Godfrey George Smith of the
Republic of Texas
And his Descendants
Compiled by Adonica Lyons Shaw
Godfrey George Smith
Godfrey George Smith1,2,3 was born about 1823 in St Louis County Missouri.3,4 His father, also, Godfrey G
Smith was born about 1800 in Ohio. 5 It is possible that William Godfrey Smith, a Revolutionary War
soldier from the Virginia Line was the original Godfrey’s father.5,6 The elder Godrey G purchased property
in Greene County, Illinois, just north of the St Louis area, the same year that his son Godfrey George was
born.5,7 On 26 April 1842 in Jersey County, Illinois, the younger Godfrey George married Elizabeth Jane
Winniford,8 born about 1820 in Adair County, Kentucky2,4 to Norvell Robertson Winniford and Susan
Frances Johnson.1 Godfrey George and Elizabeth Jane had a son, William A, born January 1943 in
Illinois.3,9
Godfrey George and family traveled to the Republic of Texas arriving in 1844 in the area that later became
Hunt County.10 His land was south of present day Commerce, bordered on the north by the South Sulfur
River, on the east by the Hopkins County line, on the south by the Cumby-Campbell Highway and on the
west by Dunbar Creek. The area became known as Smith’s Pairie.11
The Smiths’ had fourteen more children in Hunt County, Texas: John Norvell, 3,12 born 08 March 1845;13,14
David Clark, born 27 November 1846;15 Lewis, born about 1847;2 Louisa E, born about 1849;2 Leander S,
born December 1849;2 Mary Frances; born abut 1851;3 Dardanelle G, born about 1853;3 Jane R, born about
1855;3 Martha S, born about 1857;3 Sarah Lucretia; born 12 July 1860;3,4 Daniel Boone, born about
1862;4,16 Eliza J, born about 1863;5 Elizabeth Mae, born about 1864;4,16 and Amanda B, born 22 September
1866.4,16
On December 29, 1845, Texas became the 28th state of the United States.17 Hunt County was formed in
1846 out of Fannin and Nacogdoches counties.18 Godfrey George was elected the first District Clerk on 13
July 1846. He probably kept his records at home since Hunt County had no court house until early 1847. 10
Godfrey George was elected District Clerk again in 1848. He was elected Justice of the Peace in Precinct
2 in 1854 and 1856.11 Godfrey George served in the Mexican War from 1846-1848.11 He served in the
Civil War, joining the militia from Beat 2 of Hunt County on 26 July 1861. 19
Godfrey George lived and farmed on Smith Prairie in Hunt County until he died December 1888. He was
buried at Stewart Cemetery, Hunt County, Texas.20 Elizabeth Jane died August 1893 in Hopkins County,
Texas1 and is also buried at Stewart Cemetery.20 The Stewart Cemetery was declared by the Texas
Historical Commission in August 1998 to be a Texas Historic Cemetery. 21
1
John Carrick Winniford
1850 Hunt Co Texas Census, Image No.8 on Ancestry.com
3
1860 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 2, Shiloh Post Office, pg 10
4
Ellen Chang
5
Sheryl Smith Beireis
2
6
7
www.rootsweb.com/~kygreen2/revwar.html
Illinois Archives Land Records
Illinois Marriages 1790-1860, Ancestry.com
9
1900 Comanche Co Texas Census
10
History of Greenville and Hunt County Texas by W. Walworth Harrison
11
Joy Cowen
12
Julia Winniford Byrnes
13
Elayne Pair Gibbons
14
1900 Hood Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 1, District 191, Sheet 13B
15
Civil War Pension File
16
1880 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 4, District 69, pg 12
17
Wikipedia
18
Handbook of Texas Online
19
Johnny Rebs of Hunt Cty TX by Mrs. Francis Terry Ingmire
20
Gravemaker
21
www.txgenweb6.org/txhunt/stewartcemhistory.html
8
CHILDREN OF
GODFREY GEORGE SMITH
AND ELIZABETH J WINNIFORD
William A Smith1 was born January 1843 in Illinois2 to Godfrey George Smith and Elizabeth J Winniford. 1
His father was a Hunt County Texas farmer who came to Texas while it was still a Republic.3 On 4
October 1865 in Hopkins County Texas, William A married Jane E McCorkle,4 born 1 August 1852 in
Mississippi to Thomas and Cassana McCorkle. 5 They had eight children, probably all in Hunt County:
Godfrey G, born December 1865;2 John T, born about 1869;6 a daughter, S F, born about 1871;6 David A,
born January 1872;7 Elmer, born 06 February 1876;2,8 Minnie, born about 1879;6 Edgar, born September
1881;2 and Ella, born December 1884.2
In 1870, William A was farming in the area of Timber Creek Hunt County, Texas. Included in his
household was his wife Jane E and son, John T.9 William A’s Brother, John Norvell was farming nearby.
Also on a nearby farm to William A is a Godfrey Smith. He was the same age as William A’s father,
Godfrey, but his wife and children do not match to those of William A’s father. It is not clear who this
Godfrey Smith is.10 In 1880, William A and Jane E were farming in Hunt County Texas.6 His father,
mother and younger siblings lived on nearby farm.11 William A’s brother, John Norvell, and family also
lived nearby on another farm. 11 In 1900, William A and Jane E were farming in Comanche County Texas.
Also living on the farm was their youngest daughter, Ella; their son Edgar and his wife Nannie; and son
Elmer, his wife Victoria and two daughters, Ethel and Essie.2
Jane E died sometime before 1903.12 About 1903, William A married Dicie A Yarborough, born about
1856 in Mississippi.12 William A and Dicie A were farming in Comanche County Texas in 1910. Jane E’s
spinster sister, Mary Yarborough, was living with them. Living on a farm next door was the family of his
niece, Mary Annis Smith Couch, daughter of David Clark Smith. 12 No further record has been found for
William A and Dicie A Smith.
1
1860 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 2, Shiloh Post Office, pg 10
1900 Comanche Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 5, District 32, Sheet 23B
3
History of Greenville and Hunt County Texas by W. Walworth Harrison
4
Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 Record, Ancestry.com
5
1860 Hopkins Co Texas Census, Bright Star Beat 7, page 4 & 5
6
1880 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 4, District 69, pg 13
7
1900 Erath Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 8, District 79, Sheet 4B
8
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=merne&id=I1447
9
1870 Hunt Co Texas Census, Timber Creek Precinct 4, pg 52
10
1870 Hunt Co Texas Census, Timber Creek Precinct 4, pg 51 & pg 52
11
1880 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 4, District 69, pg 12
12
1910 Comanche Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 5, District 11, Sheet 4B
2
John Norvell Smith was born 08 March 1845 in Hunt County Texas1,2 to Godfrey George Smith and
Elizabeth J Winniford.3 His father was a Hunt County Texas farmer who came to Texas while it was still a
Republic.4 On 13 September 1865 in Hunt County Texas,5 John Norvell married Susan Adeline Nance,
born 05 July 1847 in Tennessee6,7 to William L and Mary Nance.8 John Norvell and Susan Adeline had
twelve children probably all born on Smith Prairie, Hunt County Texas: John Elbert, born about 1867;9,10
James, born about 1868,11 died before 1880;10 Mary Elizabeth,12 born April 1869;13 William Henry, born
about 1871;10,12 Leola C, born about 1874;10 William Clark,14 born 06 March 1875;15 James Thomas, born
19 January 1877.16 Burl Nathanial, born 22 February 1880;17 Alice Lucretia,18 born 10 January 1882;12
Josephine, born 14 November 1885;2,12 and Susan E, born 24 April 1888.19,20 and Francis, born October
1891.19
John Norvell was a private of Company A, 1st Battalion in the Texas Calvary, also known as Company D,
15th Texas Calvary. He enlisted on 4 November 1861 and was discharged on 10 August 1862. His
Confederate Pension Application file number is 12344 which was approved 25 March 1907. 12 In 1870 and
1880, John Norvell was farming in Hunt County, Texas near his father and his brother, William A,
properties.9,10 By 1900 John Norvell had moved his family to a farm in Hood County, Texas near
Granbury. 2 His mother-in-law, Mary Nance, was part of the household.19
Susan Adeline died 01 September 1905 at Victor in Erath County Texas and was buried at the Victor
Cemetery.6,12,15 In 1910 John Norvell lived in Somervelle County Texas 21 with his granddaughter Francis,
born October 1891.19 It is not known who was Francis’ father. John Norvell died 01 September 1914 at
Victor, Erath Co, Texas and is buried in Victor Cemetery.15
1
Julia Winniford Byrnes
1900 Hood Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 1, District 191, Sheet 13B
3
1860 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 2, Shiloh Post Office, pg 10
4
History of Greenville and Hunt County Texas by W. Walworth Harrison
5
Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 Record, Ancestry.com
6
Elayne Pair Gibbons
7
http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/Wtx/Erath/cemetery/Victor.htm
8
1860 Hopkins County Texas Census, Bright Star Beat 7, page 4
9
1870 Hunt Co Texas Census, Timber Creek Precinct 5, Page 51
10
1880 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 4, District 69, pg 12
11
1870 Hunt Co Texas Census, Timber Creek Precinct 5, Page 52
12
Sheryl Beireis
13
1900 Hopkins Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 4, District 53, Sheet 16B
14
Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Record, Ancestry.com
15
http://www.cemeteries-of-tx.com/Wtx/Erath/cemetery/Victor.html
16
California Death Index, 1940-1997, Ancestry.com
17
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com
18
Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997 Record, Ancestry.com for Erma Jean Currin
19
1900 Hood Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 1, District 191, Sheet 14A
20
http://www.houseofproctor.org/genealogy/showmedia.php?mediaID=524
21
1910 Somervelle Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 2, District 87, page 1B
2
David Clark Smith1 was born 27 November 1846 in Hunt County Texas2,3 to Godfrey George Smith and
Elizabeth J Winniford.4 His father was a Hunt County Texas farmer who came to Texas while it was still a
Republic.5 David Clark enlisted in the Confederate’s Captain Lee's Company K, Gurley's Regiment, 32nd
Calvary in August 1864 and served until the end of the war. 6 On 12 September 1869 at Flat Creek, Hunt
Co, Texas,7,8 David Clark married Susanah Shella Ely,9 born 09 February 1849 at Crooked Creek, Carroll
Co, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Green Clay Ely and Mary Ruth Keith.10,11 David Clark and
Susanah Shella had three children in Hunt County Texas: Mary Annis, born 18 June 1870;3,12 Charles
Boone, born 17 February 1872;3,12 and John William, born 07 December 1873. 3,13
The family had moved to the area of Victor in Erath County Texas by 1876. 13 There, David Clark and
Susanah Shella had five more children: Ella Elizabeth,1 born 18 October 1876;3,14 Susanah Lavina,3 born
28 February 1881;3,15 Arizona Teolula, born 02 December 1883;3,15 David Singleton, born 30 March
1886;16 and Ida Mauzee, born 08 November 1892.3,15 David Clark was farming in Erath County in 1900. 2
By 1910, David Clark and family had moved to Childress County Texas. The 1910 Census list no
occupation for David Clarke but his son, John William, who lived next door, ran a hotel.17 In 1920 David
Clark and Susanah Shella lived with their married daughter, Mary Annis Couch on the Couch family farm
in Childress County Texas.18 Around 1926 David Clark and Susannah Shella lived with their son, David
Singleton, on a farm in Magnum, Greer County, Oklahoma.3
David Clark’s granddaughter, Opal Smith Carey, remembered her grandfather as a large, full-chested man
with full white beard and a red nose who had a distaste for “Yankees”. His granddaughter, Zella Smith
Shaw, remembered her grandfather as a farmer and carpenter. Zella was told that he was a church clerk
while in Erath County. On 24 July 1927 in Greer County Oklahoma, Susannah Shella died in an
automobile crash on a country road.3,19 She was buried at Burkburnett Cemetery, Burkburnett, Wichita
County, Texas.19 David Clark moved to Dallas after his wife’s death and lived with his married daughter,
Ida Mauzee Pavlakes.3,20 He was ill from grief3 and died 29 February 1928 in Dallas, Dallas County
Texas. 1,20 He was buried along side his wife of almost 58 years at Burkburnett Cemetery.19
1
Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Record, Ancestry.com
1900 Erath Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 8, District 79, Sheet 6A
3
Zella Shaw
4
1860 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 2, Shiloh Post Office, pg 10
5
History of Greenville and Hunt County Texas by W. Walworth Harrison
6
Civil War Pension File Number 35926
7
Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 Record, Ancestry.com
8
Ellen Chang
9
Texas Birth Certificate, of David Singleton Smith
10
1850 Carroll County Arkansas Census, Crooked Creek, page 7
11
William Ely
12
California Death Index, 1940-1997, Ancestry.com
13
Terry Mason
14
1900 Lincoln Co New Mexico Census, White Oaks, District 67, Sheet 1B
15
1900 Erath Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 8, District 79, Sheet 3A
16
Texas Birth Certificate
17
1910 Childress Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 2, District 27, Sheet 20A
18
1920 Childress Co Tx Census, Justice Precinct 2, District 23, Sheet 18A
19
Grave Marker
20
Application For Mortuary Warrant from Civil War Pension File Number 35926
2
Leander S Smith was born December 1849 in Hunt County Texas1,2 to Godfrey George Smith and
Elizabeth J Winniford.1 His father was a Hunt County Texas farmer who came to Texas while it was still a
Republic.3 On 02 January 1871 in Hunt County Texas, Leander S married Lucy Hurt,4 born April 1850 in
Texas.5 They had five children in Hunt County Texas: Lizzie, born January 1872;5 Artie, born about
1874;6 Walter, born March 1876;5 James D, born 28 January 1879, died 14 June 1882;6,7 and Anna, born
October 1889.5
Leander S was listed as farming in Hunt County Texas on the 18806 and 1900 Census.5 In 1910 Leander S
and Lucy lived in the city of Commerce in Hunt County Texas. They ran a boarding house. 8 Lucy died
sometime before 1920. Leander S was living with his married daughter, Anna Milton, in 1920 at Longview
in Gregg County Texas. At age 70, Leander S was working as a salesman for a produce store.9 No further
record has been found for Leander S.
1
1860 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 2, Shiloh Post Office, pg 10
Zella Shaw
3
History of Greenville and Hunt County Texas by W. Walworth Harrison
4
Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 Record, Ancestry.com
5
1900 Hunt Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 4, District 130, Sheet 3A
6
1880 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 4, District 69, Page 10
7
Grave Marker at Stewart Cemetery in Hunt County Texas
8
1910 Hunt Co Texas Census, Commerce Ward 2, District 132, Sheet 16A
9
1920 Gregg Co Texas Census, Longview Ward 4, District 5, Sheet 3A
2
Mary Frances Smith was born about 1851 in Hunt County Texas1 to Godfrey George Smith and Elizabeth
J Winniford.1 Her father was a Hunt County Texas farmer who came to Texas while it was still a Republic.2
On 9 March 1870 in Hunt County Texas Mary Frances married John H Turner, born August 1849 in
Arkansas.3 They had eight children in Texas: Nancy E, born March 1871; 4 William S, born June 1873;4
Jinnie, born about 1876;5 Reuben R, born March 1878;4 John J, born August 1881;4 Noval B, born
December 1883;4 Egbert B, born February 1885;4 and Mary, born April 1887.4
In 1880, they were farming in neighboring farms to Mary Francis’ family in Hunt County. 5 Mary Francis
died sometime before 1900. John H and his remaining family were living in the Chickasaw Nation in the
Indian Territory in 1900. His widowed son, William S, and widowed daughter, Nancy E Willie, along with
their children were living with him.4 No further record has been found for John H.
1
1860 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 2, Shiloh Post Office, pg 10
History of Greenville and Hunt County Texas by W. Walworth Harrison
3
Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 Record, Ancestry.com
4
1900 Chickasaw Nation Indian Territory Census, Township 2, District 121, Sheet 1B
5
1880 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 4, District 69, pg 13
2
Sarah Lucretia Smith1,2 was born 12 July 1860 in Hunt County, Texas3,4 to Godfrey George Smith and
Elizabeth J Winniford.1 Her father was a Hunt County Texas farmer who came to Texas while it was still a
Republic.5 On 1 February 1885 in Hunt County Texas, Sarah Lucretia married George Thomas Wiggs. 6
They had three children in Hunt County: Rufus Clark, born 30 August 1887;4,7 Charles Benjamin, born 07
August 1889;4,7 and Lucy Edna, born 03 February 1894.8
Sarah Lucretia and George Thomas were farming in Hunt County in 1900 and 1910. The next record of
them was the death of Sarah Lucretia on 18 April 1926.2 The next record for George Thomas was his death
on 29 December 1952 in Hunt County Texas.2,9 Both Sarah Lucretia and George Thomas were buried at
Stewart Cemetery in Hunt County Texas.2
1
1860 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 2, Shiloh Post Office, pg 10
http://www.txgenweb6.org/txhunt/stewartcem.html
3
Ellen Chang
4
1900 Hunt Co Texas Census, Justice Precint 4, District 130, Sheet 6B
5
History of Greenville and Hunt County Texas by W. Walworth Harrison
6
Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 Record, Ancestry.com
7
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com
8
Social Security Death Index Record, Ancestry.com
9
Texas Death Index, 1903-2000 Record, Ancestry.com
2
Amanda B Smith1,2 was born 22 September 1866 in Hunt County Texas2 to to Godfrey George Smith and
Elizabeth J Winniford.1 Her father was a Hunt County Texas farmer who came to Texas while it was still a
Republic.3 On 21 January 1886 in Hunt County Texas,4 Amanda B married Joseph F Talley,5 born about
1866 in Tennessee to James P and Paralee Talley.6 They had five children in Texas: Ethel, born about
1887;7 Godfrey Poke, born 14 November 1889 at Leonard in Fannin County;7,8 Willis, born 01 July
1891;7, 9 Elberta, born about 1898;7 and a son Elzie, born 25 October 1901.7,9
Sometime before November 1889, Amanda B and Joseph F moved from Hunt County Texas to Fannin
County Texas. Amanda B died 30 July 1904.10 No record of her place of death or burial has been found.
By 1910 Joseph F had moved his children to a farm in Bryan County Oklahoma. His name was listed as
“Bruce Talley” on the 1910 Census.7 Joseph F was still farming in Bryan County in 1920. Listed in his
household were his two unmarried daughters and his widowed mother, Paralee. 11 No further record as
been found for Joseph F.
1
1880 Hunt Co Texas Census, Precinct 4, District 69, pg 12
Ellen Chang
3
History of Greenville and Hunt County Texas by W. Walworth Harrison
4
Texas Marriage Collection, 1814-1909 and 1966-2002 Record, Ancestry.com
5
Sheryl Smith Beireis
6
1880 Hunt Co Texas Census, Justice Precinct 4, District 69, page 15
7
1910 Bryan Co Oklahoma Census, Township 3, District 19, Sheet 18B
8
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com
9
Social Security Death Index Record, Ancestry.com
10
George Samuel Cowan
11
1920 Bryan Co Oklahoma Census, Colbert, District 24, Sheet 4A
2