The Frank B. Smith Family

Frank B. Smith was born Feb. 17, 1856, to Silias and Celic Smith. He was the youngest son of several children. His brother James Scott Smith died at Covington, Kentucky, in 1862 in the Civil War; other siblings were Fremont Smith, Louisia Smith Bordner, Nancy Smith White, and Helen Smith Wilson.

The family lived near Florida, Ohio, when Frank was very small. He helped work on the canal in the early days near Florida, Ohio.

There he met Margaret Glore, born Sept. 6, 1858, daughter of John and Kathry (Zetiers) Glore and they were married on Oct. 5, 1876.

He worked and farmed for quite some time up along the canal about three miles west of Napoleon.

When they first started housekeeping, they used a large store box for their table and two small boxes to sit on. Then a little later they bought a table and some chairs. I have the table - grandfather gave it to me.

To this union was born: Myrtle Smith Brubaker - husband Wallace; Kathryn Smith Scheriff - husband August; Maisie - died at two years; and twins, Frank Smith and Margaret Smith Hefflinger - husband William, on Oct. 8, 1889.

The children went to District No. 7 School and W. B. Hartman was their teacher in 1896. The family lived the first house east of the school along the canal at that time.

After the children grew up, Grandfather and Grandmother moved up into northern Michigan and worked for Doctor Rohrs's father two years.

He then came back and bought a farm in Harrison Township and lived there a few years.

Then he moved to Napoleon and was a caretaker of the Napoleon cemeteries and made cement vaults for graves. After a few years he bought a home on Welsted Street and lived there, and sold his cement vault business to James Kelly.

Grandfather was then appointed street commissioner of Napoleon and had that job until he was nearly 80 years old.

Grandmother always kept things going at home. She did lots of quilting and pieced lots of comforters. She would make our own pillows from feathers she had saved. There are so many little things I can remember about her - her apple pie was the best.

She passed away December 17, 1931, at age 73. Grandfather passed away May 28, 1939, at age 83.

For later history, it is under the William Hefflinger and Clarence Corwin family.

Submitted by Maisie Hefflinger Corwin