Fifth Generation

180. William Wesley "Wes" Smith was born on 6 Jan 1895 in Richville, St. Lawrence, NY. He died on 7 May 1948 in Somerville, St. Lawrence, NY. His obituary appeared on 8 May 1948 in the Watertown Daily Times of Watertown, Jefferson, NY, as follows: "Broken Neck Is Cause Of Death. William W. Smith, 53, Killed Instantly in Fall on Back Porch Steps. Gouverneur, May 8.--A broken neck caused the instant death of William Wesley Smith, 53, whose body was found on the back porch of his home at Somerville Friday morning, state police said today.
"Police said Mr. Smith had apparently slipped on a stone step leading up to his porch. He is believed to have fallen on the steps, striking his neck on the rim of a pail standing on the porch. The fall broke a vertebra in his neck, killing him instantly, police said.
"An autopsy was performed Friday by Dr. Ernest L. Adler, coroner's physician, and specimens were sent to a laboratory for further study. Mrs. Florence L. Dunlop, Madrid was the coroner.
"Funeral services will be held at the home of his wife, 157 Johnstown street, Monday morning at 10:30, Rev. Harold A. Thomas, pastor of the First Methodist church, officiating. Burial will be in Riverside cemetery.
"Surviving Mr. Smith are his wife, Mrs. Vivian B. Smith, Somerville; one son, Walter Smith, Cazenovia; one daughter, Mrs. Maurice Thompson, Gouverneur; two step-daughters, Mrs. Berneice Mudgett, and Mrs. Diane Johnston, both of Gouverneur; four brothers, Ellsworth Smith, Richland; Joseph, Irvin and Gilbert Smith, all of Gouverneur; five sisters, Mrs. Rosella Devendorf, Mrs. Mildred Gladle, both of Gouverneur, Miss Myrtle Smith of Hammond, Mrs. Ethel Rose and Mrs. Dorothy Cunningham, both of Oxbow, and two grandchildren. A son, Lyle, was killed in France in 1944.
"Mr. Smith was born in Richville Jan. 6, 1895, son of Nathan and Anna Smith. He was reared in Richville where he attended schools. In June, 1946, he married the former Vivian Bickford in Gouverneur. Mr. Smith's first wife was Grace McDonald who died here about three years ago." He was buried in Riverside cemetery, Gouverneur, St. Lawrence, NY. Gravestone has Wesley W.

William Wesley "Wes" Smith and Grace Belle McDonald were married. Grace Belle McDonald (daughter of Daniel McDonald and Laura Fields) was born in 1901. She died in Apr 1945. She was buried in Riverside cemetery, Gouverneur, St. Lawrence, NY. William Wesley "Wes" Smith and Grace Belle McDonald had the following children:

375	i.	Lyle W. Smith was born in 1925 in Gouverneur, St. Lawrence, NY. His obituary appeared in 1944 in the Watertown Daily Times of Watertown, Jefferson, NY, as follows: "Soldier, Wounded Twice, Is Killed In Action In France. Pfc. Lyle W. Smith, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Wesley Smith, of 22 East Colyer drive, Pine Camp, formerly of Gouverneur, was killed in action in France while serving with the infantry on Oct. 6, according to a war department telegram received by his parents on Thursday night. "He had been wounded in action twice, once in Italy and again in France. In both cases he was hit by shrapnel. In Italy he was wounded in the shoulder while he suffered wounds to the upper thighs in France. "A letter written on Oct. 5, the day before he was killed, told of his recovery from the wounds and that he was back on active duty. The letter was received by his parents last Thursday. "Private Smith was born in Gouverneur and attended the Gouverneur and Brier Hill schools. Prior to induction in the army on Sept. 28, 1943, he was employed at Pine Camp. "He received his basic training at Camp Wheeler, Ga. He was home on a week's furlough last February and went overseas the latter part of that month. He landed at Anzio, Italy. He was in the battle of Cassino, near Rome. "He was with one of the first assault boats going ashore in the invasion of southern France and had described in letters home how he waded ashore in water knee deep. He was wounded again by shrapnel in France on Sept. 12 but later rejoined his outfit. He had told his relatives about sending home a decoration earned in a major battle in Italy but it never arrived. "Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. Wesley Smith of 22 Fort Colyier Drive, Pine Camp; one brother, Walter W. Smith of Pine Camp; one sister, Mrs. Margaret Thompson of 157 Johnstown street, Gouverneur, who is the wife of Pfc. Morris Thompson of Fort Belvoir, Va.; one nephew, Terry Thompson; and a grandmother, Mrs. Daniel McDonald of Starbuck street, Gouverneur." He died on 6 Oct 1944 in France. He was buried in Riverside cemetery, Gouverneur, St. Lawrence, NY. Buried on parents' lot.
+376	ii.	Gertrude Arlina Smith.
+377	iii.	Walter W. Smith.

William Wesley "Wes" Smith and Vivienne "Dot" Bickford were married on 20 Jun 1946 in Antwerp, Jefferson, NY. "Mrs. Vivienne Johnson Is Bride Of William Smith. Antwerp, June 24.--Mrs. Vivienne Johnson became the bride of William W. Smith Thursday, at 3:30 p.m. in the parsonage of the Methodist church, Antwerp. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Roger C. Marmon, pastor of the Methodist church. The couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Poor of Rensselaer Falls.
"The bride wore a pink flowered chiffon street length dress and wore a corsage of pink sweet peas and roses. Mrs. Ruth Poor, her attendant, was attired in a green flowered silk jersey dress and wore a corsage of sweet peas and roses.
"Mr. Smith is employed as foreman and stock clerk at John Weeks and Son at Watertown.
"After the wedding, the couple left for a week's trip to Niagara Falls. They will be at home after July 1 at 157 Johnstown street, Gouverneur." [Watertown Daily Times, 24 Jun 1946.] Vivienne "Dot" Bickford (daughter of Richard Bickford and Cora Smith) was born on 16 Jun 1908 in Fowler, St. Lawrence, NY. She died on 7 Dec 1980 in Massena, St Lawrence, NY. Her obituary appeared on 8 Dec 1980 in the Watertown Daily Times of Watertown, Jefferson, NY, as follows: "Vivienne Smith Dead in Hospital. Gouverneur -- Mrs. Vivienne (Dot) Johnstown Smith, 72, former Johnstown street resident, died Sunday at 12: 10 p.m. in Massena Memorial Hospital where she had been admitted Dec. 5.
"She had been a patient at Highland Nursing Home, Massena, before entering the hospital.
"The funeral will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Sprague Funeral Home with Rev. Richard McCaughey, pastor, United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Gulf Cemetery, Town of Fowler.
"Calling hours at the funeral home are this afternoon and tonight.
"Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Edgar (Berneice) Mudgett, Albany, and Miss Diane Johnston, Potsdam, and two sisters, Mrs. Bessie Goodnough, Gouverneur, and Mrs. Nellie Staley, Rochester.
"Born in the Town of Fowler June 16, 1908, daughter of Richard and Cora Smith Bickford, she attended Fowler schools and was married to Jay E. Johnston Oct. 11, 1926.
"The couple lived at Balmat where Mr. Johnston was employed by St. Joseph Lead Co. until his death in April, 1944. In June, 1946, she was married to Wesley Smith who died in 1947.
"Mrs. Smith had lived at 157 Johnstown St. for several years before moving to Potsdam. She was a patient in Canton-Potsdam Hospital for ten months before entering the Highland Nursing Home in November." She was buried in Gulf cemetery, Fowler, St. Lawrence, NY. Buried with first husband.