Ma Smith wrote: Just a note to both of you who are researching Smiths. My mother was a Smith, and then I married a Smith.....no relation whatsoever, and not the same nationality involved, either. So, talk about Double Trouble!!!! Be happy you only have ONE line of Smiths. Well Ma Smith,My Gideon Leroy Smith(Great Grandpa) married Laura Strong whose father was Aurelius Strong whose mother was Laura Smith that married Joel Strong.There are many many Smiths tucked in and who knows how many were related to begin with -------or perhaps not at all until we get all the answers. And just for a little Canadian fun here we will add Aurelius Strong's wife Mary Louise Miller whose father John Miller was born on a ship on the way over (from England)and ended up in Canada --he married Jane Shaw from Canada and after a parcel of kids they along with her father's family Francis Shaw (from France) that was living in Canada --- moved down to New York. Many of them came to southern Minnesota from New York.I find the history that goes with them just fascinating. Best of Luck Ma -- perhaps I will find that you are a "cousin". Christine