Smith Family Tree
Generation No. 1
Joseph (Joe) Burnett-Smith of Del Rio, Tennessee was b. February 1879 in North Carolina he d.1935 in Del Rio. In 1898 Joe married Hattie Virginia Buckner daughter of David Buckner and Anne Rebecca Caton of Madison NC., she was b. 15 September 1880 in North Carolina and d. Dec 1977 in Del Rio, Cocke, Co., Tennessee. Joseph was a Merchant in Del Rio Tennessee, he raise Tobacco. He my have been of the Morman faith, Hattie corresponded with Mormon families in Western NC and later in Utah.
Children of Joe and Hattie are:
1. David Emanuel Smith b.17 Oct 1898 d.11 March 1971
2. Bertie L. Smith b. 11 Aug 1904 d. 21 Dec 1980
3. Rebecca Smith b. 31 Dec 1906 d. 18 Feb 1994
4. Robert Taylor Smith b. Aug 27 1910 in d. Alexandria Va.
5. Rickman Smith b. 1912 Tennessee d. Tennessee
6. Newton Smith b. 23 November 1914 d. 18 February 2004
7. Pearl Smith b. 7 Oct 1917 d. 29 March 2010
8. Doyle Smith b. 7 Oct 1920 d. 22 Aug 1998
9. Virgil Smith b. some time after d.(died young)
Notes/ Comments:
Vital Note:
My father, grandson of Manuel Smith first born child of Joe and Hattie, told me that he remembers being told that he wasn’t actually a Smith. His Great Grandfather Joe Smith was a Burnett; He didn’t know if he was adopted or if he just took on the Smith name. Other source's as well stated that Joe and his brother James was Burnett's, this is a fact well known of Joe and Hattie Smiths Children, but the clarity of the reason of the last name being Smith is still a mystery due to lack of report findings on the case. A couple of Theories “One theory was that Joe and Jim were orphans that the Mormons took in and raised, another theory, It is possible that Joe ran away from home due to its strict nature, and wanted to start his own life. It has been frustrating to find any trace of his background.”
Case:
The records that I’ve been able to find have various names, on the North Carolina Birth Indexing for Manuel D. Smith had Thomas Jesse Smith as the father and Hattie Buckner the mother.
Census Story:
Census reports have him named Joe, Joseph and James J. Smith.
{1900 Mederfork of spring creek, Madison North Carolina,; June 4, 1900; Enumerator James B. White; Sheet No. 3B; Enumeration District 9; Supervisor District No. 86}
In 1900 he went by Joe Smith he was 21 years old, he had been married 2 years to Hattie she was 17 years old in this report and at this time the first son was born he was named Manuel he was 6mths old.
{In 1900 in the Mederfork, North Carolina Census, reports show only 2 Smith families Joe, Hattie and Manuel was the first Smith family on the 6th page of the 20page reports, and Cheyanna Smith and M. Smith was the second Smith family in the area this couple had been married 20years on the last birthday report stated they both were48 estimated birth year was 1852. They can be found on the 14th page of the 20page reports.} {When looking for BURNETT’S in the area there were none.}
By 1905 Joe Smith and Hattie had moved from North Carolina to Tennessee.
In 1910 he went by Joseph Smith he was 31years old. Hattie was 27years old, Emanuel Smith was 10, and Bertie was 6years old, reports show Manuel and Bertie being born in North Carolina. The other children that had been born by this time were born In Tennessee, Rebecca Smith she was 3years old and Robert Smith was 7months old.
In 1920 is when the name changed once more, Census Report stated his name was James J. Smith and was 43years old. Hattie was 37years old (this report stated her middle name was VA). The first son Manuel D. Smith wasn’t on this report he had moved and became head of his own family, Bertie (Virtie) Smith was 15years old, Rebecca Smith was 13years old, Robert Smith was 10years old, Rickmon Smith was 7years old, Newton Smith was 5years old and Purl Smith was 2Months.
{1930 Cocke Co. Tennessee First District; April 15, 1930; William P. Chadwell Sheet No. 9A-20; Enumeration District 15-2; Supervisor District No. 8}
In 1930 he was still listed as James J. Smith age was 52years old. Hattie V. Smith was 50years old the remainder of children living at home was, Rickmn Smith he was 18, Purl Smith was 11years old and the last son born Doyle(Dail) Smith was 9years old.
Thus far all reports stated that Joe Smith was born in North Carolina as well as his parents. Hattie was born in North Carolina, her father was born in North Carolina and her mother was born in Virginia.
Notes on the Brother of Joe:
James "Jim" Calloway Smith was born Aug, 7. 1862 in NC and died June 6, 1952 Tn. He was 72 years old
when he married Ruth Mae Williams on Dec 17, 1934 there was a age gap of 46years between them, she was 26 years old. She survived him, and later remarried a man named Jim Bullington.
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