Irish John Smith Family Archives

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South Dakota Legislature 

John Smith also served in the South Dakota state house as a representative.  This was during the 10^th session which corresponds to the years 1907 to 1908.  We could not find any information regarding his voting record during this period.  We could only find one comment in the South Dakota public records about his birth year.  ’Irish’ John said he was born in 1844. 

On June 13, 1912, ‘Irish’ John wrote on a government form that he “lived in Sauk County Wisconsin from 1864 till 1883 and at Kimball, Brule County, SD from 1883 to present date.”  On June 17, 1912, his pension increased to $17.00 a month.  On March 3, 1914 it increased to $23.00 and on March 3, 1919 it increased further to $30.00 a month. 

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 The picture above shows a panoramic view of Clemmer and Main Street in Chamberlain, South Dakota.  This picture was taken at the turn of the last century.  Irish John would have visited here often as it was the County seat and home of the Wilrodt family. 

The 1910 US Federal Census shows the following people who were living in the Smith household in Highland Township:  John (age 67), Susan (age 52); Peter (age 34); Mamie (age 32); Kittie (age 27); Margaret (age 23); John C.(age 21); Genevieve (age 17); Elizabeth (age 16); and Frank (age 7).  According to this census Susan bore thirteen children; however, only ten children were alive. 

This census also showed John and Susan had been married for thirty six years. 

Irish John Smith Family 

In a government form dated April 12, 1915, John was asked the names of his children and their birth dates.  This is the information he provided to the Bureau of Pensions: 

Name                                      Birth Date

Peter L. Smith                         April 22, 1875

Michael J. Smith                     June 20, 1877

William P. Smith                     April 14, 1879

Mary F. Smith                         August 18, 1880

Kathryn A. Smith                   September 26, 1882

Margaret S. Smith                   May 9, 1887

John C. Smith                         June 23, 1889

Genevieve A. Smith                March 28, 1893

Elizabeth R. Smith                  February 2, 1895

Francis O. Smith                     June 24, 1901

Dead:

Frances Smith                         April 29, 1896

Regina T. Smith                      June 10, 1898

 John C. Smith was their only child to serve in the military.  He was with the Field Remount Squadron No. 347; Motor Transport Corps No. 721 and Motor Transport Corps No. 723.  He was discharged on May 19, 1919, and he survived World War I.

The End of an Era

 John Smith elder died on August 31, 1928, at 7:20 PM.  The cause of death was ‘enfluenza’ and secondary cause was ‘old age’.  His death certificate states that he was 87 years 6 months 29 days old when he died. At the time of his death ‘Irish’ John’s pension had climbed to $65.00 a month.  Susan had to complete a Declaration for Widow’s Pension on November 3, 1928, and this document required two signatures.  One signature was that of Frank S. Ryan.  Susan died on March 21, 1939. 

Vital Statistics for Irish John and Susan’s Children 

One by one Irish John’s children died taking with them most history of our family.  Some death information is unknown at this time; however, this will be added as information comes to us. 

Name                                      Birth                                       Death              Age

Peter L. Smith                         April 22, 1875                          07/30/1952          77       

Michael J. Smith                      June 20, 1877                          01/11/1960          82

William P. Smith                      April 14, 1879                         1962 (?)               79

Mary F. Smith (Mayme)             August 18, 1880                       1961                   81

Kathryn A. Smith                     September 26, 1882                 05/18/1955          72

Margaret S. Smith                    May 9, 1887                            Unknown

John C. Smith                         June 23, 1889                          10/19/1957          68

Genevieve A. Smith                 March 28, 1893                       Unknown                   

Elizabeth R. Smith                   February 2, 1895                     08/17/1991          96                                                       

Frank O. Smith                        June 24, 1901                          06/09/1994          92                               

McPhillips Buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery – Brule County 

Some, or all, of these people buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery are relatives.  Susan’s brother, Owen, was one of her pallbearers.  Owen lived in Kimball and appears to have been living there from 1912 onward.  The age for Owen is the same as that found for the person buried here.  Owen had a brother by the name of John and his age here is similar to the John McPhillips buried here.  In fact, Mick McPhillips is the same age as found in previous census records for Michael McPhillips of Wisconsin.  Census records for 1900 forward only list Alice and Owen for Brule County.  

Alice McPhillips married Owen and they had one son named Harold.  Harold is not buried in this cemetery.  Did the rest of the McPhillips family migrate to the Dakotas too?  This also needs to be explored further.   

 Personal Recollection 

The older Smith kids may recall Irish John’s children.  I remember as a young boy the family talking about Aunt Kittie.  Kittie died when Terry and Tim were two years old.  I remember Grandpa Bill, Aunt Mayme, Frank, Elizabeth and Aunt Gen.  The family would gather at the old Smith homestead in Highland township.  Sometimes they met for funerals and sometimes for happy events. 

The remaining Smith children all attended Grandmother Mary Smith’s funeral in 1966.  Outside the church in Stickney one of the relatives (I cannot remember which one) herded the remaining Irish John children for a picture.  The picture taker’s comment to Irish John’s children was that this may be the last time they would all be together again.  I recall four people (Frank, Elizabeth, Gen, and Margaret) lining up outside the church where they had their picture taken.  It is possible one other person posed for this picture.  This may have been the last time I ever saw them together.  

Old Irish Saying: 

God then made man.
The Italian for their beauty.
The French for fine food.
The Swedes for intelligence.
The Jew for religion.
And on and on until he looked at what
he had created and said,
"This is all very fine but no one is having fun.
I guess I'll have to make me an Irishman.

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