Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



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Welner Andrus Smith and Mary C. Gilger




Husband Welner Andrus Smith 1

           Born: 11 Apr 1860 - Pennsylvania 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 19 Jan 1907 1
         Buried:  - Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 2


         Father: Rev. Friend W. Smith (1831-1882) 1 3 4
         Mother: Caroline Matilda T. Armstrong (1828-1909) 1


       Marriage: 6 Sep 1882 1



Wife Mary C. Gilger 1

           Born: 5 Apr 1860 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 1
     Christened: 
           Died: 14 Feb 1962 - Franklin (Bleakley Hill), Venango Co, PA
         Buried:  - Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 2


         Father: Henry Adam Gilger (1814-1887) 5
         Mother: Mary Alsbach (1817-1901)




Children
1 M Ralph Smith 6

           Born: 14 Dec 1883 6
     Christened: 
           Died: Bef Feb 1962
         Buried: 



2 F Dora Muriel Smith 6

            AKA: Dorothy M. Smith
           Born: 20 Jul 1885 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 9 Dec 1911 6
         Buried:  - Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 7
         Spouse: Homer Bleakley Duffield (1880-      ) 6 8
           Marr: 16 Mar 1905 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 9


3 M Eslie G. Smith 6

           Born: 1 Sep 1888 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 6
     Christened: 
           Died: 13 Aug 1946 6
         Buried:  - Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 2
         Spouse: Mary Elsie Ghering (1889-1965/1966) 6
           Marr: 14 Oct 1916 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 10



General Notes: Husband - Welner Andrus Smith


Venango Citizen Press, Franklin, PA
January 24, 1907:
Welner A. Smith, one of Rockland's most respected citizens, died at his home near Floyd on Saturday night, January 19, after an illness of six weeks, of liver complaint. He was born near Kinzua, but has always been a resident of Rockland where he was loved and honored by all who knew him. He has long been a member of the Rockland M.E. church. Mr. Smith was aged 46 years, 10 months and 8 days, and was the son of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Smith. He was married to Miss Mary C. Gilger in 1882, who still survives him, with the following children: Mrs. H.B. Duffield and Ralph and Eslie Smith; also his mother and one brother, Albert, of New York, and one sister, Mrs. D.B. Hetzler, of Pittsville. Services were held at the M.E. church on Thursday and the interment was in the Rockland cemetery. Services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Palmer.


General Notes: Wife - Mary C. Gilger


The News Herald, Franklin, PA
Thursday, Feb 15, 1962; pg 18
Mrs. Mary Gilger Smith Dies at Age of 101
Mrs. Mary Gilger Smith, of 29 Russell Street, Bleakley Hill, one of Venango County's oldest and best known citizens, died at 7:35 p. m. Wednesday in the home of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Elsie G. Smith. She was 101 years of age.
Mrs. Smith was born in Rockland Township on April 5, 1860, the daughter of Henry Adam and Mary Alseach Gilger.
She was united in marriage with Welner A. Smith, who died Jan. 19, 1907.
Her brother served in the Civil War and she could distinctly recall being picked up in his arms during a joyful reunion upon his furlough from the fighting.
She was reared in the Rockland area and she and her husband resided on a farm in that district for many years. She continued to reside in that community for some time and later went to live with her children.
In her late years, she lived most of the time with her granddaughter and her husband, Attorney and Mrs. Roger Brown, of Corry. She returned to Franklin June 1, 1961, to make her home with her daughter-in-law on Bleakley Hill.
She was a life-long member of the Methodist Church and taught Sunday school in the Rockland Methodist Church for many years. She was a member of the First Methodist Church of Franklin at the time of her death.
Received Honors
She was honored on her 100th birthday anniversary in 1960 by the Erie County Medical Society and also received at that time a card of congratulations from President Dwight Eisenhower.
Her philosophy of life was simple. "I live from day to day," she told interviewers on her 100th birthday.
Mrs. Smith enjoyed good health and a keen mind during her later years. Her many friends in the Rockland area paid tribute to her during a homecoming celebration in that community in 1956.
Surviving in addition to her granddaughter and daughter-in-law, are a grandson, Weston G. Smith, of Albuquerque, N.M.; six great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Her husband, two sons, Eslie G. Smith and Ralph Smith, a daughter, Mrs. Homer (Dora) Duffield, five brothers and a sister preceded her in death.
The body was removed to the Burger Funeral Home, where friends may call after 7 p. m. today. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p. m. today and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p. m. Friday.
Services will be conducted in the funeral home Saturday at 1 p. m. by the Rev. George Myers, pastor of the Clarion Methodist Church. Interment will be in the Rockland Cemetery.


Notes: Marriage

They were married by Rev. R. M. Felt.

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Sources


1 Mrs. Harold V. Linn, Daniel Smith - Pioneer Settler of Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania (Venango County, PA: Privately published, 1961), Pg 123.

2 Venango County Historical Society, Venango County Pennsylvania Cemetery Records and Early Church Histories, Vol. 5, Rockland Township (Franklin, PA: Venango County Historical Society, 1997), Pg 81.

3 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg 637.

4 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 668.

5 Mr. & Mrs. Richard McKean, The Family of Abraham and Hannah Gilger Mull (Mulberry Grove, IL: Self-published, no date).

6 Mrs. Harold V. Linn, Daniel Smith - Pioneer Settler of Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania (Venango County, PA: Privately published, 1961), Pg 124.

7 Venango County Historical Society, Venango County Pennsylvania Cemetery Records and Early Church Histories, Vol. 5, Rockland Township (Franklin, PA: Venango County Historical Society, 1997), Pg 76.

8 —, The Duffield Family; A Sketch of William Duffield, of Venango County, PA, and His Descendents (PA: The William Duffield Association, 1905), Pg 46.

9 Venango Co, PA, Marriage License, #6837.

10 Venango Co, PA, Marriage License, #12158.


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