David Smith and Mary Ann Pryer
Husband David Smith 1 2 3
Born: 23 Dec 1781 - Northumberland Co, PA 1 3 Christened: Died: 18 Aug 1880 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 3 Buried: - Rockland Cemetery, Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA
Father: Stephen Smith (1730-1802/1803) 1 Mother: Maria Elizabeth Troup (1750-1807) 1
Marriage: 1825 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 1 3
Other Spouse: Sarah Lane (1785-1825) 1 4 - 5 Oct 1809 - Potter Twp, Centre Co, PA 1
Wife Mary Ann Pryer 3 5
Born: 1805-1806 - Centre Co, PA Christened: Died: 15 Jan 1875-1876 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA 3 Buried:
Father: John Pryer (Abt 1769-1844) 1 Mother: Hannah Lovell (Abt 1784-1847) 1
Children
1 M Stephen Decatur Smith 3
Born: 1826 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 3 Christened: Died: 5 Sep 1895-1896 - Hendersonville, Worth Twp, Mercer Co, PA Buried: - Sandy Lake Cemetery, Sandy Lake, Mercer Co, PASpouse: Elizabeth Irwin (1830-1917) 3 Marr: 10 Aug 1859 - Venango Co, PA 3
2 F Hannah Smith 6
Born: Dec 1829 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA Christened: Died: 7 Oct 1908 - Franklin, Venango Co, PA Buried: - Franklin Cemetery, Franklin, Venango Co, PASpouse: Did Not Marry
3 F Sadenia H. Smith 6
AKA: Sidania Smith Born: 1832 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA Christened: Died: 1877 - Hendersonville, Worth Twp, Mercer Co, PA Buried: - Oak Hill Cemetery, Sandy Lake, Mercer Co, PASpouse: Philander Pitt Brown ( - ) 6
4 F Martha D. Smith 6 7
Born: 1 Aug 1833-1834 - Rockland Twp, Venango Co, PA 6 7 Christened: Died: 26 Aug 1902 or 1908 - Los Angeles Co, CA 7 Buried: - CaliforniaSpouse: William Burgwin (1828-1866) 6 7 Marr: 2 Jun 1855 - Venango Co, PA
5 F Almira Louisa Smith 6
Born: Dec 1837 - Sandycreek Twp, Venango Co, PA Christened: Died: 1927 - Denton, Caroline Co, MD Buried: - Denton Cemetery, Denton, Caroline Co, MDSpouse: Floyd C. Ramsdell ( - ) 6 Marr: 14 Jun 1860
General Notes: Husband - David Smith
About 1792 he moved with his parents to Potter Twp, Centre Co, PA. Moved to Rockland Twp, Venango Co, during the winter of 1818.
He had nineteen children with his second wife. [HVC 1879, 482]
Venango Citizen-Press, Franklin, PA
Aug 26, 1880; pg 3
OBITUARY.
On last Wednesday evening, Aug. 18th, 1880, David Smith, Esq., died at his home in this city, in the ninety-ninth year of his age.
Deceased was born in Union county, December 23d, 1781. His father came to this country with Stephen Girard, and lived to a good old age. All of his brothers attained great ages, and were noted for their bodily health as well as many years. The deceased was a miller by trade, and was engaged in that business in Centre county in the beginning of the present century. In 1809 he was married to Sarah Lane, who shared the burdens of his early pioneer life in this section. True love, even in those days, was not permitted to run smoothly, and for some reason or other Miss Lane's guardian refused Mr. Smith's suit, but with the energy that has always characterized him he would not give up, and one day when the lady was in the house by herself came up with his horse, told her now was the time, and she, entering heartily into his plans, mounted the horse with him and rode to the neighboring preacher and were married. They lived happily together until 1825, when death took her from him, at the age of 40 years. Five children were born to them, all but one of whom are living.
In 1818 Mr. Smith moved with his family and settled in Rockland township, this county. The first Methodist meeting ever held in that part of the county was at his house, and he was for a number of years a class-leader in that organization and always took an active part in the affairs of the church. At the time of the departure of the Lewis and Clark expedition for the Pacific coast Mr. Smith was anxious to accompany them, and started on foot for St. Louis to join the party, but while in Illinois he learned of their departure, and so returned. He visited Cincinnati when nothing but a stockade and a few log huts marked the site of that city, and was where Chicago now stands when a large village of Indians lived and thrived there.
Shortly after the death of his first wife he married Miss Mary A. Pryor, of Rockland, who journeyed along life's highway with him for more than half a century, and who died but four years ago, having attained a ripe old age. Numerous children were born to them four of whom are now living.
About the year 1833 he removed to Sandycreek township, on the banks of the Allegheny river, at what is known as Smith's Bend, where he resided until 1865, when he sold his farm to an Eastern oil company and removed to Franklin, where he continued to live up to the time of his death. The summer of 1876 was spent near Philadelphia, and there frequently during the Centennial Exposition, this veteran of almost a hundred years - nearly as old as the republic itself - delighted to wander and view the results of the advances made by the nation during his life time.
Uncle Davy was a man of active habits and outspoken principles. He practiced what he preached. The poor and needy were never turned from his door, and we say without fear of contradiction that he has not an enemy anywhere. His descendents are numerous. Thirteen children, sixty-five grand children, seventy-six great-grand children and one great-great-grand child have lived to call him by name.
Long and patiently did this grand old patriarch sit in the fading twilight of life, awaiting the summons hence, always speaking cheerily and trustfully of the great change - speaking with that knowledge born of perfect faith in our Lord and Saviour. The end came peacefully, and quietly and without a struggle his aged spirit was gathered to his Fathers, after a long and weary journey - longer than that which generally falls to the lot of man. He now sleeps in the quiet church-yard in Rockland, in the spot selected by himself years ago.
General Notes: Wife - Mary Ann Pryer
Year of birth 1806. (15) Year of death 1876. (15) Besides the children listed, she had at least three others who died as infants.
She died in 1865, over sixty years of age. [HVC 1879, 482]
1 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg 482.
2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 844.
3 Mrs. Harold V. Linn, Daniel Smith - Pioneer Settler of Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania (Venango County, PA: Privately published, 1961), Pg 130.
4 Mrs. Harold V. Linn, Daniel Smith - Pioneer Settler of Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania (Venango County, PA: Privately published, 1961), Pg 129.
5 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg482.
6 Mrs. Harold V. Linn, Daniel Smith - Pioneer Settler of Rockland Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania (Venango County, PA: Privately published, 1961), Pg 131.
7
Alan R. Jones, Threads of Venango (Indiana, PA: A. G. Halldin Publishing Co., 1984), Pg 226.
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