Hugh L. Smith came to the United States from Cavan County, Ireland. He married Ellen Martin on August 31, 1880. They had two sons, John Edward born 8-7-1881, and Martin Hugh born 11-7-1883. Hugh L. Smith disappeared on March 13,1884, without a trace, after crossing Hewitt Ferry at Martins Crossing on B & O Railroad. It is believed he was ambushed, robbed, and murdered with his body thrown into the White River. He worked at Union Depot, Vincennes prior to 1880 and until Oct. 11, 1883. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (The following information is a complication of information gathered by Francis Smith & Mrs. Lee Harding and extracted from a letter written by Francis Smith dated Jan. 24, 1978.) Hugh L. Smith -- Born County Cavan, Ireland, age unknown, date of immigration and port of entry unknown, worked at Union Depot Hotel in Vincennes until Oct. 11, 1883, married Ellen Martin Aug. 31, 1880 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Shoals, Indiana by Rev. Quinlan, Witnesses were Elizabeth McManus and John Reilly. Nothing is know of Hugh, prior to marriage beginning Aug. 31, 1880 and after his disappearance on March 13, 1884. It is assumbed that he became acquainted with the Martins while working in Vincennes, married Ellen after her father, Edward Martin died in May 13, 1880, and Hugh, Ellen, and Anna all lived on the farm in Center Twp., where John Edward and Martin Hugh Smith were born, on Aug. 7, 1881 and Nov. 7, 1883. On March 13, 1884, Hugh L. Smith had sold some livestock in Loogootee, and returned home via the Houghton ferry (about 1/4 mile upstream from present Houghton Bridge, near Mt. Pleasant), with several hundred dollars on his person, (the figure of $300.00 has been mentioned, which was a fortune in the PANIC or Depression Years of the 1880's). He left some money at home to run the farm and set out via the Hewitt or Hitt ferry nears Martin's Crossing (due north of their farm, west of the river loop at Peak's Cut, near the present Warren, Rang properties in Section 22, Twp 3N, Range 4W), enrote to board a Ohio & Mississippi (B & O) train to Vincennes, or walk to Shoals, where he was to possibly either deposit the money in the bank, make mortgage payments on the farm, or purchase more stock or equipment. The ferry operator, Ed Lents (?), stated that he had seem Hugh L. Smith's lantern go across the field after he had crossed the ferry. (Lents reportedly, changed his story several times during the interegations of the Martin County Sheriff, Levi J. Pipher, term 11-13-1882/11-17-1884). Thus it was that on the fateful night of March 13, 1884, Hugh L. Smith disappeared without a trace. The conclusions possible are: (1). Hugh L. Smith was ambushed, robbed, murdered, and his body thrown into White River or disposed of in a manner that defied discovery, (2). He left home to escape responsibilities. He had a good bankroll in depression years. He possibly hated farming and decided to simply move on to the West. (3). Perhaps Hugh and Ellen had a domestic quarrell and agreed to disagree (call the marriage quits). Of the three possibilities, only the first is rational. Hugh Smith had a good bankroll, and indeed a farm and family in the depression years of 1883 and 1884 while many across the nation were without the basic necessities of life, food, clothing, housing, and employment. And according to those who know the events and people involved, Ellen took the disappearance of her husband so hard that she refused to admit to herself that he would not return home or that he could be dead.