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Smiley Family Ancestors Page
John Girard Smiley, son of Edward D. Smiley and Nancy A. Girard Smiley, and grandson of Hugh Smiley, was born near Springfield, Missouri, February 13, 1843. He met and married Mary Ann Morris (who was from Simpson County, Kentucky) in Leavenworth, Kansas, during the latter part of the Civil War.
John and his parents and siblings moved to Jackson County, Missouri, and bought a farm north of Independence. When the Civil War started, both John and his father, Edward, joined the 2nd Batallion Missouri State Militia. Edward was killed in the Battle of Independence and John was wounded and left for dead. This battle was on the Smiley land. The Rebels also set fire and burned down their home. (Later, Edward's widow, Nancy, got a pension and a new home from the government.) After John recuperated from his injuries, he joined the Kansas Cavalry, 6th Div. He served there until the end of the War. While in Leavenworth, he met and married Mary Ann Morris.
They moved back to the Missouri farm, and while there, John was licensed to preach in a Baptist Church, and was ordained the following year. John and Mary Ann had 5 children while there. They sold the farm, bought a wagon and 2 horses, and came to Kansas, settling in Stafford County, and took out a homestead, about 2 1/2 miles NE of Stafford. Two more sons were born in Kansas. The youngest, Frank Girard Smiley, (who married Jessie Primrose Forbes, and they became my paternal grandparents) was born in Stafford, as were his children, myself and my siblings.
My father, Hoyt Francis Smiley, was born in the same house as I was. He was the oldest of 4 children: Hoyt, Roy, Mary and Alberta. Please see my Smiley Family Memorial page for additional information about my father.
My father married Wilma Elaine Sanders, and I am the oldest of 5 children: Marilyn, Donald, Joyce, Judith and James.
George Washington Forbes
My grandmother Smiley's father
Born October 7, 1830
in Nelson County, Virginia
to William A. Forbes
and Mary Fitzgerald |
Martha A. Kincaid Forbes
My grandmother Smiley's mother
Born August 4, 1830
in Nelson County, Virginia
to John Kincaid
and Elizabeth Gillaspy
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George and Martha were married in White Sulphur Springs, Virginia in 1854. They lived in Crawford County, Missouri following their marriage. According to the 1880 census when they were 50 years of age, they had the following children at home: Sarah, Nancy, John, James, Josie and Jessie. Some of their 10 children were gone from home. George was granted an exhorter's license from the Methodist Episcopal Church. He performed many marriages in his lifetime. He was also a Justice of the Peace and a postman.
It is interesting to note that George and Martha's eldest daughter, Mary Ann, married George Travis Smiley (Rev. John Girard Smiley's brother). Then Nancy Clementine Forbes married Ray Palmer Smiley, a son of Rev. John G. Smiley. Last but not least, Jessie Primrose Forbes (my grandmother) married Frank Girard Smiley. So there are lots of "double" cousins. George and Martha are both buried in Crawford County, Missouri, near Delhi (Cuba).
The first record of the name Smiley was found in Cumberland, Scotland, where they were seated from very early times as Lords of the manor, way before the Norman conquest and the arrival of
Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. The name Smiley occurred in many references. From time to time, the surname was spelled Smiley, Smellie, Smyly, Smyley, Smilley, Smily - and these changes were even found between father and son.
The family name Smiley is believed to be descended originally from the Strathclyde Britons. This ancient race of the north were a mixture of Gaelic/Celts. From 400 to 900 A.D., their territory was overrun, first by the Irish Gales, then the Angles, then finally the Picts and Dalriadans
from the north.
By the 1600's, the Smileys had moved north into Glasgow, Scotland to become merchants. Some of the border Clans settled in Northern Ireland between 1660 to 1700 with land grants, provided they became "protestants".
Many became dissatisfied with life in Northern Ireland and looked to the New World. Some came over to the United States in "White Sails", an armada of sailing ships such as the Hector, the Rambler, and the Dove. By the 1700's, many Smileys populated the Eastern US, some going North
into Canada, and some traveling West to new lands on wagon trains. Those who settled in Canada became known as the United Empire Loyalists. There are many famous namesakes of Smiley's, including Sir Hugh Smiley, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire; Professor Kingsley Smellie, professor of science; and William Smele, head of publicity.
  
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