In the History of Decatur County, Indiana, on the subject of James Davis, it reads. James Davis,born in 1798 died in 1866, was married in Kentucky to Martha Smathers, a daughter of Hugh Smathers, a native of Ireland, who immigrated to America, took part in the Indian wars and in the War of 1812 and went to Kentucky, where he married and prospered. In 1830 he came to Indiana and ten years later emigrated to Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life. Hugh Smathers was married twice, his second wife who was a Miss Hopkins, having been the mother of three children, Hugh, Sabina, and Benjamin. ..... Note. According to all the Census Research and other records, the information in this history is almost all wrong. Hugh did not immigrate from Ireland, nor did he move to Iowa and spend the rest of his life. This information has been checked against the Iowa State Records and there is nothing to confirm this. Also his will in Franklin County, Indiana pretty much tells us that this man died in the state and county. Maybe the Hugh that moved to Iowa was Hugh Smothers Jr., instead... information from Smethers Society Gazette, published Aug. Sep. 1999 Issue no. 2. Will of Hugh Smothers, Sr. Decatur County Indiana Will Record A In the name of God Amen. I, Hugh Smothers, Sr., a citizen of the United States of the state of Indiana, and County of Decatur do make and ordain declare this instrument which is write by Joseph Himer, to be my last will and testament, revoking all others. 1" That after my decease my body will be decently interred. 2" That all my debts of which there are but few and none of magnitude are to be punctually and specially paid and the legally herein after bequeathed are to be attended to as soon as circumstances will permit. 3" That my daughter Martha Smothers is to have one hundred dollars and the bed and bedding that formerly belonged to her now deceased mother. 4" It is further my will that my mother Martha Smothers have my daughter Martha with the bed and bedding to exercise parental care over her so long as my said mother lives or until my daughter arrives at the age of eighteen years. 5" It is further my will that after all the above items are punctually attended to that my beloved wife Mary have all the residue of my personal worth and the control and benefit of my real estate so long as she remains my widow. 6" I further direct if it shall happen that if my wife Mary Smothers should marry then in that case the laws of the land are to be executed in settling up the estate. 7" And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Joseph Hiner to be executor of this my last will and testament. In witness of each and all the things herein contained I have hereunto set my hand and seal. Hugh Smothers (seal) Attest George P. Shelton Isaac C. Davis Eldridge Hopkins William Hopkins. The State of Indiana Decatur County Set Be it remembered that on this day to wit the 7th day of September 1841,personally appeared before me the signed Clerk of the Probate Court of the county and State aforesaid, Joseph Hiner who being duly sworn says that the annexed instrument is the last will and testament of Hugh Smothers, deceased........sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year above written. Henry H. Talbott Clk. Probate Court Decatur Co., Ind. Recorded September 7, 1841. Andrew Smothers, Hugh's father died in Bath County, Kentucky, and in his will he list's his wife as being Elizabeth at the time of his death, and his children as follows: Thomas, Joseph, Ann, Margaret, Martha, Sally, Hugh, John, Elizabeth and Susannah..... The History of Decatur County, Indiana, says that Hugh Smothers, Sr., is an immigrant of Ireland, however the will of Andrew Smothers of 1824 proves this to be incorrect. Hugh is named as a child of Andrew Smothers, when his father died in Bath County, Kentucky. Hugh Smothers, Sr., is listed in the 1810 Kentucky census located in Barren County, KY, at the age of 26-25, by 1819 Hugh Smothers Sr., and his family are in Floyd County, Kentucky, before 1824, Hugh Smothers, Sr. has moved to Franklin County, Indiana, which can be proved by the marriage of his daughter Sobrina Smothers to William P. Snelling in June 10, 1824 in Rush County, Indiana. Rush county being just northeast of Franklin County. On 8 July 1829 with a possible double ceremony, Hugh Smothers, Jr., married Nancy Snelling and Andocial Smothers married Bernard Snelling in Decatur County, Indiana. William P., and Bernard Snelling are the children of William and Margaret Snelling, proven by the will of William Snelling June 1822 - March 1831, in Decatur County, Indiana. Hugh Smothers, Sr., in listed in the 1830 Indiana Census on page 310 along with his sons Hugh Smothers, Jr. on the same page, and Rueben Smothers on page 312 in Franklin County. In the 1840 census both Hugh Smothers Sr., at the age of 70-80 and his second wife Mary Hopkins Smothers at the age 40-50. The fact remains, Hugh Smothers, Sr., was born in Washington County, Virginia, which is located in the southwestern part of Virginia, right below Smyth County and right on the Tennessee and North Carolina borders in present day. This makes one question if Andrew, Hugh's father came from Virginia or North Carolina. And who was Andrew's father? Is it Thomas Smothers or one of the many John Smothers? There is 6 pages of information on Hugh Smothers, Sr., that is contained in the Smethers Society Gazette, this is just a small portion of it. This was published in August September 1999 Issue #2, by Loretta A. Smethers Stuber, L.A.S.S. Publications, 14606 South Alden Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062. I have been unable to contact Loretta for a couple of years now, and have no idea if she has any more copies of this publication, there is 186 pages of information in this issue much of it contributed by some of the mail list members. I hope this helps a little with Hugh Smothers, Sr. Noah

Interesting.....I have a ggg grandfather in another family line (Franklin) who lived to be quite old (abt 100) and he gave a circa 1891 Kansas newspaper interview in which he seems to have just made-up a whole lot of things about himself .......particularily War of 1812, Mexican American War, and other supposed war experiences. Bill Noah Smothers wrote: > In the History of Decatur County, Indiana, on the subject of James Davis, it > reads. James Davis,born in 1798 died in 1866, was married in Kentucky to > Martha Smathers, a daughter of Hugh Smathers, a native of Ireland, who > immigrated to America, took part in the Indian wars and in the War of 1812 > and went to Kentucky, where he married and prospered. In 1830 he came to > Indiana and ten years later emigrated to Iowa, where he spent the remainder > of his life. Hugh Smathers was married twice, his second wife who was a Miss > Hopkins, having been the mother of three children, Hugh, Sabina, and > Benjamin. ..... > > Note. According to all the Census Research and other records, the > information in this history is almost all wrong. Hugh did not immigrate from > Ireland, nor did he move to Iowa and spend the rest of his life. This > information has been checked against the Iowa State Records and there is > nothing to confirm this. Also his will in Franklin County, Indiana pretty > much tells us that this man died in the state and county. Maybe the Hugh > that moved to Iowa was Hugh Smothers Jr., instead... information from > Smethers Society Gazette, published Aug. Sep. 1999 Issue no. 2. > > Will of Hugh Smothers, Sr. > Decatur County Indiana Will Record A > > In the name of God Amen. > I, Hugh Smothers, Sr., a citizen of the United States of the state of > Indiana, and County of Decatur do make and ordain declare this instrument > which is write by Joseph Himer, to be my last will and testament, revoking > all others. > 1" That after my decease my body will be decently interred. > 2" That all my debts of which there are but few and none of magnitude are to > be punctually and specially paid and the legally herein after bequeathed are > to be attended to as soon as circumstances will permit. > 3" That my daughter Martha Smothers is to have one hundred dollars and the > bed and bedding that formerly belonged to her now deceased mother. > 4" It is further my will that my mother Martha Smothers have my daughter > Martha with the bed and bedding to exercise parental care over her so long > as my said mother lives or until my daughter arrives at the age of eighteen > years. > 5" It is further my will that after all the above items are punctually > attended to that my beloved wife Mary have all the residue of my personal > worth and the control and benefit of my real estate so long as she remains > my widow. > 6" I further direct if it shall happen that if my wife Mary Smothers should > marry then in that case the laws of the land are to be executed in settling > up the estate. > 7" And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Joseph Hiner to be executor > of this my last will and testament. In witness of each and all the things > herein contained I have hereunto set my hand and seal. > Hugh Smothers (seal) > Attest > George P. Shelton > Isaac C. Davis > Eldridge Hopkins > William Hopkins. > > The State of Indiana Decatur County > Set > Be it remembered that on this day to wit the 7th day of September > 1841,personally appeared before me the signed Clerk of the Probate Court of > the county and State aforesaid, Joseph Hiner who being duly sworn says that > the annexed instrument is the last will and testament of Hugh Smothers, > deceased........sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year above > written. > Henry H. Talbott Clk. > Probate Court Decatur Co., Ind. > Recorded September 7, 1841. > > Andrew Smothers, Hugh's father died in Bath County, Kentucky, and in his > will he list's his wife as being Elizabeth at the time of his death, and his > children as follows: Thomas, Joseph, Ann, Margaret, Martha, Sally, Hugh, > John, Elizabeth and Susannah..... > > The History of Decatur County, Indiana, says that Hugh Smothers, Sr., is an > immigrant of Ireland, however the will of Andrew Smothers of 1824 proves > this to be incorrect. Hugh is named as a child of Andrew Smothers, when his > father died in Bath County, Kentucky. > > Hugh Smothers, Sr., is listed in the 1810 Kentucky census located in Barren > County, KY, at the age of 26-25, by 1819 Hugh Smothers Sr., and his family > are in Floyd County, Kentucky, before 1824, Hugh Smothers, Sr. has moved to > Franklin County, Indiana, which can be proved by the marriage of his > daughter Sobrina Smothers to William P. Snelling in June 10, 1824 in Rush > County, Indiana. Rush county being just northeast of Franklin County. On 8 > July 1829 with a possible double ceremony, Hugh Smothers, Jr., married Nancy > Snelling and Andocial Smothers married Bernard Snelling in Decatur County, > Indiana. William P., and Bernard Snelling are the children of William and > Margaret Snelling, proven by the will of William Snelling June 1822 - March > 1831, in Decatur County, Indiana. > > Hugh Smothers, Sr., in listed in the 1830 Indiana Census on page 310 along > with his sons Hugh Smothers, Jr. on the same page, and Rueben Smothers on > page 312 in Franklin County. In the 1840 census both Hugh Smothers Sr., at > the age of 70-80 and his second wife Mary Hopkins Smothers at the age 40-50. > > The fact remains, Hugh Smothers, Sr., was born in Washington County, > Virginia, which is located in the southwestern part of Virginia, right below > Smyth County and right on the Tennessee and North Carolina borders in > present day. This makes one question if Andrew, Hugh's father came from > Virginia or North Carolina. And who was Andrew's father? Is it Thomas > Smothers or one of the many John Smothers? > > There is 6 pages of information on Hugh Smothers, Sr., that is contained in > the Smethers Society Gazette, this is just a small portion of it. > This was published in August September 1999 Issue #2, by Loretta A. Smethers > Stuber, L.A.S.S. Publications, 14606 South Alden Street, Olathe, Kansas > 66062. > > I have been unable to contact Loretta for a couple of years now, and have no > idea if she has any more copies of this publication, there is 186 pages of > information in this issue much of it contributed by some of the mail list > members. > I hope this helps a little with Hugh Smothers, Sr. > Noah > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237