Wonder if this Joyce is researching the Fulbright-Smathers/Smothers line? >From: "Noah Smothers" <nsmother@socket.net> Guest: Joyce W. Hall, 26634 CO RD 554, Essex, MO 63846 Date-Time: Monday, January 19, 1998 at 20:48:12 (EST) Page visited: pa german naming customs Surnames of interest: Fulbright, ***** Link, Layton, Taylor, Cline, Killian, Pruitt (etc), Merriman, Smothers.******* Comments: I am going to check out more of your research places. Interesting about the naming patterns.Email address: jwhall@ldd.net; joycehall@usa.net Jan. 1998 By PEGGY GOSSELIN>Canton Bureau Chief 4-14-2000 NOTE:The comment about the "first" of the line being name De Smet, is based on Sadie patton's assumption that the early Jesuit missionary was connected to the line. Nothing has been found to indicate that or that any of the line was from France. Sadie also assumed the family was German because it spoke/wrote German and had German customs, but she only traced her material back to John Schmetters [Smither] from Pa. Additional research since she wrote the book indicates the Smither/Smather/Smothers line came from the British Isles, England or possibly Wales and adopted German ways aft coming to America. It maybe that indeed they were German and migrated to the British Isles bef coming to America, but that is speculation and unlikely. CANTON -- Descendants of a pioneer family that first settled in the Dutch Cove NC area have been leaders in the community, then and now. The families of Mayor Pat Smathers and Pisgah High School Principal Dyatt Smathers changed the spelling of their surname almost 200yrs ago. The surname of the first known Smathers ancestor to relocate to NC from France was De Smet. But historic accounts recorded by members of the Smathers clan vary as to how many times the name changed. Some of those names included: Schmetter, Smithers, Smothers, Smotherman, Smethers, Smetters, Smetter, Smitters, Smatters, Smadders, Smadders and Smatherson. The late Western NC journalist John Parris wrote in 1981 the Smathers name "has been worn by statesmen and jurists, soldiers and sailors, men of God and men of medicine, by nurses and teachers, engineers and architects." Acc/t an account recorded by Sadie Smathers Patton, two bro's John and Henry Smathers, were among the earliest known settlers to migrate from the Pa Dutch region to the Yadkin Valley Rowan co NC and then to Haywood Co to begin homesteading. They moved to an area near Canton known as Fulbright's Cove around 1815. Within a few yrs the cove's name was changed to Deutsch Cove(German Cove) because of the number of Germans who had emigrated there. It was later changed to Dutch Cove. Years of weathering had left their grave marker at Locust Fields Cemetery in Canton barely legible, so family members raised funds to have a new grave stone erected. The original stones were donated to the Canton Area Historical Museum. The Shook House built by Jacob Shook 1795 in Clyde, became the Shook-Smathers House in 1850 when William Welch, who came into possession of it after the death of Jacob Shook when a deed transferred it to Levi Smathers. Shook-Smathers House is now owned by Ruth Morgan Jones of Raleigh, acc/t Janice Smathers of Clyde. "She's had several offers for the house. It's getting in a bad state of repair and we can't understand why she won't sell it," Janice Smathers said. 1979 letter from Co Ray Smathers of Smither Archives Md. "James Smither died in 1729 Kent Co Md leaving a will probated in 1730. The will names a dau and 3 sons, Mary, Wm, John & Tho. Wm remained in Md, John migrated to Pa and was father of Wm Smither 1 who died in Berks Co Pa 1760 naming wife, 3 dau's & 7 sons. 5-Henry SMATHERS alias Smithers b 1775 Rowan Co NC d June 14 1856 Summit of Balsam astride the Haywood & Jackson Co line. NOTE:Henry SMETHERS, a descendant of Wilhelm, came to Salem Township before 1796. + Mary HARMON HERMAN died November 25, 1846 NOTE: Henry was known as the Senior Elder of the Haywood Co Branch of the SMATHERS family or the SAGE of BALSAM. He moved to Lincoln Co 1809 and became associated with the Fullbrights, dealers in Haywood Co lands. Here the British surname Smither was dropped and the surname SMATHERS was adopted as an alias. Early Jackson Co kin include the names of Fullbright, Snyder & Liner. On a trip to Haywood Aug 1814 he learned of a massive Missouri exodus, on part of local residents, which was beginning to start in anticipation that the then existing 1812 War, would end soon. Advanced parties were being sent to the bank of the Ohio River to locate and occupy camp sites near the river crossings [then barred by British Forts] which would open at war's end. Henry rushed back to Lincoln Co and started movement to prevail upon persons, stranded in Lincoln Co awaiting travel clearance to Missouri, to forget Missouri and go to Haywood where good land was becoming vacant and available for purchase at bottom prices. In particular, he invited a large Rowan Co group, inc. his YOUNGER brother John Smither and wife Mary Agner to join him at Fullbright Cove. They accepted and within a year a thriving community named Dutch Cove and consisting of many families had come into existence. Henry remained in Dutch Cove til 1836 when he bought the SHOOK House at the Bend of Pigeon [now Clyde] and moved his family there INC Mary Agner, now WIDoW of his younger brother, John Smither who died in 1825. Two years later he sold the Shook House to his nephew LEVI [Mary's son] and retired to Balsam and a life of old age leisure. Yet as long as his health permitted he attended Court Sessions at Waynesville. He was known affectionately as the "SAGE of BALSAM."[info courtesty of a newspaper clipping, The Mountaineer Journal, Sylva, Waynesville NC from the Smither Archive,Md] Patton's genealogical record states that John Smathers b Dec 17 1781, and married Mary Agner 1803. Mary Agner Smathers lived many years after her husband, John, died. Mary never learned to speak English. NOTE:The generations of John and Mary Agner Smathers extend far and wide. J Bat Smathers served as attorney for the Champion Fibre Company, the town of Canton Carolina Power and Light Company, the Suncrest Lumber Co, the Champion Bank and Trust Company of Canton and a number of other corp. Among Mary Agner Smathers' prized possessions was a book written 1795 in German, containing songs, prayers and sermons by Martin Luther, Patton said. That book is still in the possession of Janice Smathers and her bro Julian. "An inscription on the fly leaf of this old volume, with its brittle paper and ink faded almost beyond deciphering, has preserved the key which opens a door into past history of the Smathers family before its first members came across the Blue Ridge to Pigeon River," Patton wrote. "There, in German script, appears the record, which translated reads: Johannes Smetter was born on the 17th December, 1781." [not sure who these folks are yet] M. SMATHERS Self M Male W 39 PA Carpenter PA PA b 1841 F. E. SMATHERS Wife M Female W 34 PA K House PA PA M. B. SMATHERS Dau S Female W 13 PA PA PA R. S. SMATHERS Son S Male W 11 PA PA PA E. H. SMATHERS Son S Male W 5 PA PA PA O. P. SMATHERS Dau S Female W 3 PA PA PA Source Information:Census Place District 2, Bradford, Mckean, Pa Family History Library Film 1255153 NA Film Number T9-1153 Pg 83A _________________________________________________________________ MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus