa bar, worked as attorney in private practice, district judge, and Representative of the second congressional district of Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives. in 1847. Judge William Smyth married Mary Brier, daughter of James Malcolm Brier and Mary Lodge, on 12 November 1850 at Tippecanoe Co., IN. Judge William Smyth lived in 1862 at Marion, Linn Co., IA, per Civil War enlistment. He began military service on 10 August 1862 Enlisted, Union Army. He died on 30 September 1870 at Marion, Linn Co., IA, at age 46 Obituary (findagrave.com):

US Congressman. A native of Eden, County Tyrone, Ireland, William Smyth was educated in rural schools in Ireland. At the age of fourteen, he immigrated to Pennsylvania with his parents. At the age of twenty, he moved to Iowa and studied law at the University of Iowa. Smyth was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1847. He served as the prosecuting attorney for Linn County, Iowa, from 1848 to 1853, when he was appointed as a district judge until 1857. He went back to the private practice of law in Marion, Iowa, and served as the chairman of the commission to codify the laws of Iowa. He served as colonel of the 31st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment for two years during the Civil War. In 1868, Smyth was elected to represent the second congressional district of Iowa in the United States House of Representatives. He died running for reelection in 1870. (bio by: Steven Tynan.)

He was buried in October 1870 at Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Linn Co., IA, Find A Grave Memorial# 61235973.

     William A. Smyth was born on 15 July 1851 at Linn Co., IA.¹ He was the son of Col. Robert Smyth and Margaret Moffit. William A. Smyth died on 17 January 1911 at Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., IA, at age 59. He was buried in January 1911 at Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., IA.
Note: Did not marry.

     William Smyth Jr. was born in December 1851 at Linn Co., IA.¹ He was the son of Judge William Smyth and Mary Brier. William Smyth Jr. married Harriet (?) circa 1875, Four children born, none living as of 1900 census.

     William Woods Smyth was born on 5 October 1879 at Linn Co., IA.¹ He was the son of James J. Smyth and Mary Ella Woods.¹ William Woods Smyth married Gertrude Fraser in 1918.² William Woods Smyth died on 8 May 1934 at At Sea at age 54 Obituary (via Findagrave.com):

Cedar Rapids Coe College Cosmos Thursday May 10, 1934
Captain William Woods Smyth '99 died Tuesday aboard the battleship, Tennessee, which he was commanding during secret maneuvers in the Caribbean sea. Capt. Smyth was born and received his early education in Marion; he was graduated from Coe in 1899 and went directly to the United States Naval Academy where he obtained his commission. He was scheduled to become budget officer of the navy department, June 1, as a result of a promotion last March.

The Marion Sentinel May 17, 1934
Captain William Smyth, a former Marion man and U.S. Navy officer, who died aboard ship with the fleet in the Caribbean sea Tuesday, May 8, was buried at sea as he had requested. He was 54 years of age. His death was caused by an infection which spread to the brain.
Surviving are his widow in Washington, D.C., an his fifteen-year old son, William, jr., who accompanied his father on the cruise during which he died.

He was buried in May 1934 at At Sea, Findagrave #130911012, headstone at Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion, Linn County, Iowa.

     Cdr. William Woods Smyth Jr. was born on 12 February 1919 at Washington, District of Columbia.¹ He was the son of William Woods Smyth and Gertrude Fraser.¹ Cdr. William Woods Smyth Jr. began military service WW II service, U.S. Navy, Ensign, later Commander, USNR. He died on 26 May 2011 at Kent Co., MD, at age 92 Obituary (via Findagrave.com):

CHESTERTOWN — William Woods Smyth Jr. passed away Tuesday, April 26, 2011, in Chestertown at the age of 92.

A longtime resident of Potomac, Md., he moved to Chestertown in 2004 to reside at Heron Point. His parents were Capt. William Smyth, USN, and Gertrude Fraser Smyth.
He married Placid Thompson Kerrick, the daughter of another Navy captain, in April 1942. His wife and a daughter, Kerry, preceded him in death.

Surviving him are his son, William, daughter-in-law Cheryl, and grandchildren Alexander and Bethany, all of Pasco, Wash.

Bill, as he was usually called, was born in the District of Columbia, Feb. 12, 1919. He had many memories of traveling with his parents throughout the country, visiting his father at various posts and commands, but the most memorable was being on the battleship USS Tennessee at age 15, when his father was in command. Captain Smyth died very suddenly, and Bill witnessed his burial at sea.

Because of his father's career, Bill attended several schools across the country. He attended Lehigh University from 1937 to 1940, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

Anxious to obtain a commission in the Navy prior to World War II, he applied and was accepted into the newly established Navy V7 program as a reserve midshipman. This, and marriage, prevented his return to Lehigh to complete an engineering degree.

After being commissioned as an ensign, his first ship assignment was on the USS Maryland, one of the battleships attacked at Pearl Harbor. After returning to the mainland, where the Maryland was to be repaired, he was transferred to sub-chaser school, then to the South Atlantic for the anti-submarine campaign.

Later, he sailed a patrol craft escort across the Pacific to participate in the Philippines campaign. He remained in the Navy Reserve after World War II, and retired as a Commander, USNR, after 22 years of service. He continued his love for the Navy throughout his life, and contributed to several projects to preserve its history for museums and displays.

From 1949 to 2004, he was a loan officer and vice president of Walker and Dunlop, a mortgage banking company, with commercial projects in many parts of the country. He led a very active life and especially enjoyed improvement projects around his home, raising and showing Springer Spaniels, and travelling. After moving to Chestertown, he enjoyed sharing his World War II Navy experiences in several schools and classrooms.

     Matthew Smyths was born before 1783. He married Rachel Talman, daughter of Samuel Talman and Rachel Curtis, on 17 March 1801 at Monmouth Co., NJ.

     Della Francis Snabel was born on 10 October 1924 at Spray, Wheeler Co., OR. She was the daughter of Ezra Lyman Snabel and Sarah Hope Kirby. Della Francis Snabel married David William Stirewalt, son of Daniel Jackson Stirewalt and Jeannie Elizabeth Forbes, on 7 May 1946 at Fossil, Wheeler Co., OR. Della Francis Snabel and David William Stirewalt were divorced on 24 February 1971 at Wheeler Co., OR. Della Francis Snabel died on 18 February 2005 at Hermiston, Umatilla Co., OR, at age 80

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Della Francis Stirewalt was born Oct. 10, 1924, on the family ranch in Spray, Oregon the ninth of nine children to parents, Ezra L. and Sarah "Hope" (Kirby) Snabel. She died Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at Ashley Manor Care Facility in Hermiston, Ore., at the age of 80.

Della was born at home on Snabel Creek. She attended school in Spray and graduated from Crook County High School in Prineville, Ore., in 1942.

She worked at the Wheeler County Courthouse as her first job. On May 7, 1946 she married David William Stirewalt at Fossil, Ore. They later divorced.

Della was an accomplished seamstress and was the first seamstress east of the Cascades to be invited to participate in the Quilter)s Market Old Church in Portland. She had two quilts go to England. She loved knitting, crocheting, and was a great cook which she did lots of on the ranch near Spray. Della loved horses and helped with rodeos and Junior Rodeos. She took all nieces and nephews fishing and hunting along with her daughter, Vivian and Son, Dan. She was also a 4-H sewing leader and livestock leader.

She was preceded in death by parents, Ezra and Hope Snabel; daughter, Vivian Wagonblast; brothers, Roy, John, and Donald Snabel; and sisters, Velma Maley and Effie Stirewalt.

She is survived by: son, Dan and his wife, Mary Stirewalt of Prineville, Ore; two sisters, Pansie Michel of Redmond, Ore., and Ellen Nash of Echo, Ore; three grandsons; one granddaughter; three great-grandchildren; special friend, Diane Britt of Pilot Rock, Ore; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held later in the spring at Richmond Cemetery close to where she was born.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
(Central Oregonian.)

She was buried in February 2005 at Richmond Cemetery, Wheeler Co., OR, Findagrave #38142154.

     Donald Ellis Snabel was also known as "Bill". He was born on 16 June 1915. He was the son of Ezra Lyman Snabel and Sarah Hope Kirby. Donald Ellis Snabel married Elizabeth Cooley on 9 February 1957 at Crook Co., OR. Donald Ellis Snabel died on 26 January 1993 at age 77. He was buried in January 1993 at Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, Powell Butte, Crook Co., OR, Findagrave #23027369.

     Effie L. Snabel was born on 5 May 1917 at Spray, Wheeler Co., OR. She was the daughter of Ezra Lyman Snabel and Sarah Hope Kirby. Effie L. Snabel married James McFadden Stirewalt, son of Daniel Jackson Stirewalt and Jeannie Elizabeth Forbes, on 9 February 1940. Effie L. Snabel died on 16 May 1994 at Heppner, Morrow Co., OR, at age 77. She was buried in May 1994 at Winlock Cemetery, Winlock, Wheeler Co., OR, Findagrave #37342737.

     Ellen E. Snabel was born circa 1922 at Wheeler Co., OR.¹ She was the daughter of Ezra Lyman Snabel and Sarah Hope Kirby.¹

     Ezra Lyman Snabel was born on 8 November 1880 at Wisconsin 1900 census shows NOV 1877. Cannot find in 1880 census. DLB 2017.¹ He married Sarah Hope Kirby, daughter of Louis Roberson Kirby and Nancy Ellen Wendell. Ezra Lyman Snabel died on 28 April 1952 at Deschutes Co., OR, at age 71. He was buried in May 1952 at Richmond Cemetery, Wheeler Co., OR, Findagrave #38142194.

     John Robert Snabel was born on 10 November 1905 at Oregon. He was the son of Ezra Lyman Snabel and Sarah Hope Kirby. John Robert Snabel died on 16 March 1979 at Crook Co., OR, at age 73. He was buried in March 1979 at Richmond Cemetery, Wheeler Co., OR, Findagrave #38142086.

     Pansie V. Snabel was born on 21 April 1912 at Spray, Wheeler Co., OR. She was the daughter of Ezra Lyman Snabel and Sarah Hope Kirby. Pansie V. Snabel married Rudolph William Michel on 22 October 1932. Pansie V. Snabel lived on 3 April 1940 at McKay Precinct, Crook Co., OR.¹ She died on 8 April 2005 at age 92. She was buried in April 2005 at Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, Powell Butte, Crook Co., OR, Findagrave #23026836.

     Roy M. Snabel was born on 7 February 1908 at Wheeler Co. (probably), OR.¹ He was the son of Ezra Lyman Snabel and Sarah Hope Kirby.¹ Roy M. Snabel married E. Lucille Bunn before April 1930. Roy M. Snabel died in April 1976 at Clatsop Co., OR, at age 68. He was buried in 1976 at Ocean View Cemetery, Warrenton, Clatsop Co., OR, Findagrave #155284650.

     Velma Hope Snabel was born on 17 January 1920 at Oregon. She was the daughter of Ezra Lyman Snabel and Sarah Hope Kirby. Velma Hope Snabel married Lester N. Maley, son of Oscar Maley and Sarah Elizabeth Shannon, in 1941. Velma Hope Snabel died on 22 September 1984 at Hermiston, Umatilla Co., OR, at age 64. She was buried in September 1984 at Richmond Cemetery, Wheeler Co., OR, Findagrave #38142029.

     Abbie B. Snapp was born on 6 January 1881 at Taney Co., MO. She was the daughter of Samuel Harrison Snapp and Sarah A. Sims.

     Abraham Snapp was born in 1780. He was the son of Philip Snapp and Margaret (?) Abraham Snapp died in 1806.

     Abraham Snapp was born in 1762 at Shenandoah Co. (now), VA. He was the son of Lorentz Schnepp and Margaretha Stephan. Abraham Snapp married Maria Magdalena Fogelsong on 29 September 1783 at Shenandoah Co., VA, Ceremony by Rev. Simon Harr.

Wayland's "History of Shenandoah County", Appendix p.745. Abraham Snapp died in 1833 at Washington Co., TN.

     Abraham Snapp was born in 1830 at Sevier Co. (probably), TN. He was the son of Peter Snapp and Margaret Barnhart.

     Abraham Frye Snapp was born on 14 November 1772. He was the son of John Snapp and Christiana Frye. Abraham Frye Snapp died in 1823.

     Abraham Snapp Jr. was born on 11 December 1797 at Shenandoah Co., VA.¹ He was the son of Abraham Snapp and Maria Magdalena Fogelsong. Abraham Snapp Jr. married Mary Patton on 19 October 1826 at Washington Co., TN. Abraham Snapp Jr. married Matilda Sevier Wendel, daughter of Daniel Wendel and Mary Hawkins, on 5 December 1829 at Washington Co., TN. Abraham Snapp Jr. lived in October 1850 at Washington Co., TN.² He died on 31 May 1875 at Brownsboro, Washington Co., TN, at age 77 Obit:

"In Memoriam: Mr. Abraham Snapp, of Brownsboro, Washington County, Tenn., departed this life, May 31, 1875, in 78th year of his age. He was born in Shannadore County, Va., Dec. 11, 1797 and when he was 6 hears old his parents moved to East Tenn. Mr. Snapp out-lived two wives. He married first: Miss Mary Patton, October 1826, who was a native of Augusta Co., Va., she living a little more than a year after their affiance. One child was born to this union, the late Dr. Samuel Snapp, of Russellville, Tenn. His 2nd marriage was with Miss Matilda Windle, of Lexington, Va., Nov., 1829. They lived together for more than forty years, the wife dying two years before the husband. He was a member of the Salem Presbyterian Church. One son, Windle Snapp, Esq., who resides on the old homestead, is left to mourn the kindest of parents."

Source: Death and Obituary Notices Appearing in the Jonesboro Herald and Tribune, compiled by William A. Burns. He was buried in June 1875 at Salem Presbyterian Cemetery, Washington College, Washington Co., TN.

     Abraham Lawrence Snapp was born on 20 June 1870 at Washington Co., TN.^1,2 He was the son of Wendell Daniel Snapp and Lodival Cynthia Snapp.¹ Abraham Lawrence Snapp married Flora C. Martin circa 1892.² Abraham Lawrence Snapp died on 18 March 1941 at Washington Co., TN, at age 70. He was buried in March 1941 at New Salem Cemetery, Washington Co., TN, Find A Grave Memorial# 61137874.

     Ada Lee Snapp was born in April 1865 at Tennessee.¹ She was the daughter of Andrew Jackson Snapp and Elizabeth Shell Wilson.¹ Ada Lee Snapp married Franklin Jerome DeWald, son of James Miller DeWald and Martha Northington, in 1890, They raised several foster children, but had no natural children. Here is the story of their foster daughter Augusta DeWald's birth family, as found by Tracy Devault's research:

In August of 1899, R. E. Fleming and Nannie Catherine Shifflett obtained a marriage license. We don't know if they were actually married but I suppose they were. We do know that Nannie and her children used the Fleming surname.


NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Harrisonburg Evening News; Harrisonburg, Virginia; August 8, 1899; Page 1

"Marriage licenses have been issued by the County Clerk as follows: R. E. Fleming and Nannie Catherine Shifflett. . ."


The Flemings had two daughters and a son. Like most women of the day, Nannie had a side business where she could earn a little pin money. In Nannie's case, she ran the local brothel. This side business was not only illegal but it was also considered a bad environment for her children. Nannie was tried sentenced to six months in the county jail and her children were removed from her custody.


NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - The Harrisonburg Rockingham Register; Harrisonburg, Virginia; May 11, 1906, Page 2

"TAKEN TO RICHMOND

Children of Nannie Fleming Given to Virginia Home Society to Escape Vicious Surroundings.

Lena, Alberta and Robert Fleming, aged respectively Six, Four and two years, children of Mrs. Nannie Shifflett Fleming, were committed Monday by Justice Points to the custody of the Children's Home Society of Virginia. They were taken to Richmond Tuesday morning by Rev. Wm. J. Maybee, superintendent of the Society, and placed in the Society's receiving home. Permanent homes will be procured for them later.

The children were found Monday morning in a sink-hole on the farm of George Liskey, in the Greenmount neighborhood, where they had been concealed over night by their mother who is under conviction on the charge of conducting a disreputable house in Harrisonburg. She anticipated an effort would be made to have her children committed to a charitable institution, and had hidden them in the woods.

Armed with a warrant, issued by Magistrate Points, Deputy Sheriffs W. L. Dillard and J. J. Carickhoff left town early Monday morning to search for the children. The officers knew the mother and three little ones had been in Broadway, but they had later advices that they were somewhere in the Greenmount neighborhood and to Greenmount they drove. Arriving there, they learned the objects of their search had procured something to eat at a farmhouse, after spending the night in the woods, and that they had disappeared immediately after being given their breakfast.

The officers separated and began a search of all the woodland of the neighborhood. Finally Officer Dillard came upon the party. Parting the undergrowth and peering into a sink-hole in George Liskey's woods, he saw the three children, their mother, and Mrs. Anna Coon, the latter's sister, all huddled closely together.

When the mother realized that detection had come she scrambled up to where the officer, stood and asked, "Mr. Dillard, are you after me?"

Being told it was not herself, but the children that were wanted the woman became wildly excited and throwing her arms about the officer exclaimed, "Oh, Lord! Mr. Dillard, don't take them away from me. Don't take them. Don't! don't! don't!"

When the officer proved kindly but firmly insistent, the mother declared she could not part with her children and finally appealed to the officer to shoot her, saying, "Mr. Dillard, if you have a pistol, shoot me dead, for I'd rather die than give these babies up."

Officer Carickhoff came up in the mean time and the children were placed in a carriage and brought to Harrisonburg. They were accompanied by Anna Coon, their aunt but the mother remained behind. The latter asked the officers if she might come along and was told she could do so at her own risk. She preferred not to take the risk, knowing that a jail sentence of six months awaited her, which she must serve the first time the police catch her here.

During the afternoon the case was heard before Magistrate Points and the children were committed.

The mother is under sentence of six months in jail and a fine of $50. She was tried last week and convicted in her absence, she having disappeared while out on her own recognizance."


We don't know if Nannie ever served her six month sentence. She eventually remarried and had two more children. We're told by descendants of her second family that Nannie searched for her children but it was all in vain as she never found them. However, one of Nannie's granddaughters, a daughter of the son that was taken away, pieced together part of the story. The son, and one of the daughters, Alberta, were given to a family by the name of Davis. Shortly after the Davises took in the children, Mrs. Davis passed away. Mr. Davis returned Alberta to the court but retained the son. The boy was renamed Lewis Davis. It was Lewis' daughter, Darlene, that gave us this part of the story.

Alberta was taken in by another family. We don't know what happened to the other daughter but it is quite possible that she was taken in by the same family that took in Alberta.

Alberta eventually married Clarence Nathanial Arnold. Clarence and Alberta had three sons. Eventually Alberta divorced Clarence and then later married Charles Brown Bell. Alberta's maiden name was Alberta Frances Fleming. After she married Charles she started going by Elizabeth "Betty" F. Bell. Charles and Elizabeth had a son. Elizabeth died in 1959.


OBITUARY - The Index-Journal; Greenwood, South Carolina; Saturday, August 8, 1959;

"Mrs. Betty Bell Dies Today In Washington

Mrs. Betty Bell, 57, of Route Two, Greenwood, died at 4 a.m. today after a brief illness in Washington, D.C., where she had been visiting her children.

Survivors include her husband, Charles Brown Bell, and a son, Andrew C. Bell of Greenwood, three sons by a former marriage, Johnny, Eddie and Charlie Arnold; several grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, all of Washington; a brother in Philadelphia and a sister in Bristol, Tenn.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but services will be held in Washington. The body is at Chambers Funeral Home, 11 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Washington."


As often happens after someone dies, legal notices are posted in the local newspaper.


"LEGAL NOTICE - The Index-Journal; Greenwood, South Carolina; Wednesday, September 23, 1959; Page 9 (Newspapers.com)



NOTICE TO CREDITORS

All creditors of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Alberta DeWald Bell are hereby notified to render an account of their demands duly attested to the undersigned; and all debtors shall likewise make payment to the undersigned.

Andrew C. Bell

c/o Grier, McDonald, Todd, Burns and Bradford, 520 Textile Building, Greenwood, South Carolina"


If you haven't figured it out by now, Alberta is Alberta Frances DeWald. Her foster parents were Franklin Jerome "Frank" DeWald and Ada Lee Snapp. Alberta had two sisters and both of them were foster/adopted children. The older sister was about the right age to be Alberta's biological sister. Her name was Nellie Lee and in the newspaper article, Alberta's older sister is Lena. Alberta's younger sister, Lillian is probably no biological relation.


Ada Lee Snapp died in June 1943 at age 78. Cause of death: Died the same day as her husband, due to accidental burns. She was buried in June 1943 at Gunnings Cemetery, Blountville, Sullivan Co., TN.

     Addie Snapp was born on 21 May 1897. She was the daughter of William D. Snapp and Sarah Ann Craig. Addie Snapp married Troy Cornelison. Addie Snapp died on 8 November 1977 at age 80. She was buried in November 1977 at Ozarks Memorial Park, Branson, Taney Co., MO, Find A Grave Memorial# 30209272.

     Addie Bell Vedora Snapp was born on 11 March 1848 at Taney Co., MO. She was the daughter of Harrison Galifant Snapp and Emily D. Parry.

     Addie Lou Snapp was also known as "Lulu". She was born on 9 September 1882 at Texas.¹ She was the daughter of David John Snapp and Virginia Bagley.¹ Addie Lou Snapp died in 1966.

     Adeline Snapp was also known as "Addie". She was born in 1862 at Polk Co. (probably), MO. She was the daughter of William A. Snapp and Cordelia Annabelle Reneau.