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