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Bob,
Hope this will help. Email me if you need clarifications.
WILLIAM AMBROSE SMITH
(Letter-November 12, 1968-by Elizabeth McCann,and Family Bible).
William Ambrose Smith was born in County Wexford, Ireland. There is no record of his early
history, except he came to this country in 1848, when he was 23 years of age. He had a
brother, Richard Smith. After William Smith arrived from Ireland, he came to New Orleans,
where he worked to get money to pay for transportation of his brother Richard to this
country. Later, the two brothers worked in a construction unit, in the building of the
Erie Canal, in Cleveland, Ohio. From there he worked for the O&M Railroad (Ohio &
Mobile)- which at that time, was building the roadway for the first trains in that area.
Mr. Smith worked at the railway at New Albany, Indiana. There he was acquainted with
several families, whom he had previously known, and who were recent immigrants to the
United States. (The O’Keefe family, the Kehoesons.) Mr. Smith worked and saved his money
to pay for the transportation costs for bringing his cousin, Katherine Cosgrove, to this
country. She was his!
cousin, but they had been raised together as brother and sister, while in Ireland. Many
of Katherine Cosgrove’s descendants live in Daviess County, Indiana at the present time.
On August 14, 1855, William Ambrose Smith was married to Anna Cunningham, in the Catholic
Church at New Albany, Indiana. They were married by Father Keran, and their witnesses
were: Miles Kehoe and Mary Cunningham. Anna Cunningham was a native of Queens County,
Ireland, and had been in this country one year before she married Mr. Smith. Anna was 18
years old at the time of her marriage. Following their marriage they lived for a short
time in New Albany, Indiana - where they had many friends.
As the work on the railroad progressed through the southern part of Indiana, Bill and Ann
Smith bought 60 acres of land near Barr Township in Daviess County, Indiana. Bill had
saved some money from his job as foreman on the railroad. He was now ready to devote his
time to farming on the land he had purchased. He later purchased 200 acres of farmland,
adjoining, and was one of the successful farmers in Barr Township.
They were the parents of 12 children (all of whom were later married)
Name Date of Birth Married
William Ambrose Smith Dec 8,1857 Bridget Katherine Disser
Mary Jane Smith Aug 3,1859 James Hunter
Catherine Smith Oct 8,1861 Charles Bassett
Anastatia Smith Oct 8,1863 Dennis O’Conner
Margaret P. Smith Jan 28,1865 John Harbin
Ursela B. Smith(Ella) Feb 14,1867 John Lundergan
John Patrick Smith Mar 28,1869 Catherine Eagan
Julia Ann Smith June 5,1871 Alfred Gootee
Elizabeth A. Smith June 3,1873 Peter Daily
Rose Mary Smith Jul 26,1876 James McCann
Cecilia M. Smith Oct 30,1878 Charles Gootee
Angela Bridget Smith Oct 24,1880 Hugh Patrick Ryan
Records show that William Ambrose Smith applied to become a citizen of the United States,
at the court in Floyd County, New Albany, Indiana on the 16 of October 1856. His oath of
allegiance had been declared before the Cuyahoga County, Ohio court of common pleas, two
years prior to this time. At that time he renounced forever all allegiance and fidelity to
every foreign potentate, and particularly to the Queen of Great Britain, and Ireland.
Appearing with him, at that time, was Richard Smith (his brother) who was then a citizen
of the United States. The naturalization papers were completed and signed at New Albany,
Indiana on October 22, 1856.
William Ambrose Smith died October 18, 1905, at the age of 80 years. Cause of death was
probably generalized arterioselerosis
Father: William MCGOWAN b: Abt 1803 in County Wexford,Ireland
Mother: Catherine RYAN b: Abt 1803 in Ireland
Marriage 1 Anne CUNNINGHAM b: 5 May 1835 in County Queens,Ireland
Married: 14 Aug 1855 in Floyd County,New Albany,IN