Individual Details
Ruth D. Smith
(11 Nov 1843 - 28 Aug 1920)
On the 1860 U. S. Census of Fair Play, Jamestown, Grant Co., Wisconsin, Phillip Shafer, age 27 appears with his wife Ruth age 16. Phillip is a blacksmith. There are no children in the household.
On the 1870 U. S. Census of Jamestown, Grant Co., Wisconsin, Ruth age 26 is single and living in her parents household.
On the 1880 U. S. Census of Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska, Ruth Smith, a widow and dressmaker is head of the household which includes her sister Charlotte Cummings and Charlotte's husband L. P. Mr. Cummings is a laborer.
On the 1885 Nebraska State Census, Ruth Smith age 39 and doing millinery work, lives at Oakland, Burt Co., Nebraska.
In the newspaper, Oakland Independent, of Oakland, Burt Co., Nebraska at U. S. GenWeb site it states: Smith, Mrs. Ruth, August 11, 1899, p3, c3, Oakland, Ruth left for 3 week visit with her sister at Rushville, Nebraska, then on to Springs, South Dakota. This information helped in locating her sister Charlotte and spouse Leonard at Rushville on the 1900 Census.
On the 1900 U. S. Census of City of Oakland, Burt Co., Nebraska, Ruth Smith, born Nov. 1844, age 55 and a widow appears. She is a milliner. She was born in Pennsylvania, her father born in Virginia and mother born in Pennsylvania. She lists zero children born and none living.
On the 1910 U. S. Census of Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington, Ruth Smith age 66 and a widow appears. She states she is the mother of zero children. She lists none in occupation column. She was born in Pennsylvania. She is living at 1800 Lake Street.
On the 1920 U. S. Census of Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington, Ruth Smith a widow, age 76, appears. She was born in Pennsylvania. Also in the household is a nurse Mary Spaulding age 59. They are living at 1920 Lake Street. The census was taken 6 January 1920.
From the Bellingham Herald, Aug. 30, 1920 page 10: Funeral Notice: Smith, Mrs. Ruth, age 70 years, passed away at a local hospital Saturday afternoon, August 28, 1920, after an illness of several months duration. Mrs. Smith had resided in Bellingham and vicinity for the last fifteen years, where she leaves many friends who will deeply mourn her loss. She was a member of the Methodist church in the east and leaves no immediate relatives. Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning, August 31, 1920, at 10 o'clock from the service parlors of Harry O. Bingham, 120-122 Prospect street, with Rev. William R. Marshall officiating. Interment will be made in Bay View cemetery.
On the 1870 U. S. Census of Jamestown, Grant Co., Wisconsin, Ruth age 26 is single and living in her parents household.
On the 1880 U. S. Census of Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska, Ruth Smith, a widow and dressmaker is head of the household which includes her sister Charlotte Cummings and Charlotte's husband L. P. Mr. Cummings is a laborer.
On the 1885 Nebraska State Census, Ruth Smith age 39 and doing millinery work, lives at Oakland, Burt Co., Nebraska.
In the newspaper, Oakland Independent, of Oakland, Burt Co., Nebraska at U. S. GenWeb site it states: Smith, Mrs. Ruth, August 11, 1899, p3, c3, Oakland, Ruth left for 3 week visit with her sister at Rushville, Nebraska, then on to Springs, South Dakota. This information helped in locating her sister Charlotte and spouse Leonard at Rushville on the 1900 Census.
On the 1900 U. S. Census of City of Oakland, Burt Co., Nebraska, Ruth Smith, born Nov. 1844, age 55 and a widow appears. She is a milliner. She was born in Pennsylvania, her father born in Virginia and mother born in Pennsylvania. She lists zero children born and none living.
On the 1910 U. S. Census of Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington, Ruth Smith age 66 and a widow appears. She states she is the mother of zero children. She lists none in occupation column. She was born in Pennsylvania. She is living at 1800 Lake Street.
On the 1920 U. S. Census of Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington, Ruth Smith a widow, age 76, appears. She was born in Pennsylvania. Also in the household is a nurse Mary Spaulding age 59. They are living at 1920 Lake Street. The census was taken 6 January 1920.
From the Bellingham Herald, Aug. 30, 1920 page 10: Funeral Notice: Smith, Mrs. Ruth, age 70 years, passed away at a local hospital Saturday afternoon, August 28, 1920, after an illness of several months duration. Mrs. Smith had resided in Bellingham and vicinity for the last fifteen years, where she leaves many friends who will deeply mourn her loss. She was a member of the Methodist church in the east and leaves no immediate relatives. Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning, August 31, 1920, at 10 o'clock from the service parlors of Harry O. Bingham, 120-122 Prospect street, with Rev. William R. Marshall officiating. Interment will be made in Bay View cemetery.
Events
| Birth | 11 Nov 1843 | Mercer Co., Pennsylvania |  | ||
| Marriage | 12 Aug 1858 | Grant Co., Wisconsin - Philip Sheaffer | | ||
| Death | 28 Aug 1920 | Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington | | ||
| Burial | Ruth D. Smith, 1844-28 Aug 1920, Bayview Cemetery, Bellingham, Whatcom Co., Washington | |
Families
| Spouse | Philip Sheaffer (1833 - 1860) |
| Father | Edward Smith (1799 - 1870) |
| Mother | Jane Johnson (1804 - 1881) |
| Sibling | Ira Edward Smith (1831 - 1901) |
| Sibling | Jarrett J. Smith (1833 - 1905) |
| Sibling | Huldah A. Smith (1835 - 1868) |
| Sibling | Ara "Edward" Smith (1835 - 1907) |
| Sibling | Sarah Jane Smith (1837 - 1895) |
| Sibling | Charlotte "Lottie" E. Smith (1839 - 1915) |
| Sibling | Morgan J. Smith (1840 - 1908) |
| Sibling | Almira Smith (1842 - 1919) |
| Sibling | John Jasper Smith (1844 - 1931) |
| Sibling | William Wayne Smith (1849 - 1923) |
Endnotes
1. Abigail Farris & James Clason By Fay Morehouse Medhaug, April 1987, Page 231.
2. 1900 Census Burt Co., Nebraska.
3. E-Mail from Debbie deHoog.
4. Grant County Genealogical Society, Platteville, Wisconsin.
5. The Dubuque Times Journal, Obituaries of Mrs. Almira Parkin (n.p: May 16, 1919, Page 10 and May 17, 1919 page 3, n.d).
6. Washington State Digital Archives (n.p: www.digitalarchives.wa.gov, n.d).
7. Bellingham Herald, Obituary of Mrs. Ruth Smith (n.p: Aug. 30, 1920, Page 10, n.d).
8. Find A Grave.