THE EARLY YEARS
Reuben was born on 31 OCT 1822 Salina, Onondaga Co, New York. The town of Salina was later changed to Syracuse.
On 13 SEP 1825, when Reuben was two years old, his sister, Weltha Ursula Smith was born in New Haven, Oswego Co, New York which is 40 miles north of Salina.
According to family records, Reuben was only 4 years old when his father, Cornelius, died.
There is a Reuben Smith on the 1840 census in Mexico, Oswego Co, NY. Not sure this is actually their family. According to family records, Cornelius died in 1827. The head of household is listed as Reuben Smith but there’s a male age 40-50 in the household who would probably have been the head of household – not Reuben???
MARRIED LIFE
Reuben married Sarah Ann Bump on 06 DEC 1846 in Clay, Onondaga Co, New York. The Bump family lived in Clay at the time, which was 21 miles south of Mexico where the Smiths lived.
Reuben may have been a deacon of the Baptist Church of Mexicoville, later renamed the First Baptist Church of Mexico. There does appear to be another Reuben in Mexico in 1840, though, so not sure which one was the deacon.
On 03 SEP 1849, their first son, Cornelius Aurlius was born in Mexico, Oswego Co, New York. Reuben was 26 years old and they named this son after Reuben’s father.
In 1850, the family still lived in Mexico, NY and appeared on the census with a 10-year-old child named Franklin Wing. Reuben’s occupation was listed as a teamster, which meant a person who drove a team, usually of oxen, horses, or mules, pulling a wagon.
Between 1851 and 1853, they moved over 850 miles to Lyslou, Waukesha, Wisconsin and on 17 MAR 1853 their second son, Delavan Adelbert, was born.
At age 33, he appears on the 1855 census in Osceola, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin next door to his inlaws, Aaron and Deborah Bump. There isn’t much information listed on this census but it says there are 3 males and 1 female in the household.
A few years later on 09 OCT 1855, their 3rd son, Manvil A. was born.
Birth of Daughter: 09 DEC 1856
Name: Hulda A. Smith
Place: Lyslou, Waukesha Co, Wisconsin
Moved to: BETWEEN 1857 AND 1859
Place: Michigan
Note: The Smiths came to Michigan as part of the lumber industry. They followed the railroads out west from New York.
Birth of Daughter: 12 SEP 1859
Name: Weltha Almina Smith
Place: Union City, Branch Co, Michigan
1860 Census: 02 AUG 1860
Place: Union, Branch, Michigan, USA
Note: Was a carpenter and a joiner.
Birth of Daughter: 17 FEB 1862
Name: Pluma Euphema Smith
Place: Michigan
Civil War Draft Registration: June 1863
Place: Union, Branch Co, Michigan
Birth of Daughter: abt 1864
Name: Deborah E. Smith
Place: Michigan
Moved to: 1865
Place: Mason County, Michigan
Birth of Daughter: 22 FEB 1868
Name: Laura E. Smith
Place: Mason Co, Michigan
Occupation:19 NOV 1868 – 07 FEB 1871
Note: Was a Postmaster for Lake Greenwood, which was later named Colfax, Mason County, Michigan.
Birth of Son: 07 SEP 1869
Name: Otis E. Smith
Place: Michigan
1870 Census: 02 JUL 1870
Place: Victory, Mason Co, Michigan, USA
Note: Farmer
Land Rec: 10 FEB 1875
Place: Section 22, Township 20-N, Range 17-W, Mason Co, Michigan, USA
Note: 160 Acres
1880 Census: 19 JUN 1880
Place: Grant Twp, Mason Co, Michigan.
Note: Wife, Sarah, and five children are living in household. His son, Cornelius, is living next door.
Family Photo:
back row-Laura, Otis, Wealtha, Manvill, Pluma
front row-Cornelius, Reuben (father), Deborah, Sarah Bump (mother), Hulda, and Delbert
Death: 11 SEP 1890, Grant Twp, Mason Co, Michigan
Note: Died of heart disease.
Death Record: 16 MAY 1891
Place: Grant Township, Mason County, Michigan, USA
Note: Parents listed as UNKNOWN on this record.
Buried: Grant Twp Cemetery, Grant Twp, Mason Co, Michigan
Click here to see parents: Cornelius Smith and Hulda Austin
Sarah Ann Bump
Birth: 02 OCT 1830 Elizabeth, New York
Note: or Howac or Kowac, Renslar Co, NY. None of these towns exist, but there are a couple of Elizabethtown, New Yorks – one in Essex Co and one in Herkimer Co. (Someone on Ancestry.com says she was born in Troupsburg, Steuben Co, New York.)
1840 Census: There is an Aaron Bump in Clay, Onondaga Co, New York who has a 10 year old daughter. Believed to be Sarah’s family.
Moved to: 1846-1890 See above. Activity listed under her husband
Note: AFT 11 SEP 1890
Details: After her husband died, she went to live with Hattie Parson’s family for some time.
1900 Census: 12 JUN 1900
Place: Grant Twp, Mason Co, Michigan
Note: Her daughter-in-law’s brother, Charles Elkani Reynolds, is boarding with her. Also Agusta Stanelin is boarding at her home (no relation that I’m aware of)
Death: 05 JUN 1903
Note: Died in Pennsylvania at the home of her oldest daughter, Hulda Hagadorn. (Charles and Hulda Hagadorn were living in Troy, Bedford Co, Pennsylvania during the 1900 census.)
Paper also says Milton came home for his grandma’s funeral.
Obituary: 18 JUN 1903
parents are Aaron Bump and Deborah Milliman
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