Hello Noah In the Kentucky History book I had in the 8th grade has this to say about William ( Bill) Smothers. In 1797 the town of Hopkinsville was laid out and about the same year William Smithers, popularly called "Bill Smothers" made a settlement on the present site of Owensbore. Smithers was born on the border of Virginia near the Holston River. His father was killed by Indians when "Bill " was only twelve years old, and his mother died shortly afterwards. Before dawn on the day following his mother's burial he went and stood by the graves of his parents and lifting his hand to heaven he made a vow to devote his life to killing Indians. He fullfilled his vow at every opportunity. He was with Issac Shelby in the battle of King's Mountain. Shortly afterwards he married, and with his wife settled in Kentucky.About 1798 he built cabin and hunters lodge on the present site of Owensboro. Hope this helps. Velda Meadows ps I have this 8th grade history book. They didn't use it after that year. They were given to who wanted them. Since i am also related to the Smothers I had to have one. This was in 1954. Copyright 1935. Velda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Noah E Smothers" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2000 9:20 PM Subject: [SMOTHERS] William Smithers/Smothers > I have been looking through the Reconstructed 1790 census for Kentucky, > Kentucky was formed from Virginia in 1792, so the first Kentucky census was > actually in Virginia. > Looking through the Kentucky census index there is no Smothers listed in > 1790,(keeping in mind that indexs are not always correct), however there is > Smithers and Smithy: It is very possible that one of these is the William > (Bill) Smothers. > > First Census of Kentucky 1790 > Thos. Nelson Smithers, 11/22/1792 > Thos. Fayette Smithy, 2/26/1790 > William Fayette Smithy, 2/26/1790 > Robert Fayette Smither, 7/9/1789 > Robert Woodford Smither 5/27/1790 > Wm. Fayette Smither 7/9/1789 > Wm. Woodford Smither, 5/27/1790 > > Is either Wm. Fayette Smither or Wm. Woodford Smither the Bill Smothers who > founded Owensboro Ky? It would seem that with the common middle name of > Fayette, or Woodford that these Smithers, Smithy's had to be related. I > wonder if the middle name is not LaFayette, that might lead to a French > connection? I searched the familysearch.com page and did not find anything > for any of these names. However I did not spend a lot of time looking there. > > If then we look at the 1800 Kentucky census for Ohio County, Kentucky we > find: > Jacob Smothers > James Smothers > John Smothers > James Smothers > John Smothers > William Smothers > > It is possible that the Smothers were brothers in the Ohio county, Census, > or sons of William (Bill) Smothers, we know that William Smothers is the one > that went to Texas, did a Jacob, James or John Smothers also end up in > Texas? Does Jacob, James or John show up in the 1810 census for Ohio County, > Kentucky? In viewing the 1810 census I did not find any of the Smothers > there, it appears that they all had left Ohio County, Kentucky before the > 1810 census. The first Smothers I see in the Texas census is William > Smothers 1823, Riverbrassos, Texas, and no other until 1840, John and > William both in 1840, and William again in 1844 with lots more later. > > I looked at the Indiana census and the earliest Smothers I find is Hugh > Smothers Sr., John Smothers, and Reuben Smothers in the 1830 census, no > Jacob, James or William. It is possible that Jacob James, and William are > there as Smithers. > > Just trying to find those exclusive connections. > Noah Smothers 12/16/2000 > > > > > > > ============================== > Create a FREE family website at MyFamily.com! > http://www.myfamily.com/banner.asp?ID=RWLIST2 >