Welty Smith Family History July 2005

125 year summary

The parents and their siblings are in bold italics. Their children are in bold face.

The grandparents are underlined.

3 Jan. 1849 Margret Ann Rinaman, born, in Baltimore, Maryland. See the James S. Wilson

family event log for details on her family

23 July 1849 Welty Smith, born in Lincoln County, Missouri. See the William Smith Sr family

event log for details on his family.

1849 Cholera causes a few deaths in the county.

10 May 1856 Margret A. Rinaman and her family arrive in Lincoln Co. Mo.

1860 Welty is 11 years old.

1862? The corn Welty and Britton picked and cribbed is taken by Federal troops.

1865 1866 A mild form of Cholera is in the county. No deaths are reported.

1 Mar 1870 Welty Smith marries Margret Ann Rinaman, Lincoln Co. Mo.

Married at Peter Rinaman's home, the log cabin? Welty is 20 yrs. old.

10 June 1870 The census shows they began married life living with his parents.

15 June 1870 The census shows they are living with her parents. Welty and Margret

have managed to get counted twice. They are apparently moving back

and forth between their parents places. They will raise a family of eleven

children, eight sons and three daughters.

There will be one set of twins, a girl and a boy.

28 Dec. 1870 William Peter Smith born, Lincoln Co.

10 May 1872 Burton Lee Smith born, Lincoln Co.

1873 A Cholera epidemic kills at least 26 people in the county.

16 Mar 1874 The families of Welty Smith, Artilla Smith Rinaman, and Druscilla

Smith Slavens go to Kansas to homestead. The wagons have a

Kansas or Bust" sign painted on them. Artilla's son Frank, and

daughter Annie, about 1 and 3 years old respectively make the trip.

18 May 1874 Mary Ella Smith is born in Kansas. Her obituary says she was

born in Troy, so the date of trip to Kansas may be off a year.

7 Nov 1874 The families of Welty, Artilla, and Druscilla, arrive back in

Lincoln Co. The sign on the wagon says "Busted" All the

crops they had planted were eaten by grasshoppers.

1875 Welty rents Lincoln Co. Coal Company land to farm. It lies SW

of the William Smith Sr home place, and N of the John Carwell farm.

The children will go to Perkins school. Perkins school, No. 3 according

to the 1878 land map, is on land owned by Waddy and Perkins.

The school sits just beyond the SW corner of the William Smith Sr. farm.

It is not known when it was founded. Welty and siblings may have

gone to school there. Artilla's children will almost certainly go there.

. In later years, i.e. 1916 to 1924, Elbert's children, Lillian Francis and

Elberta Kinion, and Will Rinaman's children will make up most of the class.

10 Feb 1876 Orion Russell "Orie" Smith born, Lincoln Co.

7 Feb. 1877 Welty brings John Wilson, Margrets uncle, home for three days of nursing.

John will die of consumption, (tuberculosis) in July 1877.

11 Feb 1877 Welty takes John Wilson to his home in West Prarie. Welty will later bill

John's estate for $7.00 for driving John around, and $6.00 for three days of nursing.

2 July 1877 Welty's father, William Smith Sr. dies. Lincoln Co. Mo.

16 Feb 1878 Oswell "Ossie" "Ozzie" Bredell Smith born, Lincoln Co. Mo

19 Dec 1879 Verner Conrad Smith born, Lincoln Co. Mo.

1880 Welty is 31 years old.

1 June 1880 Welty's wife Margret has gotten listed twice in the census again.

Her dad has told the census taker she's 19 and living at home.

15 Nov 1881 First snow; snow will stay on the ground until 10 March 1882. Butchered meat

stays frozen all winter.

2 Feb 1882 Welty buys wheat from the Barlows.

5 Feb 1882 Some of Welty's boys are sent to stay at the Barlows, because momma is

having another baby.

8 Feb 1882 Theron Welty Smith born, Lincoln Co.

10 Feb 1882 The Barlows come to see the new baby.

12 Mar 1882 The Barlows visit the Welty Smith family. It's Sunday.

2 May 1882 The first train on the St Louis and Hannibal Railroad makes a run from

Troy to Hannibal

8 July 1882 Start of a drought that will last until the end of Sept.

End of Sept. 1882 The drought is broken by a three day rain, that causes a great flood, ruining

what's left of the crops. Bridges on the Short Line are washed out.

15 Oct 1882 Welty takes his family to visit the Barlows on a Sunday.

9 Feb 1884 Harvey Elbert Smith and his twin Nannie Ethel born, Lincoln Co.

22 Oct 1886 Britton Smith and family, have come down from Audrain, Co.

to visit Welty and Artilla and his mother. "Gabriel"

5 Nov 1886 Welty is in Troy buying ten pair of boots for his sons, and himself,

He also picks up a pair of shoes for his wife. "Gabriel"

24 Apr 1887 Amos Herbert Smith is born, Lincoln Co. Mo.

23 Mar 1889 Leola Folsom "Falsie" Smith born, Lincoln Co Mo. The name

Folsom was given in honor of President Cleveland's wife.

1889 William P. Smith graduates from high school, the Troy Christian

Institute, originally the Lincoln Academy.

1890 William P. Smith is reading medicine with Doctor D.W.Tice. He will also

read with Dr S.R. McKay in Troy. His basic education was in the public schools

of the county, and the Troy High School. He will get his Medical education at

the Beaumont Medical College in St Louis.

Welty is 41 years old. Margaret has joined the Methodist church. Orion is

playing a game called "Old Sow" at school which is like Polo

without the horses.

11 May 1890 Lydia Carwell, Orion's future wife, receives a "catechism" certificate from the

Zoar Chapel at Indian Camp, Lincoln County, Mo. It is printed in German.

24 Oct 1890 K. H. Shaper moves his sawmill to John Carwells, to saw wood,

for the addition Welty Smith wants to build on his house this fall.

Troy Free Press, by "Gabriel" Weltys pen name? "Gabriel" sure liked

to blow his own horn. Linns Mill or Slavens Chapel items.

1891 Elbert and Nannie Ethel have started school. Its very crowded and

Elbert has to share a desk. He plays hand games with his seat mate, which

the teacher interprets as fighting. Both get whippings.

1892 Burton begins alternating between teaching school and going to school.

He has gone to County and Troy public schools. He will attend Buchanan

College, Kirksville Normal, and the University of Missouri, as his

teaching allows. This will continue through 1898. He won the gold

medal in the essay contest his freshman year at Buchanan College.

This makes him suspect as the author of at least some of the Gabriel articles.

5 Feb 1892 Welty's mother Mary "Polly" Welty Smith dies. Lincoln Co. Mo.

15 Apr 1892 Dr William P. Smith removes a bead from his little sisters ear. "Gabriel"

Note that Gabriel has granted his son his medical degree a year early.

20 Mar 1893 Welty buys two shares, for $20, at the subscription meeting for Buchanan

College, which will be the new High School. Artilla's husband Joseph buys

one share for $10.

June 1893 William P. "Uncle Doctor" Smith graduates from the Beaumont Medical College

in St Louis. A second source called this the Missouri Medical College in St Louis.

Welty goes down for the graduation ceremony at the old Beaumont Medical College

Sounds like the institution had a name change while he was there.

21 July 1893 The summer session of the Lincoln County Institute, held for teacher training

has begun. It is on the site of the old Troy Grammer School, and may be in

the same building. Amos Rinaman is on the Board. Students include Burton L.

Smith, J. F. Rinaman, and Wm Howell.

1894? At some point in their youth all the boys except Ossie study telegraphy.

Theron and Verner, will work as telegraphers. The jobs will be

with the railroad.

5 Jan 1894 Welty sells ten mules to men from Bowling Green and makes $700.

Troy Free Press "Gabriel" Same issue; Welty Smith and

John Carwell returned from Arkansas. Had a pleasant trip, but

were not favorably impressed with all the mountains.

12 Jan 1894 Dr William P. Smith serves on a board at Mexico, to pick a cadet to

send to West Point. "Gabriel" Troy Free Press

17 Jan 1894 Orion buys the textbook "American Mental Arithmetic for his class at

Buchanan College.

2 Feb 1894 Welty and Artilla have been to West Prairie to celebrate Peter

Rinaman's, 79th birthday. Twenty nine descendants were present.

Troy Free Press

9 Feb 1894 Welty visits Audrain, Co. to see Britton and Columbus and check

out the possibilities of buying a farm. Miss Annie Rinaman

is visiting Miss Ella Smith at Welty's farm. Troy Free Press.

16 Feb 1894 Welty rides his famous white horse "Charley" about 30 miles through

snow drifts coming back from Audrain County. He started six miles

N of Wellsville at 8 o'clock, and was home by 4. Troy Free Press

12 Oct 1894 Welty is back from visiting Britton and Columbus in Audrain, Co.

He took Amos and Folsom "Folsa" with him. Troy Free Press.

1894 Welty will found his home place at about this time,

on land a little further E, and due S of his fathers farm. The children

will now be educated, through the 8th grade, at Hammond School,

a one room log cabin schoolhouse. The school, No 2, in the 1878 atlas,

is just over a mile SSE of the home place. Verner's children, Vernette

Carwell and Merrill Welty will also attend this school

26 Oct 1894 Orion is attending Buchanan College in Troy. Riding his horse to

school each day. Troy Free Press. This is probably the first year

the school is open. One of his jobs during his teen age years was

to take grain to the Hanni steam mill to be ground, about 4 miles from

home. The mill once stood on the Harvey farm which Orion will later

buy, and make his home place. The mill was moved to Troy, in 1869,

and renamed the Hanni mill. It took 16 yoke of oxen

to haul the steam boiler to Troy. A second job was to take his

grandmother, Sophia Wilson Rinaman to mass at the Catholic Church

in Millwood, in the wagon, on the weekends he spent at their farm.

23 Nov 1894 Burton and a buddy have spent the weekend in Wright City.

Both were very favorably impressed with the young ladies.

Linns Mill news, Troy Free Press.

On the same date is an item listing Ossie, Verner,

Theron, and Elbert Smith, Fred, George, and Henry Carwell,

and others as members of the "Coon Creek Possum Hunters"

On Saturday night this group, fortified with tobacco, and corn

cob pipes, set out in search of wild animals. Someone follows

and throws sticks at them a few times. Thinking this to be

the possums after them the boys are all home before their folks

have gone to bed. "Gabriel"

21 Dec 1894 The mud is so deep Orion is walking to school each day to give his

. horse a rest. "Gabriel"

28 Dec 1894 Orion, Burton, Frank and Will Rinaman, Artilla's sons and a

friend go rabbit hunting. The one rabbit they saw took six shots

and three good dogs to do in. "Gabriel"

1895 Uncle Doctor is the County Coroner. He will hold the post till 1899.

1 Feb 1895 Burton and J.F. Rinaman, "Artilla's son "get cold sleighing. They get to

a good fire before they freeze. "Gabriel" Troy Free Press.

22 Mar 1895 Welty sells five fine hogs. Burton is about to close his school in

the Brown district for the year. Artilla and family visit Welty and

family on Sunday. "Gabriel" Troy Free Press

24 May 1895 Burton, Orion, and Frank and Will Rinaman, and a friend go fishing in

Cuivre River. Its to high, so they explore Howell's cave, crawling back

to a room they call "bear track", where family names dating back into

the 1700's are inscribed on the walls. "Gabriel" Troy Free Press

28 Jun 1895 Burton is teaching at Schroer School, Orion at Elmore School near

Hawk Point. The schools have staged two spelling contests.

Burton's students win both matches. Troy Free Press.

8 Nov 1985 Welty has trouble with his potatoes. He kicks a hill and two bushels

escape before he can get them under control. Troy Free Press

6 Dec 1895 Schroer school forms a debating society. Burton is apparently still

the teacher. Burton and J.F. Rinaman, Artilla's son attend the Teachers

Association meeting, at Mexico Mo, during the Christmas break.

Troy Free Press

1896 Burton is taking the "Teachers Course" at the University of Missouri,

presumably during the summer. U. of Missouri archive data.

1896? Orion is teaching at Schoer School.

17 June 1896 Dr William P. Smith marries Eugenia Allen, Troy, Mo. Eugenia

is the first person to graduate from Buchanan College, having

arrived in Troy with three years of schooling in Virginia, and

finishing in Troy, the first year Buchanan College opens. Another source says

15 June. Uncle Doctor is a active Democrat, and a member of Troy Lodge

No. 34, A.F.& A. M., of which he is a junior warden, and also a member of Troy

R. A. Chapter No. 85.

14 Aug 1896 Dr William P. Smith becomes a partner in the Bragg Drug Store,

with E. H. Thurman, and W. S. Bragg. His Doctors office is situated over the

drug store on Main Street. Troy Free Press.

17 Nov 1896 Burton is teaching school at Silex. He has 28 kids, another teacher has 32,

and one of his is a incorrigible boy. He's going to try one more time with him,

then he's either out of school or he's going to maul the stuffing out of him. He's

checked with the schools directors, and they say go ahead, and if he can't handle him,

they can. He says he saw Uncle Bill?, and he was coming to Welty's, Sunday.

William Rinaman. Peter and Prof. Baker have been to see him.

Uncle Dr? or Peter Rinaman? The Welty Smith family dog is named Wolf. He's

worried that his brothers have destroyed his fiddle. Silex has a creamery that he has

visited twice. This is his first year at Silex.

1897 Burton is an instructor at Buchanan College.

1897,98? Burton takes special courses at the Normal School at Kirksville, Mo.

probably during the summers. Troy Free Press, 10 March 1899 item.

3 Sept 1897 Burton was appointed a County School Commissioner, on 21 August,

and says he will enter Buchanan College in the fall, and stay until

he finishes. Buchanan College News, and Troy Free Press.

He is called Professor Smith and is a member of the Senior Class

at Buchanan, and of the State Teachers Assn. The Peoples Version

October 21, 1898, No 8.

3 Sept 1897 Dr William P. Smith is a practicing physician, surgeon, and Coroner

in Troy. Troy Free Press. He has a cow skin, he uses as a lap warmer,

when out making calls in the winter.

29 Oct 1897 Peter and Sophia Rinaman, Margret's parents, of West Prairie, Mo.,

are visiting their children, Welty's wife and Artilla's husband.

Troy Free Press.

1898 Burton attends Buchanan College in Troy. He apparently is

teaching some classes. This is probably when the family starts

calling him Professor.

Verner attends Buchanan College for several years. He will teach in the

Lincoln Co. school system for a few years. He will work in

the telegraph office at Troy, and at Hannibal for several years.

31 Aug 1898 Orion has broken his left collarbone, in what he says was an

unavoidable accident. He and Lydia Carwell decide they won't try

to go to the county fair. Orion expects to be in shape to teach school,

when it starts.

Sept 1898 Orion asks Lydia Carwell to marry him. They will keep their engagement

secret for over two years, but the families guess what's going on.

10 Mar 1899 Burton runs for a seat on the County School Commission.

Troy Free Press.

20 Mar 1899 Orion is finishing up a school year. He has been to visit his

Uncle Joseph Rinaman, and is planning on going to the

wedding of Annie Rinaman, his double cousin, and Robert Brown.

2 May 1899 Burton loses the election. He is still attending Buchanan College.

He will teach at Whiteside next year. "Gabriel".

22 Mar 1899 Orion is courting Lydia Carwell. Many letters are exchanged.

Lydia's sister, Anna, has discovered boys. It will be awhile before

Verner convinces her, he's the one.

24 Mar 1899 The Troy Free Press reports that they have printed sale bills for

Welty Smith and John Carwell. For sale: a jack, and their fine horse

"Great Western" one of the best bred animals in the county. The animals

can be seen at the John Carwell farm. Dr William P. Smith amputated

Mr Dougherty's foot, at the County farm. It had been badly frozen.

. Troy Free Press

28 July 1899 Dr William P. Smith and wife attend church at Slavens Chapel. "Gabriel"

Welty and Joe Slavens are leaders in the Southern Episcopal Methodist

Church at Slavens Chapel. It is said that Welty Smith could deliver the

most articulate prayer of anyone in the history of the church. "A Harvest of

Memories", a history of the Hawk Point area.

14 Sept 1899 Orion and Amos Rinaman go fishing in Cuivre River. They are seining.

On the second pull they get 40 lbs of fish. Orion takes the biggest one,

11 lbs, home to Peter Rinaman. Peter's memory is going and he calls

Orion the teacher, and doesn't realize he's his grandson.

18 Sep 1899 Burton and Orion buy two calves from Sophia Rinaman for $30.

Sophia doesn't want to wean the calves because the signs aren't right.

Orion insists, but the way the calves act convinces him Sophia is right.

Orion is staying with Peter, Sophia, and Laura Rinaman,

during the week, while he teaches.

29 Sep 1899 Orion is teaching at Schroer. He has 29 students. "Gabriel"

6 Oct 1899 Welty is sowing rye and timothy. "Gabriel"

20 Oct 1899 "Ozzie" "Ossie" is working for William Rinaman near Olney. "Gabriel"

The Whiteside Literary Society is reorganized. Burton is vice

president. The question for debate "Resolved that the United States

was justified in fighting the Filipinos" Burton is one of two on the

negative side. The Society meets every Friday night. "Gabriel"

23 Oct 1899 Orion makes a date with Lydia Carwell to go to the debate.

Orion is on a committee to draft a constitution for the debating society.

3 Nov 1899 Last week's debate did not turn out very well, so the Society met

Saturday, and adopted a constitution and by laws, that they hope

will be obeyed. "Gabriel" Troy Free Press

8 Dec 1899 The Union Hall Debating Society is meeting. The champions are

Orion Smith for the affirmative, John McCain for the negative.

The topic; Resolved that Washington deserves more credit for

defending America, than Columbus does for discovering it.

Welty and Margret are off to Olney for the second marriage of Margret's

brother, William H. Rinaman, to Miss Williams of Olney. Troy Free Press.

28 Dec 1899 There has been another debate and Orion is not happy with the result.

Dec 1899 The most disastrous decline in the history of the New York Stock

Exchange hits. The effect on the family is unknown.

1900 Welty is 51 years old. Buchanan College, a private high school in Troy, has 100

students enrolled.

16 Feb. 1900 Theron copies, or writes a poem for school. Orion ends up with it.

11 May 1900 Ossie and Burton are both near Renfrow, Grant County, Oklahoma,

Territory. This is just south of the Kansas line, near the middle of the state.

They are working for different bosses and get together on Sundays.

Verner is studying at the Institute, getting ready to teach. Verner, Orion, and

Burton will all teach in Lincoln County schools the next term. Burton plans to

bring Orion a horned toad. He has already salted down a horned toad, wants

a centipede, a tarantula, and a rattlesnake. He's apparently driving a team, and

plowing corn. He's been offered another job in the fields at $1.50 a day. He

warns his brothers to be careful in the river, and to take care of his gun.

11 Sep 1900 Mary Ella is talking to Lydia about Orion. They go to church together.

24 Sep 1900 Orion is teaching school. Based on his letters, it appears that he is

teaching at school #2, which based on the landowners name in 1860, would

be Palmer school. Palmer School was 6 miles north of Hawk Point.

School # 4 is about the same distance away to the NE,

so the identification is not positive. He is boarding at his grandparents

Peter and Sophia Rinaman's house. Laura Rinaman is also

at home. Peter has become senile and doesn't know Orion.

Ossie takes Mamie Early and Rozella Giles to church.

Welty's wife, Margret talks with Lydia at church. Theron has been

to see Otha Giles, but she went to church with her dad.

2 Oct 1900 Welty, Margret, and Mary Ella are going to visit the Rinamans,

to pick up some calves and visit Orion.

8 Oct 1900 Ossie has been to church with the Carwells. One of the Carwell

neighbors has had a hand cut off in the corn shredder.

16 Oct 1900 Orion has visited his uncle Joseph Rinaman, and compared notes

with Florence Rinaman, who is also teaching.

21 Oct 1900 Ossie is at the Carwells, wanting to take Anna to church in Hawk Point.

The Carwells and Smiths are going to help each other pick the corn crop.

The Smith corn is described as being on the river, so Welty has either

rented or bought some presently unidentified land in the Cuivre River bottoms

north of the William Smith Sr home place.

Welty visits the Carwells in the evening.

22 Oct 1900 Theron , Elbert and Amos, are at the Carwells, to help pick corn.

28 Oct 1900 Orion is supposed to act as a clerk at the upcoming election. He plans

to let Ossie have the job, as he needs money. Ossie has brought up

some hay. They go fishing, but catch nothing. Out of curiosity,

Orion goes to the Catholic church service at Millwood. He gets invited to

a dance at the church, by one of his students. Orion says he

does not dance, being a good Methodist.

18 Nov 1900 Orion is visited by Verner, Cora, and Mabel Rinaman, at Peter Rinaman's.

They spend the night. Cora and Mabel are William H. Rinaman's

daughters, and Peter's granddaughters. Mabel is sick.

20 Nov 1900 Fred Carwell, Lydia's brother, writes Orion to tell him Lydia is very

sick with congestive chills. Uncle Doctor is treating her.

27 Nov 1900 Mary Ella comes to check on Lydia. She brings the news that Troy

beat Bowling Green in football 27 to 6. Elbert apparently played.

Orion, Theron, Nannie Ethel, and George and Anna Carwell go to

Troy for the game, which is the last of the year.

28 Nov 1900 Most of the Carwells have gone to prayer meeting at John East's home.

3 Dec 1900 Orion goes to visit Verner, who is teaching and living with the William

Rinaman family, 9 miles from Orion's school. He spends the night with them.

William Rinaman is believed to be living near Silex, but may be at Olney.

10 Dec 1900 Mary Ella has been at the Carwell house helping Lydia with a quilt.

11 Dec 1900 Theron, Nannie Ethel, George and Anna Carwell, and Will and Ada Rinaman,

have all been to church. Welty has been down at the Carwells.

16 Dec 1900 Peter Rinaman dies about 8 in the morning. Orion has been helping,

and has just left the house to get Peter's son Amos, when it happens.

21 Dec 1900 Folsa's letter to Dear Old Santa. "I want some candy, peanuts, and an orange,

a little stove, abc book, and some little things to cook in, and some

firecrackers, a ring, a pretty doll dress, a bracelet, a stick pin with a little

horn on it, and a good story book." The boy Folsa will marry, Eddie Bohmer,

"wants some candy, and some peanuts, and some reasons, and some orenge

and a slate pencil and a square lead pencil" He has a sister Mattie.

Elbert's letter: "Dear Santa Claus, I want you to bring me a football.

I. will close. Your little friend."

Ethyl's letter. Dear Santa Claus, "I will write you a few lines to let you know

what I want for Christmas. I want you to bring me some candy, some

peanuts, a pair of rubbers, and a bunch of firecrackers. Your little friend."

Elbert and Ethel, the twins, are 16, Folsa is 11. Elbert is on the football team

at Buchanan College, he plays either quarterback or guard. This is more

Smith humor showing up. Ethel is taking music lessons and becomes

quite proficient. Troy Free Press, Dec 21, 1900, Vol23, No 27.

Also contains a nice picture of Dr W.P. Smith. The Bragg and Smith Drug Store

ad lists dolls, toys, books, albums, brushes, solar and cuff boxes, glove and

hankerchief boxes, jewel cases, puff boxes, handle pens fountain pens, cigar cutters,

Archirena boards, Crokinole boards, medallions, and baby sets,

31 Dec 1900 Lydia and Anna Carwell, walk to Welty's to help Mary Ella quilt.

Ossie is visiting Orion at the Rhinamans, but goes to bed early.

Orion sits up by himself, writing to Lydia, and vows to give up tobacco.

Ossie and Orion belong to the Woodsmen lodge.

1901 Verner Smith is teaching at Duncan School.

There are three Rinamans in his class of 26.

2 Jan 1901 Welty, Mary Ella, and Nannie Ethel attend the prayer meeting

at the Carwells.

6 Jan 1901 Ossie has come to spend a week at the Rhinaman's with Orion. Orion

spends Sunday morning while the Rhinaman's are at mass, comparing

the Catholic bible with his, and checking out the Catholic mass book.

14 Jan 1901 Orion has proposed to Lydia Carwell, and she's accepted. He's

teaching so they can only get together on weekends, if the weathers

not to bad. Uncle Doctor is treating the neighbors for colds and pneumonia.

19 Jan 1901 Verner and Cora Rinaman stop by the Peter Rhinaman's to visit Orion.

20 Jan 1901 Welty drops by the Carwell house to check on Lydia, and pass on news

about Orion. One of the neighbors has died of pneumonia. Orion taps

two sugar maples and drinks the sap.

1901 Welty collects the entire family, puts them in their Sunday best, and

takes them to town for a family portrait. Someone insists the family dog

should be in the picture. Since Burton is holding the dog, he is the