Kansas History and Heritage Project-Johnson County Family Files

Johnson County Family Files
Dr. William Smith Descendants Family Reunion 1907


The descendants of Dr. William Smith, who was the pioneer physician of Johnson County, Kansas, settling there in 1855, will hold a reunion at the home of Mrs. Emma Cornatzer near Shawnee today. Three generations will be represented. Dr. Smith died in 1865 and his wife died a few weeks later. They had seven children, who are Perry Smith, Rawlins, Wyo., 70 years old; Mrs. Emma Cornatzer of Shawnee, 68 years old; Mrs. Loretta Rankin of Rawlins, Wyo., 65 years old; Mrs. Ruth Mendenhall, of Clark County, Kansas, 62 years old; Mrs. Jane Harrold of Ridge Farm, Illinois, 60 years old; Mrs. Martha Holliday of Georgetown, Illinois, 58 years; Mrs. Lydia Chase of Shawnee, Kansas, 56 years old; Mrs. Matilda Wheeler of Mooresville, Indiana, 54 years old and Mrs. Dr. Mary Smith of Whittier, Colorado, 50 years old. Perry Smith and Emma Cornatzer, the two oldest children, taught Indian schools in Johnson County in the '50's. The latter married an Indian, Calvin Cornatzer, who died several years ago. Today will be the first time that all of the members of the family have been together for nearly half a century. It is the intention of the members of the family to make the reunion an annual affair. (Kansas City Star, Sept. 8, 1907)





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This website created Jan. 5, 2013 by Sheryl McClure.
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