Hi, Marilyn!
The 1900 Miami County Census, Perry Township, shows an entry for Mathias
Smith as follows:
Mathias Smith, head, age 48, born Aug 1851 in Indiana with father born
Germany and mother born Unknown
Mary, wife, age 41, born May 1859 in Ohio with father born Germany and
mother born Pennsylvania
Emma, daughter, age 19, born April 1881 in Indiana with father born Indiana
and mother born Ohio
Edward, son, age 17, born Jan 1883 in Indiana, parents born as above
Abby, daughter, age 15, born June 1884 in Indiana, parents born as above
David H., son, age13, born Aug 1886 in Indiana, parents born as above
Nettie L., daughter, age 12, born Apr 1888 in Indiana, parents born as
above
Mathias and Mary had been married for 24 years and had 8 children, with all
8 living
Please note that the birth years in the 1900 census were WRONG in about half
the cases. I have found this over and over and over again that the year
will be off by a year, so I feel fairly comfortable that this is your Abbie
June born June 8, 1883.
The book Miami County, Ind. Cemeteries - Vol. 1 - Allen, Perry & Union
Townships, Tombaugh, Wendell C. and Jean C., (Tombaugh Publishing House,
Rochester, Indiana, 1987), Page 186, shows Mathias Smith as born in 1852 and
death date of 1932. The same source shows Mary as born 1858 and death date
of 1906.
Mary's maiden name was Whitmeyer and she and Mathias were married on
February 1, 1877, in Miami County, Indiana. This per the WPA transcribed
marriage records.
I have Mary as the daughter of Henry Whitmeyer, born March 23, 1826 in
Wurtemberg, Germany and Anna Catherine (Unknown), born September 5, 1836 in
Ohio. The birth dates were calculated from the death dates which are from
the same book referenced above, page 87. Henry Whitmeyer died May 4, 1896
and Anna Catherine died July 29, 1911. The places of birth are from various
census reports.
I have Mathias as the son of Phillip Smith born January 25, 1810 in
Dammstadt (usually referred to as Hesse Damstadt) in Germany. My spelling
needs to be checked, I'm sure! Philip's wife was Sarah, born March 12, 1805
in Pennsylvania. Again, birth dates calculated from the death dates, from
same book, page 186. Philip Smith died September 1, 1888 and Sarah died May
27, 1882. Again, places of birth from various census reports.
Hope this helps!
Nancy
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