James Kelly Smyth1

b. 28 December 1821, d. 8 November 1895
FatherTobias Smyth2,3 b. 23 Jan 1785, d. 25 Jan 1872
MotherRachel Kelly2 b. 23 Jan 1788, d. 24 May 1862
Birth28 Dec 1821 James Kelly Smyth was born on 28 Dec 1821 in Washington County, Virginia.4,5,6,7 
Childhood  He spent the early years of his life in the old log cabin built by his grandfather Jonas Smyth.8 
Education James graduated from Emory and Henry College.9 
Religion1848 He joined the Methodist Church in 1848, the year he was married, and was a member for 48 years. At the time of his death James was trustee of Smyth's Chapel and had been instrumental in its construction.10 
Marriage6 Jan 1848 He married Jane Beattie Clark, daughter of James Clark and Ann Ryburn, on 6 Jan 1848 in Washington County, Virginia. Dr. Collins, the first president of Emory and Henry, officiated at the marriage.11 
7 Jan 1848 James was 26 and Jane was 24. 
Cens-185010 Aug 1850 After their marriage, James and Jane settled in a small log home next to his father's home. Here the 1850 census recorded them with one year old Rachel who years later would write about this family homestead. Jane would have been pregnant with their second daughter, Margaret, who would not live beyond infancy.12,13 
Cens-186029 Jun 1860 Ten years later the family had grown to include Rachel, age ten, Alice, age seven, and Isabella, age four.14 
Anecdote  Rachel, reminiscing many years later, wrote about how her father often played games such as "Hide and Seek" with his children in the evening. He was also stern and required his children to read aloud to him every night before retiring.15 
Anecdote In December of 1861 a diptheria epidemic seized the Glade Spring community. The physicians were unable to contain it and most of the families in the area suffered the loss of a loved one. James and Jane's daughters Rachel and Alice became ill; Alice died the day after Christmas, at the age of 8. Jane died of consumption 4 weeks later.16 
 After Jane's death in January 1862, James took his surviving children, Rachel and Isabella, and moved into his father's home. He then left to join the Confederate Army, enlisting in the Kings Battery. When he returned home his daughter Rachel recorded how her father's appearance had changed. "When our sorrows began he was young and handsome, as I thought. When the war ended he was a broken, disappointed old man."17 
Cens-18706 Oct 1870  In 1870, after the war ended, James was recorded living with his 84 year old father and his sisters Elizabeth, 50 and Catherine 41, and his brother Francis 47. His daughters, Rachel, 21, and Isabella, 15, were also present.18 
1875  About 1875 James built an attractive 2 1/2 story brick home on a knoll north of Emory. It sat on land that had been in the family since the 1770s and was located near the original Jonas Smyth log cabin. The house had 12 rooms, 3 chimneys and 30 windows; a large from lawn separated it from the road.4 
Cens-188023 Jun 1880  Presumably James was living in it at the time of the 1880 census enumeration. At that time he headed a household that included his sisters Elizabeth and Nancy, his daughter Isabella and two servants.19 [James's daughter Rachel married in 1877 and his father died in 1872] 
Death8 Nov 1895 James died on 8 Nov 1895 at age 73.20,10,7 
Burial He was buried at Smyth's Chapel Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.21,7 

Related Links and Images:

James's headstone
Other interments in Smyth's Chapel Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed James as the head of household number 369. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Jane Beattie Clark b. 23 Mar 1823, d. 21 Jan 1862
Children
Last Edited21 Jun 2011

Citations

  1. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 124. Desc. chart for James Kelly Smyth and Jane Beattie Clark. Author unclear.
  2. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 119. Desc. chart for Tobias Smyth and Rachel Kelly; author unclear.
  3. [S705] Tobias Smyth will (1872), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 18: 40. The will was dated 20 Jan 1872 and recorded 26 Feb. 1872; sons John and James were named executors with James Kelly and William Price witnesses.
  4. [S1199] Victoria Gilliam, "Dr. Littleton Home", 1937, digital image, Works Progress Administration of Virginia Historical Inventory, Library of Virginia Online, <<http://www.lva.virginia.gov>>: viewed 2010. Family data contributed by Mrs. Peter A. Scott (Rachel Ann Smyth Scott, daughter of James Kelly Scott and Jane Beattie Clark, and granddaughter of Tobias Smyth and Rachel Kelly). Mrs. Scott's daughter Alice married Dr. Littleton in 1916; they resided in the James Kelly Smyth home.
  5. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 60. List of Persons buried in Tobias Smyth Memorial Chapel (Smyth's Chapel Cemetery). The stone is reported to state that James was born Dec. 28, 1821.
  6. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 63. Transcribed records from Smyth Family Bible states he was born Dec. 28, 1821.
  7. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 163. Transcription reads: James K. Smyth, 18 Dec. 1821 - 8 Nov. 1895. This date of birth disagrees with other records.
  8. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 5; author not clear.
  9. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 48.
  10. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 19. "In Memoriam - James Kelly Smyth."
  11. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 59.
  12. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 9. The writings of Rachel Smyth Scott describe 2 small log houses built on either side of a larger log house (which had belonged to either Tobias or to his brother, John - not clear). To one of those smaller homes James Kelly Smyth brought his bride in 1848. Rachel's Uncle John, who had married just a few months before, occupied the other house. The house stood at the foot of Walkers Mtn. Nearby was the larger log house of Rachel's grandfather, and on the other side of his house stood the home of her uncle whose oldest boy was the same age as Rachel.
    Note: Rachel was the daughter of James Kelly Smyth and Jane Beattie Clark, and the granddaughter of Tobias Smyth and Rachel Kelly.
  13. [S367] James Smith household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 92b, dwelling 369, family 369, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 50 of 289. James Smith 28, farmer; Jane 24; Rachel 1; all b. VA.
  14. [S234] James K Smith household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 438 (added script), dwelling 515, family 503, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 76 of 361. Reported data includes: James K. Smith 37, farmer, owns personal property of $900; Jane 36; Rachel 10; Alice 7; Isabella 4; Elizabeth Wise 15; all b. VA.
  15. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 9. From the writings of Rachel Smyth Scott. Rachel was the daughter of James Kelly Smyth and Jane Beattie Clark, and the granddaughter of Tobias Smyth and Rachel Kelly.
  16. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 15. From the writings of Rachel Smyth Scott. Rachel was the daughter of James Kelly Smyth and Jane Beattie Clark, and the granddaughter of Tobias Smyth and Rachel Kelly.
  17. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 12, 15. From the writings of Rachel Smyth Scott. Rachel was the daughter of James Kelly Smyth and Jane Beattie Clark, and the granddaughter of Tobias Smyth and Rachel Kelly.
  18. [S635] Tobias Smith household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 1st Division, p. 196b (stamped), dwelling 165, family 180, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 392 of 426. Data includes: Tobias Smith, 84, retired farmer, owns land valued at $6,000; Elizabeth 50, keeping house; James K., 48, farmer, owns land valued at $1,000; Francis A. 47, tradesman, owns land valued at $1,000; Catherine 41, asst housekeeping; Rachell 21; Isabella 15, attending school; all b. VA.
  19. [S165] James K. Smith household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 47 (76A stamped), dwelling 415, family 418, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 47 of 54. James K. Smith, 58, widowed, farmer; Isabella, 23, dau; Elizabeth, 60, sister; Nancy K., 51, sister; 2 servants; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  20. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 63. Transcribed records from Smyth Family Bible.
  21. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 60. List of Persons buried in Tobias Smyth Memorial Chapel (Smyth's Chapel Cemetery).
  22. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 135. Transcription reads: Alice Maria Smyth, b. 10 Jul 1853 to James K. & Jane B. Smyth.
  23. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 135. Transcription reads: Isabella Frances Smyth, b. 10 Oct. 1855 to James K. & Jane B. Smyth.