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Henry Schmidt/Smith of Lansingville, New York
There was an ancient German Bible at the Streeter Farm in Greenwood, New York for generations. Unfortunately, this Bible, which was printed in 1594 and contained no family record, was sold to an antique dealer in the 1980s. Subsequent conversations with other descendants of Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter's parents, Aiden-7 and Susan A. (Smith) Miner, revealed that it was "The Miner Bible."
Aiden Miner's ancestry is well-documented; he was not of German descent. It follows that the German Bible came from Susan's family; her parents were generally known as Henry and Sarah (Emery) Smith. In November 1998, I learned Susan A. (Smith) Miner was baptized as Susanna, daughter of Henry Schmidt and Sara Emerich. Schmidt became Smith and Emerich became Emery; no doubt the German bible came from one of these families.
Fortunately, many original letters and other documents remain at the Streeter Farm that provide invaluable clues to the ancestry of Susan A. (Smith) Miner. That so much has survived can be attributed to the fact that no other family has ever lived at the Streeter Farm since it was established by the compiler's great-great-grandparents, Francis Marion-3 and Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter about 1875. Susan A. (Smith) Miner came to the Streeter Farm late in life and died there.
1. Henry Schmidt/Smith, born New Jersey (1880 New York State Federal Census, [birthplace of Susan A. (Smith) Miner's father]) about 1772 [7 April 1773?]; "Henry Smith was born April the 7th 1743 [sic, 1773?]" (Mary L. Young [hereinafter Young], letter to her aunt, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 31 December 1868, Ithaca, New York); "Henry Smith was born April 7th, 1743 [sic, 1773?]" (Smith Family Record 1 [hereinafter SFR1]. Henry died [Lansing, Tompkins County, New York] 1 October 1855 "Henry Smith died Oct. 1st 1855" (SFR1); "Henry Smith Died Oct 1st 1855 age 83 years" (Smith Family Record 2 [hereinafter SFR2]).
Henry Smith was married 18 December [1796?] to Sarah Emerich/Emery; "Henry Smith was Married to Sarah Emony [sic] Dec the 18th 1786 [sic, 1796?]" (Young).
Sarah (Emery) Smith was born in New Jersey (1880 New York State Federal Census [birthplace of Susan A. (Smith) Miner's mother]) about 1777 [15 November 1775?]; "Sarah Emony [sic] was born Nov. 15th 1745" [sic, 1775?]" (SFR1); "Sarah Smith was born Nov the 15, 1745" [sic, 1775?] (Young). Sarah died [Lansing, Tompkins County, New York] 9 or 10 August 1865; "Sarah Smith died Aug. 10th 1865 aged 88 years 10 months" (SFR1); "Sarah Smith Died Aug 9th 1865" (SFR2).
Obviously, conflicting dates are provided for Henry and Sarah (Emery) Smith in various family records and letters that may have been transcriptions from Bible records or simply written from memory. It should be noted that the Mary L. Young quoted above was a child when she wrote her letter. These dates have been interpreted and presented above based on the fact that Henry's and Sarah's eldest child was born about 1798. A ten-year gap between marriage and the birth of first child, although possible, would be highly unlikely. Assuming the death dates and ages at death which are provided multiple times are at least approximately accurate, birth years in the 1770s match well with marriage in 1796 and a first child born in 1798.
It appears probable that Jacob Smith was Henry's and Sarah's eldest son; this may be a valuable clue towards finding either one of their fathers. It should be noted that a John Emery was born in Covert, Seneca County, New York on 1 October 1832 to Jacob and Julia (Cook) Emery. Perhaps Jacob Emery was a brother or other close kinsman to Sarah (Emery) Smith.
Henry and Sarah settled in what became the Town of Lansing, Tompkins County, New York. Lansing was originally known as Milton. Milton was one of the original Military Townships; it became a Civil Township on 27 January 1789 and was renamed Genoa on 6 April 1808. On 7 April 1817, the Town of Lansing was formed from the south part of Genoa Township on 7 April 1817 when Tompkins County was formed. Henry and Sarah settled in Lansing by 11 February 1800 when their daughter was baptized there in the German Lutheran Church. This event was recorded in The Church Book of the Evangelical United Congregations in Milton and Scipio ([hereinafter EUC] [1803]).
German Lutheran Church
"The Church Book of the evangelical denomination situated in Milton and Scipio, founded in the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 1803" is the inscription in German on the first page of the records of the German Lutheran Church at Bower Settlement, north of Lansingville. Several German families were in the neighborhood annexing which, as spelled at that time were Bauer, Roth, Busch, Kentz, Conrad and others... Services were held every four weeks, and were also held at the schoolhouse at Bower Settlement, near North Lansing. There services were conducted in the German language. John Izenhard was the last pastor in 1842. No services have been heard as a society since that time.
Tilman Bower, and Honteter, his son came, in 1794, from Pennsylvania... A German Lutheran Reformed Church was established there in 1803. John Bower [son of Tilman Bower] sold the lot on which the schoolhouse, that was to be used for a church also, and a cemetery, were located. Services were for many years in the German language. These families, with some others were all German. (History of Tioga, Chemung, and Tompkins Counties)
Tilman Bower was actually Deilman Bauer Jr.; he was the son of Deilman and Elizabeth (Schmit) Bauer who were natives of Hesse, Germany; Elizabeth was the daughter of Nicholas Schmit/Smith. Although Smith is an extremely common name, it is interesting to speculate whether or not Henry may have been related to Elizabeth (Schmit) Bauer, given the many connections between their descendants. Susanna Bauer and John Conrad sponsored the baptism of Henry's and Sarah's daughter, "Elisabeth Schmidt." Susanna Bauer was the daughter of Tilman and Eva (_____) Bauer/Bower; she married Palmer Baker on 14 April 1803. Susanna was John Conrad's aunt. John Conrad was the son of Melchior and Katrina (Bauer) Conrad; Katrina was another daughter of Tilman and Eva (_____) Bower.
Abram Bower's wife was a bridesmaid for Susan A. (Smith) Miner (Residence of Abram Bower, Lansing, Tompkins County, New York, annotated engraving, Streeter Farm). Abram Bower was doubtless identical with Abram-4 Bower (Honteeter-3, Deilman-2 "Tilman" Jr., Deilman-1 Bauer), son of Honteeter-3 and Susan (Teeter) Bower, born 16 November 1805; died 20 May 1882; married 25 May 1831 Francina Demarest Baker, born 20 February 1810, died 27 Oct 1908 (Dawn Marie Bower [hereinafter DMB], manuscript [13 Jan 1994]), daughter of Samuel Baker (History of Tompkins County). Abram was a first cousin to Susan's brother-in-law, Nathan-4 Bower; perhaps Francina was related to Susan's brother-in-law, Joel Baker.
In the 1825 New York State census, Henry Smith was residing in the Town of Lansing, Tompkins County, New York; his household consisted of six males and six females.
On 10 June 1828, Henry and Sarah deeded some property to their future son-in-law, Aiden Miner; the transaction was recorded as follows:
This Indenture, Made the tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight between Henry Smith and Sarah his wife of Lansing in the County of Tompkins of the first part, and Aiden Miner of the same place of the second part Witnesseth, That the said parties of the first Part, for and in consideration of the sum of Two hundred and thirty Dollars... sell... unto the said party of the second part (in his actual possession now being)... all that certain piece of or parcel of land Situate in the village of Lansingville and being part of Lot number fifty five in the said town of Lansing. Bounded as follows towit Beginning at the southwest corner of the dwelling house formerly owned by John Coe running thence east on the line of George Eddy's Lot Six rods and thirty links thence north four rods and thirty links thence east twelve rods and twenty three links thence north four rods and twenty four links thence west to the east line of the highway thence south on the line of said highway ten rods and thence east tot the place of beginning be the same more or less... (Tompkins County Deeds, Book O, p. 257; recorded 29 Jan 1829)
Henry Smith Sarah (X) Smith Mark
... I wish John to call on Egan Esq to send me a copy... judgements in any favour on Esq Strongs... and... Nupany to Collect the same agains jope [sic, perhaps JOP for Justice of the Peace] B. Bart-... Before Henery Smith I Paid him be fere Smith and... (Allen Miner, letter to his son, Aiden Miner, 16 June 1835, Greenwood, New York)
Dear Sister... fathe and mother was glad hear from you and I hope Susan that you will write often to let us here from you (Letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 15 February 1847, Lansingville, New York)
... we had a letter from Juliann a week or to a go they were well she said Father and Mother was quite poorly I feel sory for them to think that they have to submit to sally treatment but perhaps they like that best but the Lord nows I would not be in her clutches one hours time Olive Smith
I have here a Leter from Lansing and they are all well But father and mother they are faling faste... Olde Sall is thare yet Juley Roate to me that she had a Sparke that wose Some relashing to old Shaw I hoap that She will get some Old devl arothu So that She may Bee paid for all her deads and tha will haf to Bee the Devel him Self... S Smith (Samuel and Olive (Mersereau) Smith, joint letter to Samuel's sister, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 20 July 1851)
Dear Brother and Sister... we are well as far as respect our famly but father and muther fails fast they Say thay would like to See you both and your littel boy Dean do come home and See them onse more you will never regret it... Olive write often... Samuel les us write Julia Bower
I know of nothing interesting to right to you for thare is nothing gowing one on this road but hard labor N Bower (Nathan Sr. and Julia (Smith) Bower, letter to Julia's brother, Samuel Smith, and his wife, Olive (Mersereau) Smith, 24 July _____)
Dear Sister... I did think I would come and See you this Somer whene I went out to fathers but my time wose to Short for me I wose gown but a weak frome hom So you See that I had not much time to Spare at it wose the first time in five years... S Smith (Samuel Smith, letter to his sister, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 8 September 1855)
It was good that Samuel visited his father in the Summer of 1855 for Henry died soon thereafter on 1 October. After Henry's death, perhaps Jacob Smith inherited the farm and his mother, Sarah, remained there with him. However, it is not clear whether Sarah Ann Dean was a grandchild or great-grandchild of Henry and Sarah (Emery) Smith.
Dear Aunt... as far as we know they are all well at Grandmothers and Uncle Jacobs (Sarah Ann Dean, letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 9 December 1860)
Children, uncertain parentage indicated by square brackets:
i. [Mary, b. [NJ?] ca. 1798; d. 4 Oct 1872 "aged 74 years 3 months" (SFR1, SFR2); m. Joel Baker, b. ca. 1796, d. 16 May 1876 "aged 80 years" (SFR2)]
ii. Jacob, b. [NJ?] [say 1799]; d. 8 Oct 1863 "age 62 years" (SFR2); d. 13 Oct 1863 (SFR1); probably identical with the Jacob Smith who witnessed the marriage of the compiler's direct ancestors, Aiden-7 and Susan A. (Smith) Miner, at Lansingville, NY on 2 Feb 1830. Jacob appears to have inherited his father's farm and been responsible for his widowed mother so he was probably the eldest son. As such, perhaps he was named after his Grandfather Schmidt or Grandfather Emerich.
Dear Sister... jacob folks are all well Sary is not marred... (letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 8 Feb 1847)
... Jacop hase herte hime Self vary Bad at the mill with a Loge Roling downe the hill By the mill So that he could note worke this Somer (Samuel Smith, letter to his sister, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 20 July 1851)
... as far as we know they are all well at Grandmothers and Uncle Jacobs (Sarah Ann Dean, letter to her aunt, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 9 Dec 1860)
iii. Elizabeth "Betsey," b. (then Milton, now) Lansing, NY 11 Feb 1800 as "Elisabeth," dau. of Henry Schmidt and Sara Emerich; baptismal sponsors John Conrad and Susanna Bauer (The Church Book of the Evangelical United Congregations in Milton and Scipio [hereinafter EUC] [1803]); b. 11 Feb 1799; d. 9 April 1881 "aged 82 years and 29 days" (SFR1); m. Daniel Young, b. 9 April 1800, d. 9 Feb 1868 "aged 67 years and 10 months" (SFR1).
Dear Sister... Danels folks ar all well (letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 8 Feb 1847)
... Danel Youngs was out hear a week a go he said Betsey health was quite poor he was afraid she would get to be helpleSs the spine of her back is affected (Olive (Mersereau) Smith, letter to her sister-in-law, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 20 July 1851)
... Aunt Betsey young told Father on Friday of last week, Betsey is a great deal better, so that she walked from home over to Leur's & Henrys, & back to Georges & stayed all night and the next day Daniel went after her Georges wife has a Boy that was born the 15th of September & she had not been there since that... (Sarah Ann Dean, letter to her aunt, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 9 Dec 1860)
Dear Aunt Susan Gramma sais you may write a few lines if you will (Mary L. Young, letter to her aunt, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 31 Dec 1868, Ithaca, NY)
iv. John, b. (then Milton, now) Lansing, NY 9 Nov 1801 (EUC); bapt. 19 May 1803 as son of Henry Schmidt and Sara Emerich (EUC); b. ca. 1802; d. 13 Nov 1831 (SFR1) or 13 Dec 1832 "age 30 years" (SFR2); probably identical with the John Smith, Presbyterian Minister, who presided over the marriage ceremony of the compiler's direct ancestors, Aiden-7 and Susan A. (Smith) Miner, at Lansingville, NY on 2 Feb 1830.
v. Sara "Sally," b. (then Milton, now) Lansing, NY 29 Jan 1804; bapt. (then Milton, now) Lansing, NY 21 Feb 1804 as dau. of Henry Schmidt and Sara Emerich (EUC). Sally is a nickname for Sarah.
Dear Aunt... Sally and her Boys are in a great scratch the Boys tell her if she will promise to give them her farm, after Death they will go away from there so Aunt Betsey young told Father... Sarah Ann Dean (letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 9 Dec 1860, Lansing)
vi. [Philip, b. ca. 1805; d. 10 Jan 1872 "aged 67 years 6 months" (SFR1); d. 14 Jan 1872 "age 63 years" (SFR2); the following reference may pertain to him:]
Dear Sister... poor cute good for noting Philop is Sory that he cand come out there this Sumer to help you he has took fathers place to work this Sumer father cant Spare him this Sumer... (letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 8 Feb 1847)
* vii. Susan A., "Susanna" b. (then Genoa, now) Lansing, NY 1 Nov 1808, dau. of Henry Schmidt and Sara Emerich (EUC); b. Tompkins Co., NY 1 Nov 1808; d. Streeter Farm, Greenwood, Steuben Co., NY 20 July 1898; m. Lansingville, NY 2 Feb 1830 Aiden-7 Miner (Allen-6, Jonathan Ransford-5, Jonathan-4, Thomas-3, Manassah-2, Thomas-1), b. Lansing, Tompkins Co., NY 26 Dec 1805, d. Greenwood, NY 20 June 1883; bur. Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, NY, son of Allen-6 and Dorothy (Dyer) Miner; direct ancestors of the compiler; see Thomas Miner of Stonington, Connecticut for more information.
viii. Joseph, d. 28 Oct 1844; d. 24 Oct 1884 [sic] (SFR1); d. 27 Oct 1863 (SFR2); bur. Presbyterian Cemetery, Lansingville, Tompkins Co., NY; m. 23 Jan 1833 Sally Mariah Baker (EUC), b. 25 Aug 1814, dau. of Palmer and Susanna (Bower) Baker, m. (2) before 8 Feb 1847 Willard Thompson.
Dear be loved Sister... our bother josep is gon the way of all the living he died October the 28th... the furnal was hel... at the methodist chaple in lansing vill and was bred [sic, buried] in the bresbeterion berion yard... Susan all josep brothers and Sisters was here to folow him to the grave but you Self... he talk much to Sal-mariah and ex ord us to be good to the children... (Sally Smith, letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 3 Nov 1844)
Dear Sister... Salmarah is mared to wilord tomsen lives in venes... (letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 8 Feb 1847)
Children, surname Smith (Thomas Edward Herson, http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/e/r/ThomasE-Herson): 1. Charles, b. ca. 1836; d. 18 Nov 1840; bur. Lansingville Cemetery, Lansing, NY. 2. Sarah Maria, b. 1842; d. 2 Dec 1843; bur. Lansingville Cemetery, Lansing, NY. 3. Joseph, b. 1844; d. 9 March 1845; bur. Lansingville Cemetery, Lansing, NY.
ix. [Fannie, d. 17 May 1855 (SFR1)]; perhaps m. [Warren] Dean.
Dear Sister... you wrote in your letter that we should rite wether waren Dean hat got back he has not but his Child is very Sick the last weeke but it is better to day (letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 8 Feb 1847)
Dear Aunt... poor aunt Juliann... Sally and her Boys are in a great scratch... so Aunt Betsey young told Father... in September Henry & myself went to the City... Matilda Smith was married Nov 16 to Charles Conklin... John Jr Powers Son was Married on Thursday Evening of the last week... Sarah Ann Dean (letter to Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 9 Dec 1860, Lansing)
Henry Smith d. 1 Oct 1855; Henry B. Dean must have been a great-grandson of Henry and Sarah (Emery) Smith:
Cousin Alice... When we reached Ithica grandfather was at Aunt Betsys waiting for us... uncle Daniels folks are all well... Tell Aunt Julia that grandfather says... grandmother has got peas yet... This is truly from your own Cousin HB Dean (letter to Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter, 17 May 1861, Lansing)
Dear Cousin Alice... Nathan Bower has gone to Chicago to avoid the draft as I suppose... Henry B. Dean (letter to Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter, 19 Nov 1862, Lansing)
x. Julia, b. 1816 (DMB); d. 10 Feb 1882 (DMB, SFR) "age 67 years 6 months 24 days" (SFR2); m. (1) Nathan-4 Bower Sr. (Johann Samuel-3, Deilman-2 "Tilman" Jr., Dielman-1 Bauer) (DMB), b. 1809 (DMB), d. Lansingville, NY 3 Oct 1856 (DMB), d. 23 Oct 1856 "age 47 years 2 months 13 days" (SFR2), bur. Lansingville Cemetery, Lansingville, NY, son of Johann Samuel-3 and his wife who was either Polly Broak (DMB) or Susanna (Gauer) Bower (Rob Bower, correspondence, 27 Oct 1998); m. (2), probably Greenwood, Steuben Co., NY, probably before 17 May 1861, [William] McClay, probably the William McClay bur. Greenwood Cemetery, Greenwood, NY; in 1850 "Wm McClay" was a trustee of the Greenwood District No. 5 School.
Nathan and Julia resided in Lansingville in 1850. Some time after Nathan's death on 3 Oct 1856, she moved to Greenwood, NY before 17 May 1861, where she still resided as of 2 Feb 1880. Julia returned to Tompkins Co., NY by 9 Dec 1881.
Cousin Alice... Tell Aunt Julia that grandfather says get all she can and keep all she gets but above all the rest leave the old pest. This is truly from your own Cousin HB Dean (letter to Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter, 17 May 1861, Lansing)
...give my love to your Sister if she lives there yet... (Dorothy (Miner) Burrell; letter to her brother, Aiden Miner, and his wife, Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 10 Jan 1877)
... Among those who deserve especial mention, is Mrs. McClay of Greenwood, a sister of Mrs. Miner who was present at the wedding 50 years ago. She though young at the that time, still remembers and related to the pleasure of the company some of the events of their wedding day. (Newspaper article commemorating the 50th wedding anniversary of Aiden and Susan A. (Smith) Miner, 2 Feb 1880)
Dear Alice... I never will see Greenwood Eny more I went to Northvill to see a Docter they Boath sed they coud not cure me it would be my Last sicks so they say I Doctered with three or had counsel with them all is an old man and Docter Collman and Son I think I must Look up for a higher phision I am now at Nathan Bowers well card for... mary and Nathan send their love to you all... I want my Letters to come to Lake Ridge Tompkins County I think now of staying to Nats it is the best place for me... your miserable Aunt Julia McClay (Julia (Smith) (Bower) McClay, letter to her niece, Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter, 9 Dec 1881)
Children, b. [Lansing,] Tompkins Co., NY, surname Bower (DMB): 1. Samuel, b. 1832; d. 6 April 1835. 2. George, b. 1833; d. 17 Aug 1840. 3. John, b. 1837. 4. Nathan, b. 1840; m. Mary Buchanan. 5. Sarah E., b. 1844; m. before 6 April 1869 John Smith "Sarah Bower is Married to John Smith," (H.B. Dean, letter to his cousin, Alice Amelia (Miner) Streeter, 6 April 1869) , b. 1841, d. 17 Jan 1916. 6. Henry, b. 1847. 7. Harriet, b. 1848.
xi. Samuel; b. Lansing, Tompkins Co., NY 1817; d. Sunday, 14 March 1897; m. 25 June 1842 Olive J. Mersereau of Union, NJ, dau. of Cornelius Mersereau; settled in Union, NJ in the Winter of 1841/42; moved to Hudson City, NJ in 1855; returned to Union in 1859; moved to Philadelphia, PA; moved to Boston, MA; returned to Union, NJ in 1896; Presbyterian; Mason (obituary); resided at No. 128 Warren St., Trenton, NJ in Dec 1879.
Children, surname Smith (obituary): 1. S. Dean; resided in Brooklyn, NY in 1897. 2. Samuel R., resided in Brooklyn, NY in 1897.
I am seeking all genealogical and biographical details for the family documented above including their ancestors, children, and grandchildren and the spouses thereof, including the full names of those spouses' parents. All additions and corrections, however speculative, will be greatly appreciated.
Please send a copy of any response directly to me. I subscribe to many lists and post to many websites; I would not want to miss your reply! Thank you!
Perry Streeter
Canandaigua, New York USA
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