Posted on: Douglas County, Missouri Query Forum Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/genbbs.cgi/USA/Mo/Douglas/11678 Surname: MCCULLY, POTTER, SMOTHERS, SPURLOCK ------------------------- Thanks for your kind help, especially with the early children of Sarah Ann Spurlock. I had their initials only from an old obit for their half-brother James Robert Smothers, who died 1909 in a train accident near Pilgrim, Dade Co., MO. Elisha A. Smothers, b 1836 TN, is thought to be the son of Elisha M. Smothers, b 1800 TN, and Sarah ______, b 1803 VA or TN. I have never seen any other indication that the mother, Sarah, was born in Scotland? There probably is an error in the 1900 census record you quote -- but Sarah is little known in the records as she died in 1856. Current day descendants of Elisha M. and Sarah Smothers believe they were partly/largely of native american ancestry (Cherokee). Elisha A. Smothers is with his parents in the 1850 Census, Carroll Co., TN. The family moved to Marion Co., Arkansas, about 1855. Elisha is in the 1860 census, Marion Co., AR, as E. A. Smothers with his first wife "Tarry" McCully. He is reported to have served in a U.S. Army infantry regiment from Arkansas during the Civil War (but I am not aware of him ever filing for pension benefits). About 1865-1870 he moved to Missouri, where he married Susan Potter Kirby who already had two children by a Mr. Kirby. I personally do not have the marriage records for Elisha A. Smothers' first two wives. If you like, I can put you in touch with descendants who MIGHT have those records. Elisha A. Smothers is in the 1870 Census in Benton Co., MO, with his 2nd wife Susan and children. I have not yet tried to find Elisha & family in the 1880 census. He appears to have lived out his later years in/near Cedar Gap, Wright Co., and Ava, Douglas Co., MO. The 1930 Platt Map of Wright Co., MO, has a section belonging to Elisha A. Smothers near Cedar Gap and on the line with Douglas Co. I am not sure if Elisha was still alive in 1930 when the map issued -- he would have been 94! Elisha's 2nd wife, Susan Potter, died in 1884 and is buried in Ava Cemetery, Douglas Co., MO. She is thought to be the daughter of Stephen Sidney Potter and either Narcissus Osborn or Bertha Tate. Elisha A. Smothers' place and date of death are unknown to me; but from obits, etc., it seems he was living in MO at least until 1909/1910 and probably much later. I have not yet tried to find him in the 1920 census. My file is kept on-line at Rootsweb, see the link below: Link: Smothers Genealogy URL: <http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=edmond-smothers>