Martha Elizabeth Atkins (1829-1901)

Martha Elizabeth Atkins was born in Laurens County, South Carolina on December 15, 1829 to the marriage of Thomas Atkins, Jr. and Sarah Parlow Davenport.  The 1830 U.S. Census shows Thomas, Sarah and three of their children living in Abbeville District, South Carolina.

1830 U.S. Census

By 1840 the family had relocated to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.  

1840 U.S. Census

Martha's siblings included the following:

Alexander H (b. abt 1825 SC)
Burket (b. abt 1827 SC)
Caroline (1831-1915) m. Thomas M. Barbour (1830-1897)
William David (1833-aft 1907) m. Elizabeth J. (1846-1903)

Martha Elizabeth Atkins married Dr. William H. Harris circa 1845.  William was born in Tennessee on July 14, 1819.  The location of their marriage is unknown at this time.

The 1850 U.S. Census shows Martha and William living in Smith Township, Bradley County, Arkansas as possible boarders in the Belcher household. Their one year old son, Alphonso, is also listed.

1850 U.S. Census

It should be noted that family Bible records show a daughter named Sucins E. was born to this marriage on January 26, 1846.  Her date of death is listed as August 4, 1849.

Willis S. Smith Family Bible Record Transcription

Children born to the marriage of Martha Elizabeth Atkins and Dr. William H. Harris were:

Sucins E (1846-1849)
Alphonso (1848-1914) m. Sallie Arnold (1868-1940)
William Alonzo (1851-1859)
Mary Elizabeth Cora (1854-1879) m. William Janes (1850-1898)

Dr. William H. Harris died circa 1855.  The location of his burial is unknown at this time.

On July 1, 1855 Martha Atkins Harris married a second time to Dr. Willis S. Smith in Clark County, Arkansas.  Dr. Smith was a recent widower whose first wife, Margaret A. Janes, had died on February 19, 1855.

The 1860 U.S. Census record shows the combined families living in Beech Creek, Clark County, Arkansas.  

1860 U.S. Census

The 1870 U.S. Census record shows the family had increased in number with five children born to the marriage of Martha and Willis, beginning with Millington Smith.

1870 U.S. Census

The family residence was listed as Missouri Township, Clark County, Arkansas in the 1880 U.S. Census record.  Two more children had also been born.

1880 U.S. Census

Dr. Willis S. Smith died on May 20, 1891 in Clark County, Arkansas.  He is buried on his home place, Rawls Hill Plantation.

The 1900 U.S. Census record shows Martha as a widow and head of household.  

1900 U.S. Census

Martha Elizabeth Atkins Harris Smith died on January 20, 1901 in Clark County, Arkansas.  She is buried alongside her husband, Dr. Willis S. Smith, on Rawls Hill Plantation.

Children born to the marriage of Martha and Willis were:

Millington (1860-1940) m. Donie (1866-?)
Martha Elizabeth (1862-1954) m. Elias S. Sullivan (1849-1943)
Laura (1864-1943) m. William Newell Edmonds (1850-1930)
Henry Clay (1866-1952) m. 1. F. McBride (1849-1921) 2. Z. Sparkman (1869-1946)
Daniel Webster (1868-aft 1880)
Adonis "Don" (1871-1959) m. Loena N. Janes (1882-1971)
Fannie (1873-1946) m. Dr. John W. Green (1871-1941)

Family Bible records show three other children were born to this marriage.  No other documentation has been found on the following children:

Tuly/Turly - b. 11 Apr 1856
Thomas - b. 3 Jan 1858
Melissa - b. 30 Nov 1859

Willis S Smith Family Bible Record Transcription

Laura Smith Edmonds was my paternal great grandmother through her son, Bruce.

Dr. Willis S. Smith (1810-1891)

Willis S. Smith was born in Elkton, Todd County (formerly Logan County), Kentucky on August 10, 1810.

He was the son of Millington Smith and Barbara Barton.

Willis S. Smith's siblings included Barnwell, William, Barnabas, James, Cardwell, Shurtliff, Unity, Millington, Isaac, Andrew and Thomas Smith.





The 1820 census shows the family living in Rutherford County, Tennessee:

According to family records, Willis S. Smith married Margaret Janes in Tennessee on August 29, 1833.

The 1840 and 1850 census records show Willis and family living in Missouri Township, Clark County, Arkansas:

According to records from the family Bible, the following children were born to the marriage of Willis S. Smith and Margaret Janes:

William James, 8 Nov 1834
Willis S., 17 Nov 1836
Barbara Emily, 7 Nov 1838
Fenneta Angelin, 15 Mar 1841
James Barton, 1 Feb 1843
Mary Ann, 18 Jul 1845
Margret Catherine, 24 Sep 1847
John Peck, 25 Jan 1850
Willis, 26 Nov 1852
Isaac Irvin, 16 Feb 1855

Margaret Janes Smith died on February 19, 1855, three days after the birth of her last child, Isaac Irvin.

Willis S. Smith married a second time to Martha Elizabeth Atkins Harris on July 1, 1855.  Martha was a recent widower with two children, Alphonso and Mary.

The 1860 and 1870 census records show Willis, Martha and children living in the Beech Creek Township, Clark County, Arkansas:

James J should be Isaac I; Horis should be Harris

 

The 1880 census show Willis and family living in Missouri Township, Clark County Arkansas:

According to the family Bible, the following children were born to the marriage of Willis S. Smith and Martha Elizabeth Atkins Harris:

Tuly, 11 Apr 1856
Thomas, 3 Jan 1858
Melissa, 30 Nov 1859
Millington, 30 Dec 1860
Martha Elizabeth, 15 Dec 1862
Laura, 30 Nov 1864
Henry Clay, 11 Sep 1866
Daniel Webster, 15 Apr 1868
Adonis, 4 Feb 1871
Fannie, 3 May 1873

Willis S. Smith passed from this life on May 20, 1891 at the age of 80.  He is buried in the family cemetery on Rawls Hills Plantation, Clark County, Arkansas.

Willis S. Smith was my great-great grandfather.