Elizabeth Smyth1

b. 9 October 1877 or 1878, d. 6 September 1956
FatherWilliam "Buck" Smyth2,3 b. 20 Dec 1820, d. 15 Aug 1891
MotherElizabeth Jane McClelland2 b. 2 Apr 1843, d. 20 Apr 1903
Birth9 Oct 1877 or 1878 Elizabeth Smyth was born on 9 Oct 1877 or 1878 in Virginia.1,4,5 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  Elizabeth was recorded in her father's household in the Saltville District of Washington County, Virginia, in 1880. Elizabeth's mother was present, as were Elizabeth's 7 older siblings.3 
  Three more siblings would be added later. Elizabeth also had 3 half-siblings from her father's first marriage. 
Marriage7 Mar 1899 She married George Sanders Crenshaw, son of William Joseph Crenshaw and Mary Jane Jones, on 7 Mar 1899 in Washington County, Virginia.6,7 
  Two of Elizabeth's brothers, Charles and Hugh, later married 2 of George's first cousins, Mary Elizabeth and Sarah Ann Booth. 
Milit-Reg3 Sep 1918 On 3 Sep 1918 George registered for the World War I draft at the Nelson County draft board in North Dakota. George gave his permanent address as Meadowview, Washington County, Virginia, but stated that he was farming and that his employer was "The Kelly Farm" in Lakota, Nelson County, North Dakota. The draft registrar noted that George was tall, of slender build, with grey eyes, red hair and poor teeth. George's eldest son, William, also registered for the draft in Lakota on the same date.8,9 
Cens-19207 Jan 1920 However, by January 1920 George and William appear to have returned to Washington County. The enumeration reported that George (age 44), owned his farm, which was not mortgaged. The family also included Betty (42), sons Willie (20), Ellis (15), John (4), Saunders (2) and daughter Bessie (13). In addition, George's 73 year old aunt, Sallie Crenshaw, was living in the home which was described as on Crenshaw and Foster Road.10 
Cens-19307 Apr 1930  In 1930 George's occupation was listed as a miller at a flour mill.11 
  George and Elizabeth raised a family of 7 children, including a daughter Elizabeth who died in 1906 at age 4. They may also have had an additional child who was born after 1900 and died before 1910 but whose name is not known to us. 
Death6 Sep 1956 Elizabeth died on 6 Sep 1956.1 
Burial She was buried at Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.12 
  Elizabeth, or "Betty" as she appears to have been known in the family, was remembered for her love of canning fruits and vegetables. She also liked to bake cookies and shared them generously with family and friends. Like her Smyth siblings, Betty was a "people person."13 

Related Links and Images:

Elizabeth's childhood home
To locate the William ("Buck") and Elizabeth Smyth homesite see the Washington County homes map

Family

George Sanders Crenshaw b. 21 Mar 1875, d. 6 Jun 1960
Children
  • William Franklin Crenshaw1 (1 Jan 1900 - 25 Feb 1978)
  • Mary Elizabeth Crenshaw14,1 (25 Oct 1901 - 12 May 1906)
  • Ellis Chesterfield Crenshaw1 (28 Aug 1904 - 14 Oct 1977)
  • Bessie Mae Crenshaw1 (11 Oct 1907 - 28 Nov 1991)
  • John Edward Crenshaw1 (Oct 1915 - 15 May 1993)
  • Leon Sanders Crenshaw1 (17 Sep 1917 - 29 Nov 1992)
  • James Douglas Crenshaw1
Last Edited7 Aug 2013

Citations

  1. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 113. Desc. chart for George Sanders Crenshaw and Elizabeth Smyth; author unclear.
  2. [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.
  3. [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.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 126. Transcription reads: Bettie S. Crenshaw, 1878 - 1956, "Mother."
  5. [S574] Samuel Crenshaw household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 122, sheet 11A (p. 301 stamped), dwelling 135, family 135, viewed online at Genealogy.com, Oct. 2004, image 59 of 92. Enumeration includes: Samuel Crenshaw, 25, b. Mar 1875, marr 1 yr, farmer; Bettie, 22, b. Oct. 1877, mother 1 child, living; cont. next page: Willie, son, 4/12, b. June 1900; Sallie R., niece, 53, b. Nov. 1846; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  6. [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, farmer AND Smith, Bettie, 21, d/o William & E. J. Smith; 7 Mar 1899.
  7. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 113. Desc. chart for George Sanders Crenshaw and Elizabeth Smyth; marriage date entered as 15 Mar 1899.
  8. [S1620] "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918", subscription database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : Dec. 2006), Data for G. Sanders Crenshaw, Nelson Co., N.D. (Sept. 3, 1918).
  9. [S1620] "World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918", subscription database with images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : Dec. 2006), Data for William F. Crenshaw, Nelson Co., N.D. (Sept. 3, 1918).
  10. [S238] George S. Crenshaw household, 1920 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville district, ED 168, sheet 4A (p. 333 stamped), dwelling 54, family 55, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2006, image 7 of 25. Enumeration includes: George S. Crenshaw, 44, farmer, owns farm, no mortgage; Bettie, wife, 42, own house work; Willie F., son, 20, farm laborer; Ellis _, son, 15; Bessie M., dau, 13; John S., son, 4; Sanders L., son, 2 2/12; Sallie R., aunt, 73; all b. VA; all parents b. VA; resid on Crenshaw & Foster Rd.
  11. [S639] Geo Crenshaw household, 1930 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 96-21, sheet 4A (p. 263 stamped), dwelling 48, family 78, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2006, image 7 of 43. Enumeration includes: Geo Crenshaw, 55, marr at 23, miller at flour mill, rents farm; Bettie, wife, 52; John, son, 14; Leon, son, 12; James, son, 10; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  12. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 126. Transcription reads: Bettie S. Crenshaw, 1878 - 1956, "Mother."
  13. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 40. Narrative on Betty Smyth by Lottie Crenshaw.
  14. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 132. Stone reported to read: Elizabeth Crenshaw, d/o G.S. & Bettie, 25 Oct. 1901 - 12 May 1906.