Third Generation

6. William Ara Smith was born on 28 January 1875 in Dubuque, Dubuque Co., Iowa.¹³ He died on 10 October 1943 at the age of 68 in Des Moines, Polk Co., Iowa.¹³ He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.¹⁴ State of Iowa Adjutant General's Department Certificate states,"William A. Smith age 23. Residence Dubuque, nativity Iowa. Enlisted June 24, 1898 in Company "A" 49th Iowa Infantry. Mustered into Federal Service June 24, 1898. Mustered out May 13, 1899, Savannah, Georgia. Service in Cuba from December 21, 1898 to April 4, 1899. From Page 235 of Book Ancestors and descendants of Abigail Ferris and James Clason of Stamford, CT. and Beaver Dam, Wisc. by Fay Morehouse Medhaug, Waterloo, IA, April 1987. He took photos of the ships in Havana Harbor while in service.

William Ara Smith's discharge paper for Federal service is recorded 25 Feb. 1942 in book 31, page 293 in Black Hawk County Recorder's office.

William A. Smith was a Private of Captain W. H. Swift's Company A of the 49th Regiment of Iowa National Guard from 9 October 1899 until removal from company station 29 September 1900. Character Good, service honest and faithful. Usual occupation photographer.

William was a Corporal in C. W. Cotton's Company 13 of the 53 Regiment of Iowa National Guard enlisted 7 May 1902 until 17 November 1903. Character Good, service honest and faithful. Usual occupation fireman [rail road].

William's Pension Certificate No. 1212951 reads: It is hereby certified that in conformity of the laws of the United States William A. Smith who was a Private Co. A 4th Regt. Iowa Infantry is entitled to a pension at the rate of eighteen dollars per month to commence November 12, 1924. His widow Clara received widows benefits after his death.

William was a photographer and had his own shop before he married. His granddaughter Fay Medhaug stated that he had studied to become a Baptist preacher when young but became disenchanted by the hypocrisy and dropped out.

William was a retired Illinois Central Railroad Engineer. His Railroad Retirement Board number was A-45115. He retired May 11, 1936. A letter from Illinois Central System stated he had worked for them 36 years before he retired. He received a lifetime pass to ride the railroad for himself and his wife.

On the U. S. Census of 1910 at Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa, William A. Smith appears with his wife Clara D., children Genevieve, William, May, and Emma, his parents William W. and Ida and his brother Raymond F. William A. is a locomotive engineer, William W. is a stationery engineer and Raymond is a wood worker at a door factory. They are living at 225 Ankney St.

Clara and William with their 6 children, his parents and a lodger are on the 1920 Census of Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.

On the U. S. Census of Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa 1930 shows William with his wife Clara, children Mae, Howard, Harry, and Ila. William is an engineer with a railroad. Mae (May) occupation is telephone operator. Harry was a bell hop at a hotel.

Waterloo Daily Courier, Monday Oct. 31, 1943: page 2. William A. Smith, 68, a retired Illinois Central railroad engineer who lived at 312 Charles St. died at 9:30 a.m. Sunday of heart disease at the Veteran Hospital in Des Moines. Born Jan. 28, 1875 in Dubuque, Iowa, he was the son of William W. and Ida Ema Smith. On Oct. 19, 1900 he married Clara Brisco at Osage, Iowa. Mr. Smith had been working in Waterloo prior to the marriage and they came here immediately. He was a veteran of the Spanish American War and was a member of Waterloo Lodge 105 A.F. & A.M. Surviving are his widow and seven children: Mrs. Genevieve Lenius, 312 Charles St., May B. and Ila Jeanne Smith of 312 Charles St., Emma Harrington of Oelwein; William C. Smith chief commissary steward in the Navy somewhere in the south Pacific; Harry R. Smith Chief carpenters mate in the Seabees at New River, N. C.; and Howard A. Smith of 1256 Ackermant St.; three brothers C. E. Smith of Clinton, Iowa; Raymond F. Smith of Chicago; Roy J. Smith address unknown; a sister Hulda Smith of Chicago; 11 grandchildren and a great grand child. One grandson Pfc. William C. Morehouse is with a railroad battalion in North Africa. A sister Ruth Servatius and a son Henry preceded him in death. The body was taken to Peterson Bros. funeral home.

Waterloo Daily Courier, Tues. Nov. 1, 1943: Funeral services for William A. Smith, 68, retired engineer, who died Sun. at the veterans hospital at Des Moines, Ia. will be conducted by Rev. A. L. Drake, pastor of the 1st Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Wed. in the Petersen Brothers Funeral Chapel. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery with military and Masonic services at the gravesite. Mr. Smith was a member of Martin Lodge 624 AF and AM. Clara Daisy Brisco and William Ara Smith were married on 19 October 1900 in Osage, Mitchell Co., Iowa.¹³ Clara stated her age as 18 in 1900 in order to marry. She was actually only 16. Her daughter May always reminded family members of this fact.

7. Clara Daisy Brisco was born on 3 March 1884 in Nashua, Chickasaw Co., Iowa.¹³ She died on 27 March 1982 at the age of 98 in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co., California.¹³ She was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.¹⁴ Clara stopped going to school after the 8th grade to stay home to take care of her sick mother. She was hanging laundry out to dry when her future husband William saw her from his train. He was a train engineer. He thought she was very pretty. She had blue eyes and blonde hair. She was a very motherly woman and loved babies. Her hobbies or skills were sewing and making braided wool rugs. She was known for her delicious cinnamon rolls.

Clara Smith homesteaded at Mobridge, South Dakota with her five eldest children (to Harry). This was at Isabelle, South Dakota. It was located near the North Dakota border, closest town was Lemon. This was about 1912. Her father-in-law was with her and the children while her husband William continued to work for the railroad. They lived in South Dakota a short while and then returned to Iowa. They lived at Waterloo, Iowa until after William Ara died. Clara and her daughters May and Ila Jeanne moved to Long Beach, California in 1944.

Obituary from Waterloo Courier, Sunday March 28, 1982: Clara D. Smith: Services for Clara D. Smith, 98, of Long Beach, Cal. and formerly of Waterloo are pending at the Parrott and Wood Funeral Home and Chapel. She died Saturday afternoon at Woodruff Convalescent Center, Bellflower, Cal. She was born Mar. 3, 1884 at Nashua, Iowa, the daughter of Tom and Jenny Brisco. She married William A. Smith Oct. 19, 1900. He died in 1943. She was a 50 year member of the Helen Gould Auxiliary of the Spanish American War Veterans. A 50 year member of the Waterloo Chapter of the Eastern Star. She left Waterloo in 1945. Survivors include three sons, William of 1414 W. Fifth St., Harry of Long Beach, Cal., Howard of 1101 Short St., three daughters May B. Smith and Jeanne Bauer of Long Beach, Cal. and Mrs. Ema Harrington of Oelwein, Ia. grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Waterloo Courier, Wednesday March 31, 1982: Services for Clara D. Smith, 98, of Long Beach, Cal. and formerly of Waterloo, will be at 10:30 A.M. Thursday at Parrott and Wood Funeral Home Chapel with burial at Elmwood Cemetery. She died Saturday in California. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon today.

Children were:

	i.	Henry Smith was born on 29 June 1901 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.13,15 He died on 6 July 1901 at the age of 0 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.15 He was buried in Fairview Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.16
	ii.	Genevieve Clara Smith was born on 17 January 1903 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.13 She died on 15 December 1975 at the age of 72 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.13 She was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.17
	iii.	William Carley Smith was born on 3 September 1904 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.18 He died on 21 July 1994 at the age of 89 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.18 He was buried in Cremated. Social Security Death Index: Individual: Smith, William Birth date: 3 Sep 1904 Death date: 21 Jul 1994 Social Security #: 481-10-4413 Last residence: 50702 State of issue: IA Waterloo Courier, Sunday, July 24, 1994: William Carley Smith, 89, of Ravenwood Health Care Center, died Thursday, July 21, at Allen Memorial Hospital of natural causes. He was born Sept. 3, 1904, in Waterloo, son of William A. and Clara D. Briscoe Smith. He married Dorothy Marion Hemmer on June 13, 1930, in Waterloo. She died in 1984. Mr. Smith served with the U. S. Navy in World War II. He had been employed as a letter carrier at the Waterloo post office for 21 years, retiring in 1966. He was past state president of the National Association of Letter Carriers. Survived by: a son, William X. of Bloomington, Minn.; a daughter, Bonnie of Waterloo; five grandchildren and two great grandsons; two sisters, Ema Harrington of Oelwein and Jeanne Bauer of Missouri; and a brother, Howard A. of Waterloo. Preceded in death by: a brother Harry; and two sisters, Genevieve Lenius and May Smith. Memorial services; 1 p.m. today at First Baptist Church, with burial in Cedar Township Cemetery, Washburn. Parrott & Wood Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials directed to First Baptist Church.
	iv.	May Blossom Smith was born on 24 May 1905 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.18 She died on 5 September 1992 at the age of 87 in Van Buren, Carter Co., Missouri.18 She was buried in Van Buren City Cemetery, Van Buren, Carter Co., Missouri.4 Worked for Pacific Bell Telephone Company for over 45 years, retired. Lived in Iowa, California and Missouri. May gave devoted care to her mother, Clara, which enabled her to live a long life despite health problems. The Current Local, Van Buren, Mo; Thursday, September 10, 1992 (Front page) May Smith, Age 86, Passed Away Sept. 5th. May Smith, age 86, of Van Buren, died at 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5th, 1992, at Riverways Manor nursing home. Miss Smith was born May 24, 1905, at Waterloo, Iowa, and was a retired Bell Telephone traffic clerk. She never married. A former resident of Long Beach, Cal., Miss Smith had lived in Van Buren the past two years. She was a member of the Long Beach Business and Professional Women's Club. Survivors include two sisters, Jeanne Bauer of Van Buren and Emma Harrington of Oelwein, Iowa; two brothers, Howard A. Smith and William Smith, both of Waterloo; a nephew and niece, Ed Shepherd and Carol Kirkpatrick both of Van Buren. The funeral service was scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday in McSpadden Funeral Chapel in Van Buren, with Rev. Chuck Browning officiating. Burial will be in the Van Buren Cemetery. Social Security Death Index: Individual: Smith, May Birth date: 24 May 1905 Death date: Sep 1992 Social Security #: 478-05-8095 Last residence: 63965 State of issue: IA
	v.	Ida Ema Smith was born on 12 February 1908 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.13 She died on 15 December 1999 at the age of 91 in Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa.19 She was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein, Fayette Co., Iowa.20 From the back of Ema's funeral card: Ema I. Harrington was born on February 12, 1908 in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of William and Clara (Brisco) Smith. She grew up in Waterloo, graduating from East High School in 1926. On November 5, 1927 she was united in marriage to Regis A. Harrington at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. Ema was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother. Her whole life was centered around her family. She enjoyed making clothes and afghans for all the family, especially the grandchildren. She also would bake cakes and rolls for the family. She had a special candy drawer, and pop for the the grandchildren. Ema had the first color TV in the family, so all the grandchildren wanted to go to her house to watch TV. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas, and Christmas Eve was their big family celebration. Ema was a big bingo player, and enjoyed playing bridge. In her younger days she was very active in all the church activities. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed. Ema is survived by her daughter, Jo Ann (Wayne) Masters, Santa Teresa, New Mexico; two sons Claire (Anna Mary) Harrington, Oelwein, IA and Regis (Charlotte) Harrington, Augusta, Georgia; fifteen grandchildren, twenty five great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; and a sister, Jeanne Bauer, Van Buren, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her husband, Regis in 1959; a son, Andrew; two sisters, Genevieve and May; three brothers, William, Harry and Howard; a grandson, Rev. Stephen Harrington; and her parents, William and Clara. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Rosary Society, Catholic Daughters of America, Little Flower Circle, Hospital Auxiliary, and the Antique Club. Waterloo Courier, December 15, 1999: Ema I. Harrington, 91, of Oelwein died Tues. (Wed.) Dec. 15 at Mercy Living Plus, Oelwein, after a lengthy illness; survivors include two sons, Claire of Oelwein and Regis of Augusta, Ga.; a daughter JoAnn Master of Santa Teresa, N.M.; 15 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren; and a sister, Jeanne Bauer of Van Buren, Mo.; she was preceded in death by her husband, Regis; a son, Andrew; two sisters, Genevieve and Mary (May); three brothers William, Harry and Howard Smith; and a grandson; services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, both in Oelwein; friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Hintz-Geilenfeld Funeral Home, Oelwein, where there will be a 4:30 p.m. Catholic Daughters of America rosary and a 7 p.m. parish rosary; a memorial fund has been established.
	vi.	Harry Raymond Smith was born on 15 March 1911 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.13 He died on 7 September 1984 at the age of 73 in Compton, Los Angeles Co., California.21,22 He was buried in Hampton Cemetery, Hampton, Franklin Co., Iowa.22 At the time of his marriage Harry listed his occupation as carpenter. Social Security Death Index: Individual: Smith, Harry Birth date: 15 Mar 1911 Death date: Sep 1984 Social Security #: 485-03-6747 Last residence: CA 90805 State of issue: IA Harry Smith was murdered at Compton, California. Obituary in the Waterloo Courier Sunday, September 9, 1984, Page 6 Section A: Services are pending for Harry Raymond Smith, 73, of Long Beach, Calif., and formerly of Waterloo and Hampton, at Sietsma and Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton. Mr. Smith who operated two bicycle shops in Long Beach, was slain Friday by a discharged employee of one of the shops Mr. Smith owned. The suspect was arrested. He was born March 15, 1911, at Waterloo, son of William A. and Clara Brisco Smith. He married Gilberta Halfhill Oct. 1, 1939. She died July 4, 1980. Mr. Smith lived in Waterloo before World War II, then moved to Hampton were he lived about five years before moving to Long Beach. He served in the Sea Bees in World War II in the South Pacific. He is survived by two brothers, William C. Smith and Howard A. Smith, both of Waterloo, and three sisters, May Smith and Jeanne Bauer, both of Long Beach and Ema Harrington of Oelwein. Harry Raymond Smith was a Chief Carpenters Mate in the U. S. Navy during World War II. He served from July 13, 1943 to November 13, 1945 and was honorably discharged.
	vii.	Howard Ara Smith was born on 3 August 1914 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.13 He died on 12 November 1997 at the age of 83 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.23 He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa.4 Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier 13 November 1997. Howard Smith, retired from Illinois Central Railroad after more than 40 years. He was murdered in his home in Waterloo.
3	viii.	Ila Jeanne Smith.