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-M- great grandfather |
Family Legend : Janus and his brother Jens, stowed away on a ship bound for America. The story continued that they jumped ship (details about this were conspicuously absent, but so was any information regarding what ship etc.) and ended up, eventually, in Utah though how this was accomplished, no one living could say.
A missing link to the puzzle: I was told by Aunt Sharon (his gdaughter) that he and his brother, Jens, left Denmark because they did not get along with their stepmother (this would be Niels Ohlsson's second wife, Kirsten). However, Jens was not with him according to the ship's manifest.
***
Parents: Neils Ohlsson and Petrea (Traya) Jensen
Born 18 Dec 1876 Randers, Tirstrup, Denmark
Note: His given name is spelled here the way it is recorded at the time of his christening
Christened 17 Jun 1877 Tirstrup, Denmark
Ship Manifest - proving he came through Ellis Island AND he was alone - Jens was not with him at this time. |
CHANGING HIS NAME: The question has been asked many times about when/why Janus changed his name to Martin. It had to have happened between 1899, when he arrived in Ellis Island, and five years later (1904) when he was accused of crimes.
Family Legend: Martin raped or attempted raping someone and served hard time in the penitentiary for it.
Family Legend: Martin raped or attempted raping someone and served hard time in the penitentiary for it.
TRUTH: Yes and no - yes, he was accused, a Judge found him innocent and no he did not serve time for this crime.
A second cousin of mine (S.O.) has provided the below news articles as proof.
READ THEM IN ORDER and hold judgement until the end.
Martin was 24 years old.
Article #5 Daily Utah State Journal Issue: Wednesday, 4 May 1904 Article #6 Deseret News Issue: Thursday, 5 May 1904, page 8 |
Martin was a butcher by trade Here he is with a 400 lb. hog |
Occupation: Farmer (1912 - 1913 on children's birth certificates, Butcher, Cattleman, Rancher all listed in his death notice in paper.
which, according to family legend, Martin used
to make liquor deliveries during prohibition.
Married: Esther Elizabeth East 1 Feb 1911 Ogden, Weber, Utah
"Martin" and Elizabeth's Marriage Record |
Salt Lake Tribune Issue: Sunday 1 July 1908 |
Article from 29 March 1915 Ogden Standard-Examiner |
Article from 23 October 1915 Ogden Standard-Examiner |
Article from 11 April 1916 Ogden Standard-Examiner |
Died: 8 Sep 1935 Ogden, Ogden, Utah
COD: Cerebral Hemorrhage, Essential Hypertension
NOTE: the death certificate will be found under the name Martin Smith.
Buried Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah
Note: On the death certificate, the body was removed not buried, which may have led to speculation. After all, it was during the time of the Great Depression and money was hard to come by. He had been bedridden for years at the time of his death.
Family Legend: Martin was not buried for six weeks because no one could afford to pay for the burial/funeral. The mortuary refused to bury the body (kept it on ice) until they received payment. The payment could not be made until a pea crop destined for the LDS Cannery was harvested.
Headstone for Martin and Esther |
CORRECTION: (from Kathy McCreary): Donna, Martin's daughter, said that he was buried a few days after he died (this correlates with cemetery records of burial) and Donna went with her mother and paid $1.00 a month until it was paid off.
QUESTION ABOUT CORRECTION: She would have been 7 years old at the time of her father's death. Funerals cost about $250-$300 in 1935. They must have paid part of it upfront, otherwise, it makes no sense mathematically.
Example: If it cost $300 for his funeral and they paid $1 a month, it would have taken twenty-five years. That means Esther was dead before the final payment was made. Even if they were only paying the $250 instead of $300 it would take 20 years which would make it 1955 - the year she died. I don't know that the funeral parlor allowed that much leeway/credit. My question then is, did Donna really go every month until her mother died? or was the debt forgiven and that's why Donna thought it was all paid off?
Sources
Birth and Christening: IGI Film 0434779 p 15 No 24 Dated 1873-1897
Immigration: New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957 Microfilm Roll T715-60 page 229 Line 8
1920 US Census for Weber County, Utah Sheet 23 (age 38)
Note: It has him listed as DRASTUS
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, County Sheet 41A (age 52)
Note: The 1930 Census claims Niels is from Germany when he is actually from Denmark
Application for License to marry #5446 Warren, Weber, Utah
Newspaper articles about his bootlegging, exoneration of rape charges, stealing
Death: Death Certificate and Obit in Ogden Standard-Examiner, p 10 dated 9 Sep 1935
Death: Utah Death Index 1905-1951
Marriage: Utah Marriages 1887-1966 Batch M74786-4 ref 5446 p476 #F (2953)
Picture of Martin and him standing by the 400 lb hog: courtesy of his granddaughter, Sharon Smith
Family Search
ancestry.com
Parents: Javes East and Elizabeth Mary Clark
Born 26 Mar 1893 Warren, Weber, Utah
Died 11 Jun 1954 Ogden, Ogden, Utah
COD: Pulmonary Embolus, Philbothrombosis
Buried 15 Jun 1954 Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Ogden, Utah
Sources
1900 US Census for Plain City, Weber, Utah (age 7)
1910 US Census for Warren, Weber, Utah (age 17)
1920 US Census for Weber County, Utah (age 27)
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah Sheet 41A (age 37)
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 47)
1950 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
Deceased LDS member record
Utah Death Certificate
Pictures of her: courtesy of Sharon Smith, her granddaughter
Family Search
ancestry.com
Headstone (seen above with Martin's information)
CHILDREN
|
Mary Petrea Smith
Born 6 Mar 1912 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Mary Petrea Smith birth certificate |
Married: Casper Van De Graaff 29 Apr 1930 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Marriage license and certificate for Mary and Casper |
Children: Arie, Julie, Doris
Information from Velma: Mary hired Hazel and I to do housework and tend kids. Before Clyde and Blaine got married, they terraced Mary and Casper's backyard. When Blaine got divorced (she didn't mention which time) he stayed with Mary for two weeks when he felt sick. After Mary died, Arie stayed with Velma because the wind had blown Casper's pine trees down and he had no heat or lights.
Died 28 Jun 1960 Ogden, Weber, Utah
COD: Cervical Cancer
Informant: husband, Casper
Buried 30 Jun 1960 Aultorest Memorial Park, Ogden, Utah Lot 67 Position 65
Mary's graveside services |
Mary's Obituary |
Mary's signature on the application for marriage to Casper |
Sources
1920 US Census for Weber County, Utah (age 7)
Note: her father's name is Drastus in the Census
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 18)
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 28)
Obit in Ogden Standard-Examiner
Billiongraves.com
Picture of Mary on the right: Clipped from the group picture courtesy of her niece, Sharon
Family Search
ancestry.com
Clyde Alfred Smith
Note: his original birth certificate had the wrong birthday and his mother had to fill out an affidavit to get it changed. The affidavit claims his name is Clyde Alfred, not Alfred Clyde.
Occupation: Bell Telephone Company
Married: Josephine Strebel 25 Nov 1936 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Children: Ronald, 1 living
Note on his marriage certificate that he signed his name as Alfred Clyde |
Clyde and Josie on the streets of Ogden Just outside the JCPenny store (Colorized) |
Died 18 Sep 1993 Ogden, Ogden, Utah
Buried 22 Sep 1993 Evergreen Memorial Park
Note: Plot 0 E-MT0-25D-4
Sources
1920 US Census for Weber County, Utah (age 7)
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 16)
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 26)
1950 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1955 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1960 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
LDS Deceased member record
WW2 Draft Registration
SS Death Index
Obit in Ogden Standard-Examiner
Picture of Clyde and Josie: Arline (his ex-sis-in-law) gave it to me
Family Search
ancestry.com
Martin Blaine Smith (usually went by Blaine)
Martin Blaine Smith 11 Dec 1953 |
Also see him as a parent here:
Occupation: Diesel Mechanic
Served in WW2 Infantry
Married: 1) Arline Mitchell 17 Oct 1936 Ogden, Ogden, Utah (divorced)
Note: his name is given as Janus Blaine Smith on the marriage license
Children: Sally, Sandy, 2 more living
2) Hilda McCrone 1952 (widowed - she died of a heart attack at age 28)
Children: she was pregnant when she died and the baby died with her. She had a daughter from a former marriage that Blaine gave to his ex-mother-in-law after Hilda died. Then his sister (Velma) took her and raised her.
Children: Sam, Ester
Died 16 Aug 1966 Dee Hospital, Ogden, Weber, Utah
COD: Heart attack
COD: Heart attack
Buried 19 Aug 1966 Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Ogden, Utah
Sources
Personal Knowledge
1920 US Census for Weber County, Utah (age 4)
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 15)
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 25)
1950 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1955 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
Note: his son, Duke, and his stepdaughter, Ester Lorraine Smith (originally named Della Gill, later renamed Lorie Alexander)
Marriage to Arline: Marriage License (He used a bogus name)
Deceased LDS member record
Military Draft Registration
Obit in Ogden Standard-Examiner
SS death records
Family Search
ancestry.com
Vesta Faun Smith
Born 28 Oct 1918 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Married Henry Joseph Jensen Sr 19 Sep 1935 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Children: Nancy, Henry, Pam
Information from Velma: Joe (Henry Jr.) stayed with her when he was a boy and Pam rented from Velma until she got her apartment on 1st and Jefferson.
Died 31 Dec 1966 Dee Hospital, Ogden, Weber, Utah
Buried 3 Jan 1967 Aultorest Memorial Park, Ogden, Ogden, Utah
Sources
1920 US Census for Weber County, Utah (age 1)
Vesta's Headstone |
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 11)
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 21)
1950 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1960 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
Deceased LDS member record
Obituary in Ogden Standard-Examiner
Weber County Marriages
Family Search
ancestry.com
Occupation: Defense Depot in Ogden (DDO), self-employed
She wrote of her brothers: "Clyde, Blaine, and Glen never was mean to us."
MARRIAGES
Married 1) Roy Vaughn (annulled?)
Note: I have never found a record of this marriage. It may never have existed
Velma and Albert's marriage record It does not indicate she was married previously |
2) Albert Edward Alexander 22 Jan 1938 (divorced)
Children: Ray (twin, lived 10 minutes), Roy,
Supposedly adopted Esther Lorraine "Lorie" Smith (a.k.a. Della Gill)
Note: I have never found any evidence that Lorie was legally adopted by Velma. Velma was known to do things in unusual ways.
Here is what I have heard, mostly from Sharon, my aunt, (Blaine's daughter, and Velma's niece). Lorie, once spelled Laurie, was the daughter of Hilda McCrone and the stepdaughter of Blaine, Velma's brother.
Lorie was born Della Lorraine Gill - daughter of Hilda McCrone and Dellis Gill. Hilda was not fond of her ex-husband so they changed her name. Sharon remembers that she chose the name Laurie because of a pretty girl at school with that name. Thus, Laurie was called Laurie because of Sharon. I am guessing that for a short time she went by Laurie Smith. However, after her mother died, Laurie went to stay with Blaine's ex-mother-in-law (Lurena Taylor Mitchell, whom he greatly respected) until his sister Velma decided she wanted to raise her to supposedly give her son a sister. Once Velma decided to do this, Laurie became Esther Lorie Alexander.
Note: Velma wrote that her mother (Esther Elizabeth East Smith) lived with her for the last 11 months of her life. She also wrote: Sharon (Blaine's daughter) came down and would rub her (grandmother's) feet for her.
Note: though I found the marriage record - it claimed she was a Smith, not an Alexander. Don't know why she used her maiden name.
Note: I put this man here because of a note that was left by Don Worthen on Family Search that stated: "per daughter Mickie, she recalls this marriage and the spouse, but recalls also that it was a very short marriage, maybe two days. I contacted Don who assured me that Mickie was Mitchell's daughter.
No children
Died 11 Mar 2013 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Sources
Personal Knowledge
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 9)
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 21)
1950 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1960 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
Obituary in Ogden Standard-Examiner
Marriage to John Lincoln Hanlon: Texas Marriage Index
Note: Velma was listed as a Smith not an Alexander in the index. She is not listed in John's obituary
Marriage to Mitchell Graham Boam: Nevada Marriage Index
Note: Velma used Alexander as her surname for this marriage. She is not listed in Mitchell's obituary
Marriage to Don James Stout: Nevada Marriage Index
Note: Velma used Alexander as her surname for this marriage.
Family Search
ancestry.com
Hazel Rosella Smith
Hazel Rosella Smith |
John Walter Alexander |
Born 16 Aug 1922 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Married: John Alexander 3 April 1938 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Information from Velma: they stayed with Albert and Velma on 25th and Wall when Velma was pregnant and again on 280 Jefferson.
Children: Darlene, Christy - the rest are living as of 2020
Buried 1 May 2008 Hooper City Cemetery, Hooper, Weber, Utah
Sources
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 8)
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 17)
1950 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1955 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1960 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
SS Death Index
Family records
Family Search
ancestry.com
Of note: Hazel's adopted granddaughter and my own daughter served in the same LDS mission without knowing they were cousins
Ester Violet (Vi) Smith
Esther Violet Smith McCreary |
Occupation (s): DDO Ogden
Married Alton William "Sam" McCreary 23 Aug 1945 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Information from Velma: Violet stayed with her at 280 Jefferson during the war. Bev stayed with Violet until their mother died in 1955.
Children: Billy, Bobby, David, Elizabeth, Tammy
Died 3 Sep 2009 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Buried Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah
Obituary:
OGDEN - Esther Violet "Vi" Smith McCreary, 84, died on Thursday, September 3, 2009 of causes incident to age.
Vi was born October 29, 1924, in Ogden, Utah a daughter of Martin and Esther East Smith. On August 21, 1945, she married Alton William "Sam"
McCreary in Ogden. Sam preceded her in death on May 5, 1994. She retired from Federal Service after many years of service.
Vi loved to travel and see the beauty of this country. She loved the mountains, the stars, and especially the Moon. Vi is a member of the Golden Spike Ladies of Elks and B.P.O. Boes.
Surviving are her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren; Alton W. Jr. "Bill" and wife Georgette; Robert J. "Bob" and wife Kathy; Elizabeth McCreary; Tamra Baird and husband Jeff; seven grandchildren, Robert Joe McCreary, Michael Jay McCreary, Victoria Rego, Rebecca Ciccone, Rachel Seangsuwan, Jordan Baird and Jenessa Baird; one great-granddaughter, Nuala Rego, and two great-grandsons, Robbie McCreary and William McCreary
Also surviving are sisters and a brother, Velma Stout; Donna Lane; and Glenn (Afton) Smith.
Vi was preceded in death by her husband, a grandson, her parents, five sisters, and two brothers.
Services will be held at Myers Mortuary in Ogden, 845 Washington Blvd. on Saturday at 11 a.m. Friends may call at the mortuary on Friday from 6-8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:45-10:45 a.m.
Interment, Ogden City Cemetery.
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 5)
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 15)
1950 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
SS Death Index
Ogden Standard-Examiner Obituary
Family Search
ancestry.com
Norma Lavon Smith
Norma |
Norma's headstone |
Born 14 Mar 1927 Ogden, Weber, Utah
Died 21 Dec 1927 At home 604 Douglas Avenue, Ogden, Utah
COD: Bronchial Pneumonia and acrodynia (mercury poisoning)
Buried Ogden City Cemetery, Ogden, Weber, Utah Plot J-7-12-5E1
Sources
Obituary: Ogden Standard-Examiner, issue 22 Dec 1927
Obituary Note: "Esta" should be Vesta and "Wilma" should be Velma |
ancestry.com
Picture: my aunt had it
Information from Velma: Donna and Chet stayed with her for a while. During that time Roy's hamster drowned.
Children: still living
Died 20 Dec 2009 Ogden, Utah
Buried Myers Evergreen Memorial Park, Ogden, Utah
Obituary:
Ogden – Donna Mae Smith Lane, 81, passed away on December 20, 2009. She was born August 21, 1928, in Ogden, Utah to Martin and Esther E. East Smith. Donna married Chet Odil Lane on June 6, 1944, in Ogden, Utah.
She was a member of Washington Heights Baptist Church participating in many youth summer camps, Wednesday family nights, and dinner theaters.
Donna loved being home with her children. She enjoyed cooking, camping, and square dancing. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren very much.
She was preceded in death by her husband Chet; grandson Cody Felix and numerous brothers and sisters.
Headstone for Donna and Chet |
She is survived by her children, Richard O. (Patricia) Lane of South Dakota, Kevin J. Lane of Ogden and Shari Lane Felix of Ogden; brother Glen Smith; sister Velma Stout; 10 grandchildren, Chad, Teresa, Heidi, Steffani, Matthew, Tyler, Haley, Kate and Annie; and 12 great-grandchildren, Chance, Travis, Megan, Conner, Justin, Brandon, Kameron, Parker, Courtney, Sariah, Hayden, and Jaxon.
Graveside Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 28, 2009, at Myers Evergreen Memorial Park, 100 Monroe Blvd. Friends may call at Myers Mortuary of Ogden, 845 Washington Blvd. on Sunday, December 27th from 6 to 8 p.m.
Sources
1930 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 1)
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 11)
1950 US Census Ogden, Weber, Utah (age21, married)
1955 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1960 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
Obituary in Ogden Standard-Examiner
SS Death Index
Family Search
ancestry.com
Headstone and picture of her: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45712560/donna-mae-lane
Elmann Glen Smith
Born
Occupation: Principal
Information from Velma: Glen teased Bev once and mom set him straight. Glen stayed with her when he had a few days off in college and again during the war until he got married.
Married Afton
Children
Died
Buried
Sources
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 7)
Beverly Jean Smith |
Married Gilbert Lee Barker 2 Dec 1954 (Divorced)
Information from Velma: Beverly lived with Violet until their mom died and with Velma afterward. Velma claims she financed Bev's wedding for ownership of the two lots of land which Hazel bought from Velma.
Children: Sharlene (rest still living)
Died 9 Jan 2009 Heritage Park Care Center, Ogden, Utah
1935 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1940 US Census for Ogden, Weber, Utah (age 5)
1950 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1955 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
1960 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Census
Beverly and Sharlene's Obituaries in Ogden Standard-Examiner
SS Death Index
Family Search
ancestry.com
Here is his obituary online: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PI9aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-EkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4691%2C3767139
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