Smith Family History

GENERATION #1

William Smith was born in North Carolina or Kentucky, to Billy Smith, in about 1825. He married Jane Elizabeth Roberts, who was also from either North Carolina or Tennessee. William and Jane had eight sons and one daughter. They were:

*Allen Spencer 1845-1927, Martin, Sam, Marion, Porter, Ben F. 1856-1929, Caroline, Charles Millard 1866-1949, and Dick.

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GENERATION #2

*Allen Spencer Smith is believed to have been born in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee on July 19, 1845 to William and Jane Roberts Smith. He was united in marriage to Sarah Caroline Workman on February 20, 1866 in either Christian County, Illinois or Clark County, Missouri. Sarah was the daughter of John Butler and Martha Ann Roberts Workman and was born on June 25, 1845 in Overton County, Tennessee.

Allen lived in Nashville until the age of six, at which time his family moved to Christian County where they lived for many years. In 1872 he moved from Illinois to York County , Nebraska where he lived until March of 1886. He then purchased a homestead six and one half miles west of Wray, Yuma County, Colorado. In 1907 he moved into Wray and this was his home for the rest of his life.

Allen was a farmer and blacksmith by trade. He conducted a blacksmith shop in Wray for over 20 years and worked there up until just a few weeks before his death, June 21, 1927. Sarah passed away on June 20, 1837.

Allen and Sarah are buried at Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado. They were married for 61 years. During these years they had nine children:

Allen who died in infancy, John W. 1868-1927, Josephine May 1868-after 1937, *Clara Levesta 1874-1916, Anna Elizabeth 1877-1896, Thomas Weaver 1880-1953, Jesse Russell 1882-after 1937, Mary Caroline 1884-1955, Orville Cleveland 1888-1959.

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GENERATION #3

*Clara Levesta Smith, the daughter of Allen and Sarah, was born on July 31, 1874 in Fillmore, Nebraska. On May 7, 1893 in the home of her parents in Wray, Colorado, she married David S. Thomas. David was born on February 13, 1863, to John and Elizabeth Ann Taylor Thomas.

Clara died on January 4, 1916, in Wray, Yuma County, Colorado. Their marriage blessed them with one daughter:

*Bertha Mae 1900-1957

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GENERATION #4

*Bertha Mae Thomas, the only child of Clara and David was born on September 15, 1900 in Wray, Colorado. On November 8, 1918 in Wray Colorado, she married Chase William Pevler. Chase was born on September 1, 1900 in LeRoy, Illinois, to Oscar S. and Corilla Peavler.

Bertha had a very hard life. She lost her mother at the young age of 15 and that was just the beginning. Her story must be told though. When she was 25 years old, Bertha found herself with two young daughters ages 5 and 2. She was basically raising them by herself, as her husband rarely came home. Chase ran around on her and she knew it. From what I have been told about her actions from Bertha's oldest daughter, she must have been in a very deep depression. Sometimes for days at a time, she was unable to get out of bed. Her daughter, Velma would crawl up on a chair and get leftover biscuits off of the old cookstove, for her and her younger sister to eat, when her Mama couldn't get out of bed.

In 1925, she was placed in the State Hospital at Pueblo, Colorado. For the most part, she lived there the rest of her life, until she died on September 28, 1957. After Velma was married, she tried to have her Mama live with her. Being only 16 and having a young baby, she was unable to take care of both and had to put Bertha back in the hospital. Velma was tormented over this for years.

Bertha is buried at the Blakesburg Cemetery in Blakesburg, Iowa. Chase passed away August 30, 1977 and is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.

Chase and Bertha had two daughters:

*Velma Leona 1920-1988, Beulah Viola 1923-?

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GENERATION #5

*Velma Leona Pevler, was born on March 27, 1920. She was raised by her grandparents from the age of 5. On January 8, 1936 at the age of 15, she married Everett Earl Harr. Everett 'Pete' was born on July 18, 1912 to Frank Carver and Helen Dorothy Olive Shoppe Hoar/Harr.

Velma and Pete farmed in Colorado and Iowa. Pete was diagnosed with arthritis of the spine in 1963 and had to retire from farming. When he retired, they moved to Peoria County, Illinois. In 1967, they moved to Tazewell County, Illinois.

In 1974, after 38 years of marriage, they divorced. Pete remarried to Leola Burrows, a long time family friend. Velma never remarried, but had a companion, Clarence 'Buddy' Burke.

Velma died on January 20, 1988 and is buried at the Blakesburg Cemetery, Blakesburg, Iowa. Pete died on November 21, 1989 and is buried in Roberts Cemetery, East Peoria, Illinois.

Pete and Velma had five sons and three daughters.