John Smith

Person shell created for research. Dates, places, and relationships are pending documentary research.

No claim in this case has reached documented status.

• The eighty-acre place

  “John and Laura acquired approximately eighty acres, with a house, barns, livestock, a blacksmith shop, wells, orchards, pastures, streams, gardens, trees, and poultry.”

  Earliest known teller: Alma Smith Spearman · BT-TRD-00097

• Laura attended "Vicksburg College"

  “Laura Tolliver, while yet a student of Vicksburg College, was given in marriage to John Smith, a country farmer.”

  Earliest known teller: Alma Smith Spearman · BT-TRD-00098

• Bishop C. H. Mason in the Smith home

  “Around 1897 John and Laura Smith welcomed Bishop C. H. Mason into their home, extended an ongoing invitation for him to stay when in the area, their son Joe cared for his horse and buggy, and their oldest grandson Mason Harrison Smith was named for him.”

  Earliest known teller: Alma Smith Spearman · BT-TRD-00099

• Did John and Laura Smith own an approximately 80-acre farm?

  Under Investigation

  What do county deeds, tax rolls, plat maps, agricultural schedules, mortgage records, and probate files show?

• Did Laura and John Smith provide hospitality and support to Bishop C. H. Mason around 1897?

  Under Investigation

  Can Bishop Mason's movements around 1897 be independently documented? Do COGIC records, Mason biographies, or church records mention John, Laura, or Joe Smith? Can Mason Harrison Smith's name and relationship be documented?

• How many children did John and Laura Smith raise?

  Under Investigation

  Which household, probate, guardianship, church, and family records can identify the children individually?

• · Search county deeds, tax rolls, plat maps, agricultural schedules, mortgage records, and probate files.
• · Search COGIC institutional records, Mason biographies and itineraries, church minutes, and local newspapers.
• · Reconstruct the household across all available censuses; search probate, guardianship, church, and cemetery records.

1. 1870 U.S. Census — Copiah County, Mississippi

   United States Bureau of the Census · FamilySearch · U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Townships 9 & 10 · Digital Image

   Digital image of original record · Original image: Citation entered — image review pending · BT-SRC-00036

2. 1880 U.S. Census — Rose Hill, Union County, Kentucky

   United States Bureau of the Census · FamilySearch · U.S. census, Union County, Kentucky, population schedule, Rose Hill · Digital Image

   Digital image of original record · Original image: Citation entered — image review pending · BT-SRC-00037

3. 1900 U.S. Census — Mount Hope, Copiah County, Mississippi

   United States Bureau of the Census · FamilySearch · U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mount Hope · Digital Image

   Digital image of original record · Original image: Citation entered — image review pending · BT-SRC-00038

4. 1910 U.S. Census — Mayharris, Copiah County, Mississippi

   United States Bureau of the Census · FamilySearch · U.S. census, Copiah County, Mississippi, population schedule, Mayharris · Digital Image

   Digital image of original record · Original image: Citation entered — image review pending · BT-SRC-00039

5. Bibliographic details pending — family history by Alma Smith Spearman

   Alma Smith Spearman · Authored Narrative

   Authored family history · Original image: Publication details pending · BT-SRC-00040

7 discrete observations were extracted from these sources for this case.