Orsen Phelps SMITH

13 May 1851 - 13 Jul 1918

• Family Group Sheet - 2-page pdf

Orson Phelps Smith with his family Melinda Jane Miller, Amy, Ida, Julia, Anna, Lillian, and son Ottis

1908
From Left to Right
Back Row: Amy & Charles Sissons, Albert Marko, William Conlee, Bob Duncan, Ottis Smith, Charles & Lillian Marko
Front Row: Ida Marko, Alice Conlee, Orsen Smith, Julia Duncan, Zeda Smith.

Thanks to my grandma Elma Larson, nee Marko, for writing the names on the back of her pictures. This is possibly the last family photo taken before some of the families immigrated to Canada.

Orsen Smith & Grandchildren
From Left to Right
Back Row: Elsie Conlee, Oscar Conlee, Opal Conlee, Mae Conlee, Marie Marko. Lee Conlee, Nellie Marko
Middle Row: Orin Duncan, Elma Marko, Doris Sissons, Orsen Smith, Minnie Marko, Ralph Smith, Ruth Marko
Bottom Row: Dolores Marko, Bertha Sissons, Hazel Marko, Alva Marko, Eva Smith, Mildred Sissons

Youthful Marriage Takes Place.

Carlinville, July 22. – William B. Bennis, aged 18, or Waverly, and Miss Elsie Jane Tunningley, age 16, or Palmyra, were married in this city today. The father of the groom gave his consent to the marriage of his son and the mother of the bride was present to give the consent of her daughter.
They brought Orsen P. Smith, a justice of the peace from Palmyra, with them and he performed the ceremony in the large court room of the court house.

The justice, himself, is a believer in youthful marriages for he is nearing the allotted three score and ten and he has recently taken as his second wife, the sister of the bride of today, who is very young and at the time of their marriage it was styled "May and December." His bride was not with him today.

Estate Opposes Request of Macoupin Widow Who Asks Advance.

Carlinville, July 26. – That the widow of Orsen P. Smith is to have only the $500 she agreed to in a pre-nuptial agreement is the subject of a bill filed in the probate court here today.

Several years ago Mr. Smith, who was a prominent resident of Palmyra and an aged widower, married Miss Nina May Tunningley, a young woman. Recently Mr. Smith died and no will was found and Mrs. Smith asks for $800 and for $200 for a minor child, pending the settlement of the estate. The administrator came into court today and in a bill reminds Mrs. Smith that before her marriage she signed an agreement to accept $500 at the death of her husband and to claim none of his estate. A copy of the agreement is attached to the bill. Mr. Smith had several grown children by his first wife.

Probate Record

Orson Phelps Smith
1848–1918
BIRTH 13 APR 1848 • Macoupin, Macoupin, Illinois, United States
DEATH 13 JUL 1918 • Springfield, Capitol, Sangamon, Illinois
married Melinda Jane Miller
1851–1901
BIRTH 3 JUL 1851 • Carlinville, Macoupin, Illinois, United States
DEATH 4 FEB 1901 • Macoupin, Illinois, United States
My 2nd great grandparents
Lillian Maude Smith (his daughter was my great grandmother) 1874–1943
BIRTH 09 DEC 1874 • South Palmyra, Macoupin, Illinois, USA
DEATH 20 DEC 1943 • Howard Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada
she married
Charles August Marko
1874–1953
BIRTH 15 FEB 1874 • Nilwood, Illinois, USA
DEATH 07 OCT 1953 • Paddockwood, Saskatchewan, Canada
Jenny Delores Marko (Lillian and Carl's daugther was my grandmother).
1905–1978
BIRTH SEPTEMBER 1905 • Franklin, De Kalb, Illinois, United States
DEATH 1978 • Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada

Orson is also a descendant of William Phelps
Born: c.1593 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England
Died: July 14, 1672, age 78 in Windsor, Connecticut, British America
Nationality: English
Occupation: landowner, magistrate
Known for: Founder of Dorchester, Massachusetts and Windsor, Connecticut; first foreman of a Grand Jury in the New World; one of eight selected to lead first democratic town government in 1637
Spouse(s):
Mary (m. 1617; died 1626)
Ann Dover (m. 1626; his death 1672)
Children: William, Mary, Mary, Samuel, Nathanial, Joseph, Mary, Sarah, Timothy

Contributed 17 Feb 2020 by Jacqueline Read jackie.read@gmail.com
I have a lot of family from Carlinville that starts with Johann Traugott Marko and Orson Phelps Smith. A story from my Aunt June is that my Great Grandfather, Charles August Marko (Feb 15, 1874), who was married to Lillian Maude Smith liked to gamble. Apparently, he "squandered" the family riches and came to Canada where he got a grant of land.

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