Family of Charles William Smith & Mary Sutton

While visiting Princeton, WV in 1995, I made contact with Mary Smith Steorts and her daughter, Sandra Steorts Chambers.   Mrs. Steorts was the daughter of Ajax T. Smith.  At the time, Mrs. Steorts was widowed and living in her daughter's home.  I was invited into their home and had a wonderful visit.  Mrs. Steorts gave me the following information on her grandfather, Charles William Smith and his family:

Charles William Smith (son of Theodore Smith and Eliza Jane French) was born in Willowton, West Virginia in 1852.  Charles and his older brother Albert left WV about 1866 and moved to Kansas to work as farm hands.  When he was old enough, Charles attended Crawford University in Indiana where he studied law under General Lew Wallace.  [Wallace served a general for the Union Army during the Civil War.  He later authored several books including the well-known Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ.  Wallace also served as territorial governor for New Mexico.]  After Charles Smith earned his degree, he returned to Mercer County, West Virginia and began his own law practice.  He served as a criminal court judge in Princeton from 1894 until 1901.

Charles married Mary S. Sutton on December 26, 1889 and they had four children.  Mary was the daughter of Reverend John Sutton.  Mary died in 1901.  Charles later married Mary's younger sister, Nellie Sutton.  There were no children from the second marriage.

Charles died in 1925.  The family is buried in a family plot in Oakwood Cemetery in Princeton, WV.

The Children of Charles William Smith and Mary Sutton:
     1.  Ajax Telemon Smith (1890-1961) m. Edith Scott Smith
     2.  Frederic W. Smith (1893-1959) m. Leonora __________
     3.  Carl W. Smith (1896-1931) never married
     4.  Stanley Smith (no further information)

After leaving the home of Mrs. Steorts and Chambers, I visited Oakwood Cemetery and transcribed the following information from the tombstones:

Carl W. Smith, MD, born July 31, 1896, died September 1, 1931
Edith S. Smith, born July 13, 1890, died July 11, 1962 (wife of Ajax)
Ajax T. Smith, born September 25, 1890, died December 22, 1961
Mary Sutton Smith, born January 16, 1871, died September 18, 1901 (1st wife of Charles)
Charles William Smith, born January 3, 1852, died October 28, 1925
Nellie Sutton Smith, born September 13, 1877, died March 17, 1947 (2nd wife of Charles)
Eugene H. Steorts, born April 28, 1912, died September 2, 1975
Leonora H. Smith, born January 23, 1884, died May 15, 1963 (wife of Frederic)
Frederic W. Smith, born February 28, 1893, died June 21, 1959

Photograph of Isaac W. Smith & Lola Conley Smith

Mr. Lewis Smith of Colorado contacted me recently.  His paternal grandparents were Isaac Wesley Smith and Lola Conley Smith.  Mr. Smith will hopefully be sending me more information regarding his grandparents and their children.  In the meantime, he sent me this photograph of Isaac and Lola taken in 1918.  I am posting it with his permission.  Thanks.