History of the SMITH FAMILY that lived in Decatur Twp., Benton County, Arkansas

Contributed to Benton Co ARGenWeb 4 Nov 2004 by Sheryl Handlin


LogCabin.jpg This log cabin was owned by John W. SMITH and his wife Fay C. BOOKOUT. It used to sit just out side of Decatur Arkansas but now this home is sitting in downtown Decatur, Arkansas. What happened is that John W. SMITH traded his home and 80 acres of prosperity to PETERSON (which owns Peterson Chickens) for another piece of property outside of Gravette.

How the Log cabin was discovered: As the SMITH family grew the outer walls of the Log Cabin were added onto. When someone went to tear it down, in the middle they found the log cabin, and then from there it ended up downtown in Decatur.

Family Group Sheet

Husband: John Walley SMITH died at age: 76
Born: 2 May 1870 in Columbus Mo.
Died: 31 Dec 1946 in 6pm Gravette Arkansas in his home
Buried: in Decatur Arkansas Cemetery
Father: Joseph N. SMITH
Mother: Nancy E. (SNODGRASS?)
It was said by Orlia SMITH his grandfather's name was Joseph or spelled Jophes (SMITH), Orlia Sister - Annie wrote in a letter their grandfathers name was Nelson SMITH. At this point I am not fully confident with the reports found on Joseph SMITH, I haven't found anything on Nelson SMITH. IF anyone has
information email me at rhandlin@msn.com

John SMITH Obituary was found in the home of his son Orlia SMITH.

John SMITH was born in Columbus, Mo., May 2, 1870 and departed this life Dec. 31, 1946 at 6 p.m. at the age of 76 years and 8 months. He moved to Arkansas with his parents at the age of 17 and lived in Decatur until the past few months He was married to Fay BOOKOUT, Dec. 13th, 1896. To this union, 9 children were born, One son which preceded him in death. He leaves to mourn his departure his widow, Mrs. Fay SMITH and eight children: Mrs. Flora MCKENZIE of Tulsa, Mrs. Marilla GARRETT of Colorado Springs, Zela SMITH of Goodman, MO., Mrs. Anna BARNWELL, Erva, Elbert, Orlie, and Nelson SMITH all of Gravette. Also one brother, Will SMITH of Maysville, and one sister, Mrs. C.H. MOORE of Sulphur, Okla., 20 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, besides several neices, nephews, and a host of friends.

~~~~~~
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to express our thanks and appreciation for all the many acts of
kindnes, the comforting words spoken, and the thoughtfulness of neighbors and
friends during the illness and death of our beloved husband and father, John SMITH.
Mr. and Mrs. E.W. MCKENZIE and family
Mr. and Mrs. Albert SMITH and family
Mr. and Mrs. Bert BARNWELL
Mr. and Mrs. Zela SMITH
Mr. and Mrs. Earl GARRETT and family
Mr. and Mrs. Orlie SMITH and family (they spelled Orlia's name wrong)
Mr. and Mrs, E.S. SMITH and family
Mr. and Mrs. J.N. SMITH and family 
~~~~~~

1910 Census Decatur twp., Benton County., Arkansas
John W. SMITH age 39 MO. parents born in TN
Cars F. SMITH <looks like on original census> would have to be Carrie or Cassie. age 32 wife AR
Flora SMITH daughter age 12 AR
Ervie SMITH son age 10 AR
Annie SMITH daughter age 8 AR
Zelia SMITH son age 4 AR
Nancy E. SMITH Mother age 67 TN
Nancy E. SMITH headstone in Decatur AR says born 1835 died in 1912, so I am a bit disturbed by the age here, this 1910 census would have her born about 1843.

1930 Census Decatur Arkansas
John W. SMITH Head born in Missouri Parents born in TN.
Carrie F SMITH Wife Father born in GA and mother born in TX
Orlie C. SMITH son
Zelah T. SMITH son
Marilla B. SMITH daughter
Nelson T. SMITH son
In translating original census into text there you will see that Orlie should of been Orlia, Nelson name is John Nelson, but it has him as Nelson T. which the T. may of been a J. John married Fay Carrie BOOKOUT at the age of 27 and she was 20.

Wife: Fay Carrie BOOKOUT died at age: 82
Married: 13 Dec 1896 in his age: 26 her age: 19
Born: 21 Jan 1877 in Benton Co. Arkansas
Died: 18 Feb 1959 in Gravette Arkansas
Christened: Lived in Near Decatur country
Father: Louis BOOKOUT
Mother: Marilla Elizabeth Surgnier
GRAVETTE NEWSPAPER
OBITUARY
Faye Carrie BOOKOUT SMITH, daughter of Louis and Murilla BOOKOUT was born Jan 21, 1877 in Benton county, Ark., and departed this life Jan. 18, 1959, in the home of Mr & Mrs. Eva SMITH in Gravette Ark at the age of 82 one month and 3 days. She was united in marriage to John Wiley SMITH Dec. 13, 1896. To this union was born nice children - three daughters, Mrs. Flora McKinzie of Tulsa, Mrs.
Annie BARNWELL of Gravette, and Mrs. Murillie Garrett, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Six sons - Ervie, and Orlie of Gravette, Zelah of Goodman, Mo., Albert of Decatur, and Nelson of Englewood, California. One son preceded her in death. Her husband passed away Dec. 31, 1946. She is also survived by 20 grand children, 24 great great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and other relatives and a host of friends to grieve her departure. All her life has been spent in the vicinity of Gravette and Decatur. She was converted at an early age and became a member of the Methodist Church and remained faithful to the end.
She loved to read His word. We know that our loss is Heaven's gain.

It's been said by Fay's daughter -Fay's middle name is Cassie. Family notes have Faye death Feb 18th 1959, and her Headstone shows she died Feb 18 1959

F Child 1: Flora Elizabeth SMITH died at age: 89
Born: 15 Jun 1897 in
Died: 1987 in
Spouse: Wallace McKinzie
Lived in Tulsa at the time of her daddy's death
Social Security Death Index: Flora E. McKinzie Last Residence Tulsa, Tulsa Co., Oklahoma, Born 15 Jun 1897 and died 9 Dec 1988, family notes have her death 1987

M Child 2: Erva Stanley SMITH died at age: 70
Born: 26 Dec 1898 in
Died: 10 Oct 1969 in
Spouse: Mary BARNWELL
Lived in Gravette at the time of his daddy's death
1930 Census Decatur, Benton Co., Arkansas
Erva S. SMITH Head, (could not read age on original census) born in Arkansas
has his father born in TX
Mary B. SMITH Wife, age 24 born in Arkansas
Mabel D. SMITH age 6 Daughter born in Arkansas
Huston S. SMITH age 4 Son born in Arkansas
Irma R. SMITH Daughter age 2 born in Arkansas
Erva married Mary at the age of 24 and she was 17

F Child 3: Anna Sarah SMITH died at age: 88
Born: 15 Oct 1900 in
Died: 17 Sep 1989 in Gravette, Arkansas
Spouse: Bert BARNWELL
Social Security Death Index: Annie S. BARNWELL Last Residence Benton, Co., Arkansas. Annie lived on Mount Olive Road Gravette AR. Her brother Orlia SMITH lived on the same road.
Nickname Annie Lived in Gravette Arkansas at the time of her daddy's death On Mt. Olive Road. She had a small chicken barn, where she collect eggs and sold to passing motorist. As a child I remember Annie did not say much but she loved to listen. Her medical condition (scoliosis) left her back hunch forward, the older she got the worse she lean towards the ground as she stood up. My grandmother Ferne and Grandfather Orlia SMITH (Annie brother) took care of her for a time when she started to loose her mind. She died at the age of 89. 
Last home place Rt. 4 Box 141, Gravette, AR 72736 For all the years I (Sheryl) could remember she lived at the same Homestead on Mt. Olive Road which is the same as Rt., 4 Box 141. The small home still stands, but in very bad shape.

Original Tax Receipt for Personal and Real Estate Benton Co., Arkansas
Parcel No 7756 Acres 40 Real School Dist. 20
Year 1956 $27.63
Year 1957 $30.89
Year 1958 $33.83
Year 1959 $37.77
Year 1960 $16.60
Year 1967 $31.88
Year 1976 $51.99

M Child 4: Zelah SMITH died at age: 67
Born: 28 Apr 1905 in
Died: Feb 1973 in
Lived in Goodman Mo. at the time of his daddy's death
Last Residence: Gravette, Benton Co., Arkansas

M Child 5: Baby John SMITH died at age: 0
Born: 31 Dec 1906 in
Died: 28 Jun 1907 in
On gravestone they have Fay Carrie initials wrong they have it CF instead of FC

M Child 6: Albert SMITH age: 94
Born: 4 Sept 1910 in
Spouse: Zelma Payne b. 25 Aug 1911 d. 8 Feb 1997
Social Security Death Index has Albert born 1 Sep 1910 and Died Oct. 1984 Last
Residence Gravette, Benton Co., Arkansas 72736.
was in Gravette at the time of his daddy's death. On Mt Olive Road also lived in Decatur Moved back to Gravette because Peterson Chicken company traded farms with him and that is how he ended up on Mt. Olive Road Albert was living in Decatur at the time of his mother death
1930 Census Decatur township, Benton Co., Arkansas
Albert SMITH Head age 19 born in Arkansas
Zelma P. SMITH wife age 18 born in Arkansas her parents born in AR
Charles A. SMITH son born in Oklahoma
Albert and Zelma both married at the age of 18
Albert has his father born in TX and mother in AR
But John Walley SMITH obits states he was born in Columbus MO.

M Child 7: Orlia SMITH died at age: 81
Born: 4 Oct 1912 in Decatur Arkansas
Died: 9 Mar 1994 in Gravette Arkansas
Buried: Decatur Cem. in Decatur Arkansas
Baptized: 1955 in Gentry Church of Christ, Gentry Arkansas w/Ferne
Spouse: Ferne Evelyn Schell b. Living
Married: Mar 10th 1937 in Cave Spring Park, Arkansas
Orlia worked at The Shelling Plant, with wife Ferne, the plant shelled Black walnuts, His daughter Cleta's favorite nut. Also worked on the rail road for Southern Pacific as a section hand when his children were small, Orlia worked as a chicken farmer raising 45,000 chickens, up to the day he died. He was a good honest man and a very hard worker always helping others with their chicken and bailing hay. Also worked for Peterson Chicken as a foreman on the farm, before raising his own chicken's. raising 60 heads of beef cows, on his and his wife farm on Mt Olive road, Gravette Arkansas. Grandpa SMITH wasn't the best driver or so it may seem. He had bought this new black truck one year as we visited Arkansas, the next year or so when we returned it was all beat up and looked 20 years old. I ask grandpa where is your new truck and he would smile and say "Your looking at it". It was hard to believe but it was his new truck the mileage proved it. When we would ask him how he got all them dents and scratches on it - his reply was "Grandma Did It". of course grandma never drove that truck. Orlia was sure a joker, always making us kids laugh. If we were not sure if he was telling us a story or not, we would go ask Grandma she would always tell us the truth. All his kidding was cute, never crude. Funeral Service - 2pm Saturday March 11th 1994 Church of Christ, Gravette, Arkansas. Pallbearers - Steve MEEK, Terry SMITH, Robert SMITH, Clifford BARNES, Mike MEEK, Joey SMITH, Russell SMITH, Leonard TRUITT. Officiating - Mr. Larry ELLIS, A.J. HENRICKS. By Brother George CURTIS - Orlia, Ferne and Orlene were all baptized same day
(at night) in Gentry Ark, Fall (1957?) It was said it was 1957 instead of 1955.
Social Security Death Index: Last residence Gravette, Benton Co., Arkansas.
Orlia & Ferne SMITH lived 14101 W. Hwy., Gravette AR., 72736

F Child 8: Marilla SMITH died at age: 84
Born: 4 Apr 1915 in Decatur Arkansas on a farm
Died: 1 Jan 2000 in Battle Mountain, Nevada
Buried: Fairview Cem. in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Christened: Minister in Rev. Patricia Westlake
Spouse: Earl David Garrett b. 29 July 1908 d. 14 Jan 1985
Married: 28 Aug 1930 in Jay Oklahoma
Lived in Colorado Springs Colorado at the time of her daddy's death some spelled Marilla this way (Murillie) Pikes Peak is her back yard Marilla Played with brother Orlia as a child he would even take her to Party's with him, even when he had a date. Brother Nelson since she had been married drew close to one another.

M Child 9: John Nelson SMITH age: Living
Born: Living
Spouse: Lurline Green
Lived in Gravette at the time of daddy's death, and later live in Englewood Ca. and now lives Decatur AR,
John went by the name Nelson. John married three times, 1st Earlene, 2nd Gloria, and 3rd Gladis (Gladis was John's high school classmate.)

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Fay Bookout SMITH

Fay C. (Bookout) SMITH, 1954







Anna (Smith) BARNWELL, buried in Bethel Cemetery, Benton County Arkansas.







Family of John W. SMITH and Faye (Bookout) SMITH







Headstone of John W. and Fay Smith





Unnamed child of John W. and Fay Smith






Headstone of Albert and Zelma (Payne) SMITH







Nancy E. (Snodgrass) Smith






Glenn Whitman, Cleta (Smith) Whitman, Ferne (Schell) Smith, Orlia Smith