John Smith ¹

  General Notes:

In June of 1834, John Smith, husband of Susannah Lightfoot/Smith took his life by hanging himself in the Wooster jail. Records from the estate show claims related to this suicide, Susannah was forced to sell much of the personal property. The 160 acre farm located in Section 25SW somehow was kept out of the sale and eventually went to the children.

An appraisal was made of the goods on 21 June 1834 and the sale was held 3 July 1834. Records of the appraisal and auction exist and I have copies, as well as claims against the estate. Of interest. Listed among the buyers at the sale are Isaac Lightfoot who paid $3.15 for a scythe and cradle and, John Lightfoot who purchased an iron pot for $1.60. Isaac is likely Susanna's brother while John could be either her father or another brother. I would guess the items were purchased and then returned to Susannah for her use.

(Source: Jeff McCann, E-mail Nov 2006)
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John married Susannah Lightfoot, daughter of John Lightfoot and Alice, on 14 December 1820 in , Wayne County, OH.^{1 2} (Susannah Lightfoot was born on 20 June 1799 in Maryland,^{1 3 4} died on 23 July 1870 in Plain Township, Wayne County, OH ^{1 5 6} and was buried after 23 July 1870 in Reedsburg, OH ^{1 6}.)

  Marriage Notes:

State of Ohio, Wayne County. I certify that on the fourteenth day of December last, I joined together in the holy state of matrimony, John Smith and Susana Lightfoot, of lawful age. Given under my hand this first day of February 1821.
John Erich, J. Peace
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(Source: Jeff McCann, e-mail July 2005)
I have about had it with Susannah Lightfoot and John Smith, but I'd like to share what information I have in the hopes it may help you and/or you might be able to expand or supplement what I have.

My working premise was that the recorded marriage on 14 Dec 1820 in Wayne County for John Smith and Susannah Lightfoot, was your Susannah Lightfoot and then to see what would happen. I knew the marriage yielded a Peter Smith, born 27 Oct 1821 near Reedsburg. He is my great-great-grandfather and is buried locally, Farnham Cemetery, Williams County, Ohio. I knew another child was John Smith, born 09 May 1830 near Wooster. He too is buried here, Evergreen Cemetery, Newville, Indiana. For certain they had a daughter Catherine Smith, born 27 Jun 1833, married John Shelly, place of death probably Ashland County. I give these specifics for a reason given below. I was certain that Susannah's husband died in 1834 or 1835, probably somewhere between November 1834 and April 1835.

In checking Administration of Estates of Deceased Who Had No Wills, 1812-1851, (Wayne County), there are two John Smiths. I'm guessing its John Smith, 1835, but I'm not positive. I had a suspicion that Susanna remarried and the kids got "farmed out". Sure enough, on 22 May 1836 she marries Jacob Harpster, in Wayne County. On 26 Aug 1836 Samuel [sic: should be Emanuel] Harpster is born, suggesting she was pregnant, before the marriage. I originally thought Samuel [sic: should be Emanuel] was a child from the marriage of Jacob Harpster and his wife, but Samuel [sic: should be Emanual] is the half-brother mentioned in Peter Smith's funeral, he moved to this area, died in 1923 and is buried in Edgerton Ohio.

On 7 March 1837, in Guardianships Appointed by Wayne County court 1812-1851 (p.95, case 230) I found Smith - no first name, but the children Peter, John, and Catherine, and the birth dates match to the day. But I also found the couple had three other children, an Ailsey Smith, born 01 Oct 1823, Jacob Smith (a problem because his birth date is given 08 Oct 1820, which is early for the marriage, but I think it is wrong and out of sequence, and a John Smith, born 09 May 1830. I mention all of this because of the critical 1850 census for Wayne, Chester Township. This page shows Jacob Harpster, then Susanna. Living with them is listed Catherine Smith, a match for the daughter of John and Susanna, There is a Mary Harpster (not known), Emanuel Harpster, mentioned previously as a possible pre-marriage child, a John Harpster (age 5), Jacob Harpster (age 6), and finally ALICE LIGHTFOOT, AGE 82, CERTAINLY Susanna's mother. To fast forward, Susannah Harpster dies 13 Feb 1870 and is buried in Reedsburg cemetery. Her birth date is 20 Jun 1799, born in Maryland. I guess its as close as you can get without being 100% certain. I am bothered that I cannot find for certain a death listing, burial, tombstone for John Smith in 1835. Even the fact that several of Susannah's brothers migrated to this area around 1850 is a clue as Susannah's 2 sons were already here.

If I have has this much trouble linking John and Susannah, I hate to even consider trying to trace John Smith back to Pennsylvania. I don't know if any of this is of use to you searches, but in hopes if you find a definite John Smith - Susannah link, maybe you will let me know.

Jeff McCann
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Guardianships Appointed by Wayne County Court 1812-1851, page 95, #230 is the critical location for solving this mystery. After the death of Susanna's husband in late 1834 - early 1835, the six kids were farmed out. The above site gives positive evidence of dates of birth and is positive for the three children I have direct information of (Peter, John and Catherine - 27 June 1833). If I had the actual file, I am positive it will show names of Susanna Lightfoot and John Smith. The Maryland entry is probably an error by Catherine, as in the 1900 census (Ashland, Perry Township, image 15) she lists Maryland. Peter Smith and John Smith, brothers also list Maryland. If you have access to the guardianship information please let me know what it says.
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