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Written by Sandy Sharp - ggg-granddaughter of Chauncey A. Smith Upon visiting the grave of my great, great, great grandfather Chauncey Austin Smith, a sense of pride filled me. A realization of how lucky I am that this man’s words, his world has reached me from beyond his death, thanks to the heart-felt words he put to paper, and the individuals he has left behind that have preserved his heritage. Much of the following information has come from letters saved, that were sent between family members. A question ran through my mind as to whether or not Chauncey could have fathomed how many lives he would touch even after his death, by the words he put to paper. It seems unlikely. Chauncey and his family had ties to many local counties. Among them, Oswego, Onondaga and Cayuga. It is probable that Chauncey’s parents were married prior to 1808, possibly in the New Canaan, New York area. His father Harvey (1785-1833) was born in Stamford, Connecticut on March 13, 1785. His mother Charlotte Drake (?) (1788-1863) said she was born in Massachusetts, however, her son says she was born in New York State. (It is interesting to note that Chauncey’s grandfather Austin Smith II (1753-1846) was sergeant in the Connecticut Line in the Revolutionary War. He was wounded at Monmouth, and received an honorable mention for bravery.) Harvey and Charlotte removed from most probably the Pound ridge, New York area to the Lysander, near Betts Corners, Onondaga County, New York area prior to 1820. Chauncey Austin Smith was born in Lysander, Onondaga County, New York on March 12, 1820. He was the son of Deacon Harvey Smith and Charlotte Drake (?). From all indications, Chauncey was brought up in the Lysander, Meridian, Cato areas. His was likely a modest upbringing. In 1820, the Lysander Second Presbyterian Church was formed and on October 20, 1820, Harvey Smith was listed as the second member of the church, Charlotte Smith, his wife, the fifth member respectively. Harvey served as Deacon of the church from 1823 until his death in 1833. In 1823 he was chosen as one of the first church elders. Harvey Smith is listed in the 1830 Lysander census. Deacon Harvey Smith passed away in February of 1833, at the age of 49, and is buried in Lysander at the Jacksonville Cemetery near Little Utica. Chauncey would have been 13 years old at the time of his father’s death. It is likely that In 1850, three years after Chauncey & Fanny’s marriage they were in Ira, Cayuga County, New York, farming for a Mrs. Pool. In 1860, they were residing in Hannibal Center, Oswego County, New York with “Charlot” Smith (Chauncey’s mother). In 1870, the family is listed as residing in Oswego County, New York. Their final place of residence was in Sterling, Cayuga County, New York. In 1853 Chauncey wrote a letter to Fanny on the way to Michigan and Iowa. In 1860, sister Emoline and her husband Theodore Rich are listed as residing in the Township of Waterloo, Black Hawk Co., Iowa. Chauncey’s mother, Charlotte passed away in 1863 at the age of 74 years, 8 months and 26 days. Charlotte is buried in the Hannibal cemetery, Hannibal, Oswego County, New York. In November of 1841, Chauncey became a new member of the Oswego County Guard, which was newly organized. On August 26, 1864, Chauncey enlisted in the Army from the Town of Ira, Cayuga County, New York. He was forty-four years of age. Chauncey was listed as having blue eyes, light hair and complexion and was 5’6” tall. Chauncey originally was sent to Elmira where there was a military prison for Confederate prisoners. He was given the choice of standing guard or going south to the front to fight. Chauncey said that he would rather shoot an armed man, than one trying to flee unarmed. From reports of the prison in Elmira, he may have been better off leaving to fight the war. The mortality rate in the prison was astronomical. Chauncey served in the 111th New York Infantry. During his time of service, Chauncey wrote many letters home to his wife Fanny, and his adored children. These letters gave an amazing accounting of daily life of a Civil War soldier. Chauncey was captured by the “Rebs” but was able to escape and return to his regiment. Chauncey’s letters convey a wide range of apparent emotions from light heartedness to concern. One thing that is continually apparent was his love for his family. His time away was apparently hard in many respects for the family. Fanny was left with the rigors of tending to a farm, as well as raising their children, and making ends meet. There must have been a great monetary hardship as there were several attempts by Chauncey to comfort Fanny regarding such troubles. Fanny lovingly sent things to Chauncy to comfort him. When paper became scarce and the letters slowed or stopped, you could feel a real sense of urgency by both Chauncey and Fanny. As difficult as it was on Chauncey to see the death and hardships he did, it had to have been equally as hard on Fanny anxiously awaiting word, having to take newspaper in hand, hoping beyond hope that her Chauncey was not listed among the dead or wounded. It had to be equally disheartening to see neighbors and friends listed among the death lists as so many were. During his time in the service, Chauncey passed through many historic sites, things we can only imagine. He came near Fort Hell/Fort Chauncey and Fanny had several children: Loretta (Adell) Smith, born January 3, 1848, died 1857. Clarissa Ann Smith was born in Ira, Cayuga County, New York on December 8, 1849. She married David Barry/Barrie on January 15, 1895. After David’s death on January 13, 1913, she married Risen Schoonmaker, a widower. Schoonmaker was a cooper by profession. “Aunt Clarie” apparently kept a diary, which gave an interesting account of life on the farm 120 years ago! Clarissa stayed on the farm until her death on February 12, 1937. She is buried in the Hannibal, Oswego County, New York Cemetery. Grant (Fred) Smith was born on February 4, 1850. It has been suggested that he had some sort of physical infirmity. From Chauncey’s letters, it was apparent that Grant was put to work on the farm at an early age. Grant married Alice Safford who was rumored to have been “difficult” to get along with. Grant and Alice lived across the road from the Smith farm. Grant and Alice had one daughter Minnie. I have no proof of death date or place for neither Grant nor Alice. Nettie (Genet) Smith was born June 22, 1853, at Mechanic’s Corners, (probably her mother’s parent’s home) Cato, Cayuga County, New York. Though we have her father’s letters home from the war, relatively little is known about Nettie’s childhood. Some assumptions can be made, such as it was a filled with hard work, financial difficulties, and likely filled with love, judging from letters kept. Nettie also holds one dubious honor that her siblings did not accomplish. She is the only of the children who has surviving issue. Though she was the youngest child to survive to majority, she was the first of the Smith children to marry. Nettie Smith married Chester Henry Scott (son of Burr Bradley Scott, 1823-1917 & Angeline Selleck, 1823-1898) at eight o’clock in the evening, on November 19, 1874, in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York. Reverend HD Seward, Minister of the Gospel, performed the marriage and LM Chapman and CA Chapman were witnesses. LM and CA Chapman were Nettie’s first cousins. Nettie and Chester resided with Chester’s parents on the “66 Road” just up from Caine’s Corners outside of Hannibal. Chester became a farmer by trade. Nettie has been described as warm and understanding, yet strong and self-confident. Though he was difficult, it was said that Nettie read to Burr daily from the news paper (Post Standard). Little is known about Chester Scott. It is presumed that he was somewhat mild mannered and unassuming. All that exists concerning Chester is his wedding photo and a small entry in an autograph book of his sister-in-law Clara. In the 1900 census, Burr Bradley was still listed as the head of the household. Chester died on April 20, 1903 and is buried in the Hannibal Cemetery, Oswego County, New York. *Biography on Burr Bradley Scott. Nettie and Chester had the following children:
Franklin Burr Scott, born May 29, 1886, died in 1965, in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York. Frederick Walter Scott, born September 19, 1889, died in January 1958, in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York. Fanny May Scott, born May 14, 1891 in Hannibal, Oswego County, New York. She died on November 1, 1983 in Washington, DC. After Chester (1903) and Burr’s (1917!) deaths, Nettie remained on the farm and managed it. She was not afraid to go out with a gun at night when she heard an animal after the chickens. The cultivating, harvesting and milking was done by her sons and grandsons. She never traveled beyond Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York. But she would go the twelve miles to Oswego every other week to shop and take care of business matters. She would faithfully stop and sit on the Court House steps and have her lunch much to the chagrin of her grandchildren. Nettie was apparently a good housekeeper, as her house was remembered as tidy. She apparently had a flare for gardening as she maintained two beautiful circular flowerbeds in her front yard. She apparently had an obsession with the color red as much of her furniture and household items were red, and pictures hanging on the walls would often be found with red paint overlaying their clothing! Apparently Theodore Roosevelt was Nettie’s hero as she had what was reported as a bigger than life bust picture of him in her house. Many of her household items were purchased from Sears and Roebuck. When Nettie found herself dissatisfied with a product, she would write Mr. Sears a letter – and get a response! Nettie was due a federal pension, but refused to accept it as long as the USA had such a large national debt! Nettie died in Hannibal, on August 19, 1935 and is buried at the Hannibal, Oswego County |
