• Obituary For Bert Palmer Record, 84

    By Published On: April 21st, 2010Categories: Obituaries, Surname: Smith

    Bert P Record is the husband of Leta Ethel Smith, sister of Frank Edward Smith,  Bert was born March 8, 1878 near Dewitt Iowa.  He married Leta Smith on July 3, 1905.  Bert died in his home in Rock Island after a 10 year battle with an illness.

  • Obituary For Leta Smith Record, 79, of Rock Island, Illinois

    By Published On: April 21st, 2010Categories: Obituaries, Surname: Smith

    Leta Ethel Smith Record is the sister of Colleen’s great grandfather, Frank Edward Smith.  After much research, some genealogists from the Rock Island area of Illinois found her obituary for me.  Leta was born May 30, 1887 on a farm in Homboldt, Iowa.  She married Bert Record on July 3, 1905 in Sioux Falls, South

  • The Elusive Smith Cousin May Finally be Found!

    By Published On: April 11th, 2010Categories: On The Genealogy Trail, Surname: Smith

    I’ve been at a stand-still with the Leta Smith branch of the family tree since December 2009. I’ve been looking for Shawn Butler since July 2009. Now, thanks to the folks at the Rock Island County illinois Genealogical Society, I have made a major breakthrough tracking down Shawn Butler, the great grandson of Leta Smith. 

  • Obituary: Muyrll Record Turner, Wife Of Roy Turner Died At Age 21

    By Published On: April 11th, 2010Categories: Obituaries, Surname: Smith

    Muyrll Turner was born Muyrll Record on August 25, 1909 in Rock Island, Illinois.  She died at the age of 21 following two operations for an intestinal ailment.  She was survived by her husband, Roy Turner, her son; Clarence and her daughter; Leta Ellen.

  • Obituary: Leta E Butler, 61, New Boston, Illinois

    By Published On: April 11th, 2010Categories: Obituaries, Surname: Smith

    A special thanks to the folks at the Rock Island County illinois Genealogical Society for finding the obituary for Leta Ellen Butler for me. Born Leta Ellen Turner on 9 Aug 1929 in Moline, she married William Butler on November 19, 1965 in Rock Island.

  • Leta Smith’s Family Tree Branch Has Been Found!

    By Published On: December 20th, 2009Categories: Found Documents, On The Genealogy Trail, Surname: Smith

    Leta Ethel Smith, sister of Frank Edward Smith (my wife’s great grandfather) was born in Iowa on May 30, 1887.  The only thing we knew about her, until today, was that she had twins named Merle and Berle.  In fact we have pictures of Leta, Merle and Berle in our possession.  There is some recollection

  • Laurel Newman Photo Collection

    By Published On: September 28th, 2009Categories: Photo Albums, Surname: Baron, Surname: Smith

    Today, Laurel Newman, daughter of Eileen Smith sent me a box of wonderful photo's from the Eileen Smith side of the family.  Thank You Laurel! Laurel rescued them from a flood at her mother's house.  She tried to clean them up as best she could, but in addition to the water damage, they also suffered

  • Frank Edward Smith, Estranged Father Of Three, Found!

    By Published On: July 22nd, 2009Categories: Found Relatives, Surname: Smith

    I have finally found the elusive Frank Edward Smith, estranged husband of Jean Louise Baron Smith and estranged father to Marie, Patricia and Eileen Smith . Frank Edward Smith was born February 27, 1893 in Humboldt, Iowa to Hiram Gregg Smith and Julia Geeslin Smith.

  • The Life & Death of Hiram Gregg Smith

    By Published On: July 20th, 2009Categories: In History, Surname: Smith

    Hiram Gregg Smith was born in New York State circa 1864 to Caroline E. and Benjamin H. Smith.  He was one of 10 children. Somewhere between 1873 and 1878, the family picked up and moved out to the Humboldt, Iowa area. On December 17, 1884, Hiram Gregg Smith married Julia Geeslin in Rutland, Iowa.  There