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Surnames: BEDTHIJA SMITH HURST HUTSON YORK
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Ui.2ADE/630
Message Board Post:
BEDTHIJA BEDTHIJA BEDTHIJA BEDTHIJA BEDTHIJA BEDTHIJA
I am posting my info through out different states and counties in hopes that this name has
surfaced elsewhere. If anyone out there has any knowledge of this name I would love to
hear about it and suggestions are welcome.
I am looking for any info on my GGgrandfather whose, I believe due to the info that I have
found and has been sent to me, last name is BEDTHIJA. His son, my Ggrandfather Charles
Bedthija Smith, was born in Indiana and died in Illinois and Charles’ daughter-Zetta Ann
SMITH YORK, my grandmother, was born in Illinois and died in Illinois. I believe his last
name is BEDTHIJA and that he came from Germany and possibly returned to Germany. I am
listing all info, and a couple of stories, that I have on his child/children. I have
nothing on him. It seems that my Ggrandfather-Charles was kept at a distance with his
grandchildren, my mother and aunt does not remember much about him and they were not
allowed to visit him even though he lived within visiting range. My mother and aunt said
that there mother-Zetta was never told anything about her grandparents-Charles’ parents.
So what’s the Hush-Hush all about?
1st Story:
My sister remembers our grandmother, Zetta Ann SMITH YORK, telling her about a
grandfather, she does not remember if she specified which grandfather, that came from
Germany married a “Native American” (this part I question but she swears that is how she
remembers the story) had child/children wife died and the grandfather not being able to
speak much English returned to Germany.
Marriage Record in Vermillion Co., Indiana:
Book 7 page 119 list groom-BERTHIJA, Chalres (exact spelling probably a typo) bride-HURST,
Minnie A. date-April 5, 1896. (If this is correct they probably lied on the 1900 census
about being married 8 years)
Book 7 page 49 list groom-STURM, Harry (probably Minnie’s first husband and probably
Ross’s, (Ross from 1900 census) father) bride-HURST, Minnie A. date-none listed.
1900 U.S. Federal Census, Edgar Co., IL:
Line 24/BEDTHIJA, Charles/Head/W M/b. Oct. 1873/age 26/married 8yrs/birth pl.
Indiana/father’s birth pl. Germany/mother’s birth pl. Ohio.
Line 25/BEDTHIJA, Minnie/Wife/W F/b. Mar. 1875/age 25/married 8yrs/birth pl.
Illinois/father’s birth pl. Illinois/mother’s birth pl. Illinois.
Line 26/BEDTHIJA, Ross/Son/W M/b. Feb. 1893/age 7/birth pl. Illinois/father’s birth pl.
Indiana/mother’s birth pl. Illinois.
Line 27/BEDTHIJA, Jack/Son/W M/b. Feb. 1897/age 3/birth pl. Illinois/father’s birth pl.
Indiana/mother’s birth pl. Illinois.
Line 28/BEDTHIJA, Zeta/Daughter/W F/b. Jan. 1899/age 1/birth pl. Illinois/father’s birth
pl. Indiana/mother’s birth pl. Illinois.
Changes name to SMITH after 1900 census. (or was using his middle name as last name in
1900 census)
2nd Story:
My aunt remembered her mother, Zetta Ann SMITH YORK, my grandmother, telling her that when
she was a little girl one day the mailman was questioning her parents about the name/names
on the mail and when her parents explained to the mailman he said “Just change your name.”
Divorced after 1900 Census. (I am assuming that he is divorced before he signed the WWI
Draft even though it doesn’t ask for marital statues he states his closest living is his
daughter not spouse.)
WWI Draft Registration Card:
Signed-Charles Bedthija Smith on Sept. 12, 1918 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Residence-Terre
Haute, Vigo, Indiana. Birth Date-Oct. 10, 1873, Closest living relative-Zetta York in
Edgar Co., Illinois.
The only other BEDTHIJA that I have found:
WWI Draft Registration Card:
Allen Co., Indiana is Henry J BEDTHIJA, born Feb. 3 1895 in Scotland, Illinois (Edgar Co.)
Single with no next of kin and states that he has no one solely dependent on him.
Death Certificate:
Name-Charles Bedthija Smith
Place of Death-Paris Hospital, Edgar Co. Illinois
Date of Death-May 9, 1944
Birth Date-Oct. 12, 1870(this date is different from the 1900 Census and the WWI Draft,
not sure which is correct)
Father & Mother-unknown
Informant-Jack Smith
Place of Burial-Mt. Carmel, Brouiletts Creek Twp., Edgar Co. Illinois
Thank you for taking the time to read my query and an enormous THANK YOU to everyone at
Rootsweb for helping me find the info that I have.
Thanks,
Lori