William "Buck" Smyth1

b. 20 December 1820, d. 15 August 1891
William "Buck" Smyth (cropped)
photo courtesy the Sells & Mannon families
FatherJohn Smyth2,3,4 b. 3 Jun 1778, d. 8 Sep 1835
MotherNancy Stewart5,4 b. 4 Nov 1778, d. 16 Dec 1851
Birth20 Dec 1820 William "Buck" Smyth was born on 20 Dec 1820 in Washington County, Virginia.6 
Cens-185010 Aug 1850  Prior to his marriage, William lived at home with his widowed mother and several older siblings in Washington County.7 
Marriage23 Dec 1852 He married first Eliza T. Logan, daughter of Caleb Logan and Mary "Polly" Dunn, on 23 Dec 1852 in Washington County.8 
Residence10 Apr 1855  The couple (or at least William) apparently spent some time in Tennessee. Their son James was born in Washington County, Virginia in the spring of 1855 but it was noted that his father was living in Tennessee.9 
WidowedMay 1857  Buck was widowed when Eliza died a few months after the birth of their third child.10 
  After her death Buck left to join the Confederate army, leaving his 3 small children by Eliza with other family members. 
Military  William enlisted in Co. D of the 1st Virginia Cavalry at Abingdon (Washington County) on 14 May 1861. The company was formed by Capt. W.E. Jones [later General "Grumble" Jones] of Washington County. They were known as the Washington Mounted Rifles. William appears to have served at least through Feb. 1864.11 
Marriage9 Aug 1864 He married second Elizabeth Jane (McClelland) Hudson, daughter of Samuel McClelland and Mary Ann Dougherty, on 9 Aug 1864 in Washington County.4 
  William was 43; Elizabeth was a 21 year old widow whose first husband had died during the Civil War, just a few months after their marriage. 
Cens-18707 Oct 1870  William's children from his first marriage do not appear to have lived with he and Elizabeth.12 
  In the years following the Civil War William made an unusual decision for a man in his 40s: he decided to return to college. He attended Emory and Henry and then "read" medicine with a Dr. Barrow, eventually becoming a licensed physician. He helped people as he could, often being paid in farm products, if at all.13 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  William and Elizabeth also farmed land in the Saltville District of Washington County. The 1880 census captured them with 8 of the 11 children who would eventually make up their family. William's age was entered as 49; he was closer to fifty-nine. Elizabeth was thirty-seven.14 
Death15 Aug 1891 William died on 15 Aug 1891 at age 70.6 
Burial He was buried at Smyth Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.6 

Research Comment:

Aleta Spicer, a great granddaughter of William and Elizabeth, compiled a wonderful manuscript about the couple's descendants. A picture emerges of a family that was close knit and exceptionally welcoming to friends and neighbors. William and Elizabeth's sons were known for their love of fun, their wit and affection for each other, their capacity for work, their honesty and their ability to protect each other in an era when some disagreements were still resolved the old fashioned way.

The couple's daughters seem to have been exceptional homemakers who worked tirelessly to care for their families, and who did so with much joy. They were proud of their heritage.15

Related Links and Images:

William and Elizabeth's home
To locate the William ("Buck") and Elizabeth Smyth homesite see the Washington County homes map
Click on the .pdf icon to read a very informative narrative about the life of William "Buck" Smyth (written by his great great grandson Sherm Weimer)

Family 1

Eliza T. Logan b. 27 Dec 1825, d. 11 May 1857
Children

Family 2

Elizabeth Jane McClelland b. 2 Apr 1843, d. 20 Apr 1903
Children
Last Edited7 Aug 2013

Citations

  1. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 92. Desc. chart for William (Buck) Smyth and Eliza Logan; author unclear.
  2. [S695] John Smith will (1835), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 7: 71.
  3. [S1788] Jack Hockett, "Washington County, Virginia Chancery Notes", New River Notes (http://www.newrivernotes.com/hockett/wcvchancery.htm : Nov. 2010). Reel 118; case styled as Benjamin F. Fuller & others vs Tobias Smith, J. Kelly, admrs of the will of Jonas Smith, dec'd. Includes statements as to the heirs of Jonas Smyth which included the heirs of John Smyth deceased.
  4. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 343. William Smyth, 43y, widow, b & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o John & Nancy A. Smyth AND Elizabeth Jane (McClelland) Hudson, 21y, widow, b. Rockbridge Co., d/o Samuel & Mary McClelland; 9 Aug 1864.
  5. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 76. Desc. chart for John Smyth and Nancy Agnes Stewart; author unclear.
  6. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 132. Smyth, William 20 Dec. 1820-15 Aug. 1891.
  7. [S367] Nancy Smith household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 92b, dwelling 371, family 371, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 50 of 289. Nancy Smith, 67, owns property valued at $4,000; Tobias 34, farmer; Mary 32; John 31, farmer; William 29, farmer; James 21, farmer; Alexander 16, farmer; all b. VA.
  8. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 60. Eliza I. Logan and William Smyth, 23 Dec. 1852.
  9. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 135. Transcription reads: James Wallace Smyth, b. 10 Apr 1855 to William and Eliza Smyth; father's residence noted as Tennessee.
  10. [S15] Audrey Honegger, "Thomas Chalmers Clark-Mary Josephine Smyth family group sheet."
  11. [S2729] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : accessed Aug. 2011); William Smith, private, (2nd) Co. D, 1st Virginia Cavalry.
  12. [S635] Wm Smith household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 1st Division, p. after 198 stamped, dwelling 198, family 213, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2007, image 32 of 44. Household includes: Wm Smith, 49, farmer, owns real estate: $1,200, pers. prop of $500; Elizabeth, 27, Jonas, 5; Margaret 3, Nancy 1; all b. VA.
  13. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 23.
  14. [S165] William Smyth household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 38 (227B stamped), dwelling 332, family 342, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 38 of 63. William Smyth, 49, marr, farmer; Elizabeth, 37, wife; Jonas 14, son; Margaret 12, dau; Nancy 10, dau; Hugh 9, son; Sarah 8, dau; William 6, dau [sic]; Pirdrue 4, dau; Bettie 2, dau; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  15. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth.
  16. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 92-3. Desc. chart for William (Buck) Smyth and Elizabeth Jane Hudson/Huttson McClelland; author unclear.
  17. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 22. George W. Counts, 19, s/o John & Nancy Counts, farmer AND Smyth, Sarah C., 21, d/o William & E. J. Smyth; 22 Nov. 1894.
  18. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 52. Helton, William Milburn, 23, b. Russell Co., VA s/o W. F. & Malissa Helton, farmer AND Gertrude Smyth, 19, d/o Dr. Wm & E. J. Smyth, 22 Oct. 1895.
  19. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 24. Geo. Sanders Crenshaw, 23, b. Smyth Co., VA s/o W. J. & Mary Crenshaw, farner & Smith, Bettie, 21, d/o William & E. J. Smith; 7 Mar 1899.
  20. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 102. Charles W. Smith, 22, s/o Wm & Elizabeth Smith, farmer & Sarah A. Boothe, 19, d/o Joel & America Boothe, 20 Aug. 1902.