R. Ellen Harbert Potter Smith

By Julia Dean

 

 

Trying to find out something about you has seemed like the story of the three blind men and the elephant. Each one thought their view was correct because of limited perspective. Each time we thought we were correct. Ha. You sure fooled us!

At first we thought your last name was Potter, but had no substantial proof.

Then-when we got William Lenard Smith’s pension record and he said your maiden name was "Potter" we thought we were "off to the races", but to no avail. Also it said that Martha was Ellen’s sister and her name was Harbert. So thought processes said that maybe she was only a half sister. That maybe their father had died and their mother had remarried. It was too many wheels turning.

Now since we have received Len Smith’s younger brother, James M. Smith’s pension record and it says his wife’s maiden name was also Martha Alberta Harbert, we had a second proof to go on. Basically, I need to back up and redirect my thoughts and path.

So, last night, 18 May 1992, I found you. Elen , yes the census just says one "l", in the Missouri, Barry County, 5th district 1850 census. What a thrill that was to have something match the information we were already holding. However, as always it left many unanswered questions.

Some questions we need answered are:

  1. Is your real name Rozey, Roxey, or Mary Ellen Harbert?
  2. Do we have your correct marriage to William Lenard Smith?
  3. What was the Potter’s name that you married? Where and when were you married? Did he die from Civil War injuries and if so when and where?
  4. How many brothers and sisters did you have?
  5. Was the John Potter, age 7 that was on the 1870 census in your household your son? I’m resuming he was.
  6. I notice from the 1850 census there was $1200.00 of real estate listed for your parents. Did you receive a part of that in probate at your father’s death or was it lost with other Civil War loses?

Regardless of all the heartache your children must have endured, your family turned out really special, so I have been told and have found out for myself. You passed away after the June census of 1870. Len’s pension record says you died in 1870 and is laid to rest in Marion County, AR. How sad to leave your young family.

By the way, what happened to John Potter? Did he marry someone named Jessie and move to Oklahoma? Elza Smith seems to remember Jessie Potter in Oklahoma.