John R & Elizabeth (Herd) Smith

John R. Smith & Elizabeth Herd Smith

John R. Smith 1864-1921
John was born in Clackmannan, Fife, Scotland. The eldest of six siblings and the only one of that family to leave Scotland; John emigrated to the U.S. ~1880 and married Elizabeth Herd. John and Elizabeth both hail from Fifeshire, Scotland and it is a bit unclear to  as to how they met each other in Ohio, U.S.A.
John and Elizabeth became married and started a family in a couple of Coloradan towns before eventually settling in Peach Valley to raise a family of six children: George, Stewart, John, Lizzie, Willie and Albert "Kirk". Sometime around 1905 (+/- 5 years) the Smith Family moved to New Castle. As time progressed, John and Elizabeth owned and operated a Boarding House (the second floor of the building on the corner of 5th and Main), as well as a ranch on the east side of town (the old Ganley house and ranch). John was also a member of the New Castle City Council.
In January of 1921, John had passed away. Survived by: his wife Elizabeth, four children, and seven grandchildren. John was interred in to a family plot in Highland Cemetery, joining two of his sons: Stewart and John.

Stewart M. Smith

Son of John R. and Elizabeth Smith
Sept. 10, 1887 - Jan. 16, 1907
Gone But Not Forgotten
Stewart was the second born child of John R. Smith & Elizabeth Herd. Raised and educated in Peach Valley, Colorado (west of New Castle); Stewart entered his adulthood as a coal-miner in Coal Basin, Colorado. At 9 months shy of his 20th birthday, Stewart died in a mining explosion. This is an extremely short epitaph for a human being. Never married, sans children - this is all that can be said for Stewart. Stewart was the first of the "Smith Family" to be interred in to Highland Cemetery. He was enjoined later with his parents, four brothers and one sister.

John F. Smith
1891-1928
John was the third born child of parents: John R. Smith & Elizabeth Herd Smith. Multiple records list different towns for John's birthplace - one indicates New Castle, Colorado. But we do know that John was raised and educated in Peach Valley, Colorado (west of New Castle).
Around the time that the "Peach Valley Smith Family" moved to New Castle, John - a young adult - moved west toward Grand Junction, Colorado. It is here that John met and married Amy Charlesworth. John and Amy had three children: Minerva, Erwin and Idell. This "Smith Family" lived in various Colorado coal mining towns because John (presumed but not proven) worked as a coal-miner.
In 1928, at 37 years old, John died while visiting family and friends in New Castle, Colorado. Survived by his wife, three children, three brothers, one sister, many cousins, aunts and uncles; John F. Smith was interred in to Highland Cemetery, joining his brother Stewart. The Smith brothers would be later enjoined by their parents, one sister and three brothers.

Lizzie Bain (Smith) Hall
1893-1974

Willie H Smith
1895-1958
Colorado
S2 USNRF
World War I

Albert Edward Smith
1897-1957
Colorado
E3 US Navy
World War I

   

 

 

 

Willie H Smith Obituary New Castle, Garfield County Colorado

Albert E. "Kirk" Smith 1897-1957
Kirk Smith - born in New Castle, Colorado - was the last of six children from parents: John R. Smith and Elizabeth Herd. Kirk followed his brothers footsteps by working the coal-mines of south-east Colorado (it's unclear what age he began). He served in the U.S. Navy during World War 1, then returned to the coal-mines (it's unclear how many years he was a miner). Kirk, later in life, met and married Nettie-Irene (unknown surname) and did not have any children. Kirk and Nettie moved to Oregon, where Kirk was employed at a lumberyard; and then they moved to Walla Walla, Washington, where Kirk was employed at the U.S. Nuclear Plant in Hanford, Washington. In 1957, Kirk had died. Survived by his wife, a brother, a sister, and many cousins; Kirk was interred in to Highland Cemetery, joining his parents and four brothers.

 

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