Collection #

M 0254

 

 

Clarence H. smith
papers, 1775–1955

Collection Information

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Series Contents

Cataloging Information

 

 

 

Processed by

Betty Alberty, Robert W. Smith, Sister Rachel West
Paul Brockman, Supervisor
2 May 2003

Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269

www.indianahistory.org

 

COLLECTION INFORMATION

VOLUME OF
COLLECTION:

14 manuscript boxes, 1 folder of photographs

COLLECTION
DATES:

1775–1955

PROVENANCE:

Herbert L. Heller, Greencastle, Indiana, May 1956

RESTRICTIONS:

None

COPYRIGHT:

 

REPRODUCTION
RIGHTS:

Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society.

ALTERNATE
FORMATS:

 

RELATED
HOLDINGS:

Henry County Miscellaneous Papers (M 0060); Robert B. Smith Papers (M 0257)

ACCESSION
NUMBER:

1956.0508

NOTES:

Originally processed by Nancy Hendershot, June 1987; revised by Alexandra S. Gressitt, August 1993

BIOGRAPHiCAL SKETCH

Clarence Herbert Smith was born in New Castle, Henry County, Indiana, on 4 July 1875, the youngest child of Robert Barclay and Catherine (Kate) Taylor Smith.  His father was a native of Loudoun County, Virginia, descended from a prominent Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Quaker family.  His great grandparents, Samuel and Rachel Cooper Smith, moved to Loudoun County, Virginia in 1786.  Two of their sons, Jacob and Samuel, emigrated to Wayne County, Indiana, in the 1820s.  A third son, Seth, Clarence's grandfather, moved in 1855 to Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana, where he practiced law.  His son, Robert B., followed and settled in New Castle as a dry goods merchant.  Clarence Smith's mother was a daughter of John Taylor, an early New Castle resident.  Clarence graduated from New Castle High School in 1894 and attended Wabash College for one year.  He later was associated with a brother in the mercantile business in New Castle and with South Park Floral Co. (Heller Bros.).  In 1922 he was appointed Curator of the Henry County Historical Society Museum, a post he held until 1952.

Smith was an enthusiastic local historian, genealogist, and amateur naturalist.  Prior to his retirement he was active in the Indiana Historical Society, the Society of Indiana Pioneers, the Sons of the American Revolution (S.A.R.), and other hereditary-patriotic organizations.  Smith formed the Patrick Henry Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in Henry County, serving terms as secretary, vice president, and historian for the Indiana Society of the S.A.R.  He also held offices in most of the other organizations to which he belonged.  For several years he wrote an historic column for the New Castle Courier entitled "Happenings of Other Days."  He was specifically interested in the lives of the settlers and early resident families of the New Castle-Knightstown vicinity.  Smith was also an active member of the Indiana Audubon Society and the Henry County Nature Research Club and was a member of the Presbyterian Church.  Smith never married.  He died in New Castle in 1959.

Source:
Information in collection.

 

 

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Smith collection primarily consists of correspondence, but it also contains some journals, diaries, documents, clippings, photographs, and various other papers and books.  The collection has been divided into eight series reflecting Smith's activities and research interests:  1. Smith Family Papers 1775–1911; 2. Personal Correspondence 1894–1952; 3. S.A.R. (Sons of the American Revolution) Correspondence 1921–1951; 4. Henry County Historical Society 1916–1952; 5. Indiana Historical Agencies 1915–1951; 6. Henry County History; 7 General Genealogical Inquiries, Correspondence 1922–1952; and 8. Other Organizations and Interests.

Series 1:  Smith Family Papers, 1775–1911 contain early letters, documents, journals and diaries, including an undated typed transcript of a 1680 letter from Mahlon Stacy, a Smith forbearer.  He writes from New Jersey to a brother-in-law in England describing the bountifulness of the new country and refuting the "strange reports" of it.

This category includes a great deal of early Smith family history and genealogical notes and charts researched and compiled by Clarence Smith.  There are also notes on families of his mother's line—Taylor, Shroyer and Shafer.

Early letters and journals speak of business; farming and legal matters; the Quaker faith and concern for those falling away from it; views on slavery, temperance and war; and news of family and friends emigrating westward and journeying back East to attend meetings of the Friends.  Most of the Smiths depended on farming to some extent for their livelihoods, although some followed other trades as well.  One Amos Smith was apparently in the mercantile firm of Smith and Smith in Baltimore, Maryland. 

The 1806 account books of the firm list goods, ships, and destinations.  Seth Smith was apprenticed to a Baltimore wire weaver while in his youth, began practicing law in Virginia and  apparently was also associated with his brother, Jacob (then in Ohio), in a dry goods business.

Also included are Seth Smith's journals (1805–10, 1832, 1842–51, 1855, 1805–63) and other writings.  Several of the original diaries are intact; some are typed transcripts; and some were hand copied by Clarence Smith.  Other of Seth Smith's writings includes essays, addresses, treatises and poetry.  Among the other items are Clarence Smith's notebook, containing transcripts of Seth's 1808 journal, in which he describes a trip from Virginia to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania; family letters of 1775–1837; and the marriage certificate of Seth and Mary Taylor Janney.  It also contains extensive notes and charts on family history and genealogy.

A rough genealogical sketch is presented in the first folder to assist in identifying the writers and recipients of the correspondence.  A letter of Clarence Smith's is also included, as it highlights some particularly interesting letters.

The collection also contains the genealogy and history of the families of John Smith and Smith Holloway, and the Pickering family, all of whom were relatives of Clarence Smith's family.  Of note are journals of Smith Holloway, which recount travels on horseback through Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana in the 1830s and 1850s.  Holloway describes the land, river towns, and Indians on their way to the "Indian Treaty" on the Tippecanoe River in 1832. The Pickering family genealogy is recorded at the end of a journal describing a trip to Wayne and Henry Counties, Indiana.  Other items include letters of introduction for Dr. Smith Holloway (1837, 1839) and Isaac Holloway's book containing names of teachers and pupils of the Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, school in 1852–53.

The family correspondence of Seth and Robert Smith includes correspondence from the 1850s between Seth and son Robert in connection with the move to Richmond and financial problems in getting settled, and letters to Seth and Robert from John W. Griffith discussing business matters, farming problems, and prospects of his move to Richmond and starting a paper mill.  Papers from the 1860s include numerous letters relating to the Civil War.  Of particular note are those of William L. James to Seth and Robert Smith.  William James, the husband of Seth's granddaughter, Sibilla, served as Assistant Quartermaster, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Fort Monroe, Virginia.  He comments on personalities and events of the war as viewed in Washington.  There is also the letter of Asa Smith (probably a son of Jacob) to one of his uncles from his Union cavalry camp near Winchester, Tennessee.  There also are letters of Robert B. and Catherine, their children and relatives concerning general family matters.

Series 2:  Personal Correspondence contains letters to Clarence Smith, 1894–1952.  The letters of 1894–1919 are mostly from brothers Arthur, Harry and Lynn (an Alaskan businessman), and from cousins and distant relatives.  Personal correspondence beginning with 1920 is increasingly related to Smith's genealogical research, interest in local history and work as museum curator.  Beginning about 1924 there is a good deal of correspondence with Kate Milner Rabb who wrote an historical column, "Hoosier Listening Post," for the Indianapolis Star.

Series 3:  S.A.R. (Sons of the American Revolution) comprises Smith's correspondence relating to his S.A.R. work, 1921–51.  These materials and letters include genealogical research Smith conducted for S.A.R. and DAR applicants; the society's activities in locating and marking graves of Revolutionary War veterans in Indiana; and correspondence with local, state, and national officers.

Series 4:  Henry County Historical Society contains correspondence regarding Smith's activities as curator of the historical society museum, 1922–52—general business, programs, exhibits, acquisitions.  There are many letters from Dr. William M. Reser of the Tippecanoe County Historical Society in Lafayette concerning information and activities of mutual interest. 

Series 5: Indiana Historical Agencies consists of Smith's correspondence with representatives of the Indiana Historical Commission, Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana State Library, and Indiana Historical Society, including letters from John Oliver, Lucy Elliott, Harlow Lindley and Christopher B. Coleman, and Esther McNitt, 1915–51.

Series 6:  Henry County History contain old letters and documents, clippings and various papers and books gathered by Smith as local historian for papers he wrote and for his New Castle Courier column, "Happenings of Other Days."  The collection of 1840-94 Courier news items that Smith used for his column belonged to Benjamin S. Parker (1833–1911), former owner and editor of the Newcastle Mercury.  Among items of interest are the 1853 letters of R. H. Robb to his friend B. S. Parker describing his emigration to Oregon, which were published by the Courier at the time.  Smith also gathered material through correspondence found in this category with relatives of early settler families who provided memoirs and papers of their ancestors.  Political, legal and civic papers gathered by Smith concerning Henry County history and its participation in the Civil War may be found in another collection, Henry County Papers (M 0060).

Series 7:  General Genealogical Inquiries, Correspondence is made up of requests for information Smith received from people all over the country searching for ancestors in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.  The correspondence in these boxes is mostly of a general nature.  The most extensive information is found on the following families: Koons, Fleming, Chapman-Garner, Mills, Shirk-Palmer, Ice, Tackett, Roush, Wine.  Much of the material also relates to the Henry County History category.

Series 8: Other Organizations And Interests contains three small groupings of correspondence.  Smith's Audubon Society materials include letters from state officers, inquiries about natural history exhibits at the Henry County Historical Museum, and pamphlets urging the extermination of cats for the protection of song birds.  Some correspondence is in regard to the 50th reunion of the Wabash College Class of 1898.  There are a few letters from Albert J. Beveridge concerning his biography of Lincoln, from Senator James E. Watson on prohibition, and from Josiah K. Lilly and Congressman Richard N. Elliott.

 

 

series CONTENTS

Series 1: Smith Family Papers, 1775–1911

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Smith Family History/Genealogy

Box 1, Folder 1

Smith Family Genealogy

Box 1, Folder 2

Documents, 1780–1882

Box 1, Folder 3

Day Book, May–June 1806

Box 1, Folder 4

Mahlon Stacy Letter, 1680 (copy, n.d.)

Box 1, Folder 5

Family Letters, 1775–1914

Box 1, Folder 6

Family Letters, 1821–49

Box 1, Folder 7

Letters to Seth Smith, 1807–39

Box 1, Folder 8

Letters to Seth Smith, 1841–49

Box 1, Folder 9

Letters to Jacob Smith, 1806–19

Box 1, Folder 10

Letters to Jacob Smith, 1821–27

Box 1, Folder 11

Letters to Jacob Smith, 1830–48

Box 2, Folder 1

Family Letters, n.d.

Box 2, Folder 2

Account Book (Virginia), 1815–23

Box 2, Folder 3

Cash Book, Cotton Book, 1806, 1813–15

Box 2, Folder 4

Society of Friends Records, 1800s–1850s; Research and Correspondence, 1920s

Box 2, Folder 5

Seth Smith Diary, 1805

Box 2, Folder 6

Seth Smith Diary, 1806

Box 2, Folder 7

Seth Smith Diary, 1807

Box 2, Folder 8

Seth Smith Diary, 1805–06, Transcripts

Box 2, Folder 9

Seth Smith Journal, 1808

Box 2, Folder 10

Seth Smith Journal, 1809–10, Excerpt

Box 2, Folder 11

Seth Smith Diary, 1805–06, Transcription

Box 2, Folder 12

Seth Smith Journal, 1805–63

Box 2, Folder 13

Seth Smith Journal, 1832, Transcription

Box 2, Folder 14

Seth Smith Journal Excerpts, 1825–29; Amos Smith Journal Excerpts, 1855; Memo Book, Loudoun County, Virginia, 1842–51

Box 3, Folder 1

Essays, 1834, n.d.

Box 3, Folder 2

Clarence Smith Notebook, n.d.

Box 3, Folder 3

Smith-Holloway—John Smith Genealogy, Meek Letters

Box 3, Folder 4

Smith-Holloway—Journal, 1832;  Two Letters of Introduction, 1837, 1839

Box 3, Folder 5

Smith-Holloway—Diary, 1840

Box 3, Folder 6

Smith-Holloway—Journal, 1856–57

Box 3, Folder 7

Clarence Smith Genealogy Correspondence, 1907–50

Box 3, Folder 8

Clarence Smith Genealogy Correspondence, 1907–46

Box 3, Folder 9

Clarence Smith Genealogy Correspondence, 1907–47

Box 3, Folder 10

Clarence Smith Genealogy Correspondence, 1898–1951

Box 3, Folder 11

Clarence Smith Genealogy Correspondence, 1926–50

Box 3, Folder 12

Clarence Smith Genealogy Correspondence, 1922–36

Box 4, Folder 1

Clarence Smith Genealogy Correspondence, 1922–47

Box 4, Folder 2

Family Letters, 1850s

Box 4, Folder 3

Family Letters, 1860s

Box 4, Folder 4

Family Letters, 1870–89

Box 4, Folder 5

Family Letters, 1890–97

Box 4, Folder 6

Family Letters, Jan.–June 1898

Box 4, Folder 7

Family Letters, July 1898

Box 4, Folder 8

Family Letters, Aug. 1898

Box 4, Folder 9

Family Letters, Sept. 1898

Box 5, Folder 1

Family Letters, Oct.–Dec. 1898

Box 5, Folder 2

Family Letters, Jan. 1899

Box 5, Folder 3

Family Letters, Feb. 1899

Box 5, Folder 4

Family Letters, March 1899

Box 5, Folder 5

Family Letters, April–Dec. 1899

Box 5, Folder 6

Family Letters, Jan.–Dec. 1900

Box 5, Folder 7

Family Letters, 1901–03

Box 5, Folder 8

Family Letters, Jan.–May 1904

Box 5, Folder 9

Family Letters, June–Dec. 1904

Box 5, Folder10

Family Letters, 1905–06

Box 5, Folder 11

Family Letters, 1907–08

Box 5, Folder 12

Family Letters, 1909–11

Box 6, Folder 1

Family Letters, n.d. (1 of 3)

Box 6, Folder 2

Family Letters, n.d. (2 of 3)

Box 6, Folder 3

Family Letters, n.d. (3 of 3)

Box 6, Folder 4

Series 2: Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1894–1952

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1894–98

Box 6, Folder 5

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1899–1909

Box 6, Folder 6

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1910–12

Box 6, Folder 7

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1913–15

Box 6, Folder 8

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1916–19

Box 6, Folder 9

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1920

Box 6, Folder 10

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1921

Box 6, Folder 11

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, Jan.–June 1922

Box 6, Folder 12

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, July–Dec. 1922

Box 7, Folder 1

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, Jan.–April 1923

Box 7, Folder 2

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, May–Dec. 1923

Box 7, Folder 3

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1924–25

Box 7, Folder 4

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1926

Box 7, Folder 5

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1927

Box 7, Folder 6

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1928

Box 7, Folder 7

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1929

Box 7, Folder 8

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1930–31

Box 8, Folder 1

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1932–33

Box 8, Folder 2

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1934–35

Box 8, Folder 3

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1936–37

Box 8, Folder 4

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1938–39

Box 8, Folder 5

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1940–45

Box 8, Folder 6

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, 1946–52

Box 8, Folder 7

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, n.d. (1 of 4)

Box 9, Folder 1

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, n.d. (2 of 4)

Box 9, Folder 2

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, n.d. (3 of 4)

Box 9, Folder 3

Clarence Smith, Personal Correspondence, n.d. (4 of 4)

Box 9, Folder 4

Series 3: Sons of the American Revolution Materials, 1921–51

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1921–24

Box 9, Folder 5

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1924–27

Box 9, Folder 6

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1925–26

Box 9, Folder 7

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1927

Box 9, Folder 8

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1927–29

Box 9, Folder 9

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, March 1927

Box 9, Folder 10

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, April 1927

Box 10, Folder 1

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1928

Box 10, Folder 2

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1928–29

Box 10, Folder 3

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1930–32

Box 10, Folder 4

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1930

Box 10, Folder 5

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1930

Box 10, Folder 6

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1931

Box 10, Folder 7

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1932–33

Box 10, Folder 8

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1933

Box 10, Folder 9

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1934–35

Box 10, Folder 10

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1935–39

Box 10, Folder 11

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, 1940–51

Box 10, Folder 12

Correspondence, Rev. War Graves, Indiana Pioneers, Colonial Wars, n.d.

Box 10, Folder 13

S.A.R. History and General Materials

Box 11, Folder 1

S.A.R. General Printed Materials, 1925?–39

Box 11, Folder 2

Series 4: Henry County Historical Society, 1887–1952

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Henry County Historical Society Papers, 1916–29 (1 of 6)

Box 11, Folder 3

Henry County Historical Society Papers, 1916–29 (2 of 6)

Box 11, Folder 4

Henry County Historical Society Papers, 1916–29 (3 of 6)

Box 11, Folder 5

Henry County Historical Society Papers, 1916–29 (4 of 6)

Box 11, Folder 6

Henry County Historical Society Papers, 1916–29 (5 of 6)

Box 11, Folder 7

Henry County Historical Society Papers, 1916–29 (6 of 6)

Box 11, Folder 8

Henry County Historical Society, General Correspondence, 1930–34 (1 of 2)

Box 11, Folder 9

Henry County Historical Society, General Correspondence, 1930–34 (2 of 2)

Box 11, Folder 10

Henry County Historical Society, General Correspondence, 1935–39

Box 11, Folder 11

Henry County Historical Society, General Correspondence, 1940–52

Box 11, Folder 12

Henry County Historical Society, General Correspondence, n.d.

Box 11, Folder 13

Henry County Historical Society Museum Collections

Box 12, Folder 1

Henry County Historical Society Museum Labels

Box 12, Folder 2

Henry County Historical Society, Printed Materials, 1887–1931

Box 12, Folder 3

Henry County Historical Society, Interurban Token and Note, 1933

Box 12, Folder 4

Series 5: Indiana Historical Agencies, 1915–51

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1915–22

Box 12, Folder 5

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1923

Box 12, Folder 6

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1924

Box 12, Folder 7

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1925

Box 12, Folder 8

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1926–27

Box 12, Folder 9

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1928

Box 12, Folder 10

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1930–31

Box 12, Folder 11

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1932–33

Box 12, Folder 12

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1934–36

Box 12, Folder 13

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1937–38

Box 12, Folder 14

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1939–43

Box 12, Folder 15

Indiana Historical Agencies, 1944–51

Box 12, Folder 16

Series 6: Henry County History, 1792–1950

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

New Castle Courier, 1840–94

Box 12, Folder 17

Clippings of Historical Interest

Box 13, Folder 1

Indianapolis Star, “Hoosier Listening Post” Articles by Kate Milner Rabb

Box 13, Folder 2

Settler Family Papers, 1808–1946

Box 13, Folder 3

Medical Remedies

Box 13, Folder 4

Essays, Copybooks (School), 1792–1921

Box 13, Folder 5

Chief Pokagon, Slavery, Henry County History

Box 13, Folder 6

Letters to Smith, 1921–24

Box 13, Folder 7

Letters to Smith, 1925–27

Box 13, Folder 8

Letters to Smith, 1928–30

Box 13, Folder 9

Letters to Smith, 1933–50

Box 13, Folder 10

Photographs Relating to Henry County History, ca. 1910s–20s

Visual Collections:  Photographs, Folder 1

General Historical Materials, n.d.

Box 13, Folder 11

Series 7: Genealogical Inquiries, 1922–50

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

General Genealogical Research, 1922–24

Box 13, Folder 12

General Genealogical Research, 1925–27

Box 14, Folder 1

General Genealogical Research,, 1928–29

Box 14, Folder 2

General Genealogical Research, 1930–31

Box 14, Folder 3

General Genealogical Research, 1932–34

Box 14, Folder 4

General Genealogical Research, 1935–39

Box 14, Folder 5

General Genealogical Research, 1940–52 and n.d.

Box 14, Folder 6

Koons Family Records

Box 14, Folder 7

Series 8: Other Organizations and Interests, 1904–48

CONTENTS

CONTAINER

Audubon Society and Nature Club, 1906–30

Box 14, Folder 8

Nature Research Club, Account, 1909–23

Box 14, Folder 9

Audubon Society, 1931–47

Box 14, Folder 10

Wabash College Class of 1898 50th Reunion, 1948

Box 14, Folder 11

General Correspondence, 1904–34

Box 14, Folder 12

CATALOGING INFORMATION

For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:

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