2016-02-10
Analysis of Census records for Alexander Smith, possibly the father of 
Jesse Kirby Smith. (Would have to be proven by a Alex Smith's will)

1860 U.S. Census of Coosa County, Alabama

(Highlighted in Blue) 
This shows 45-year-old Jesse Smith, a Farmer born in Georgia, and 18-year-old 
"Fr," a Housewife born in S. Carolina.  This matches other records which all 
show that Jessie was from Georgia, Frances was from S. Carolina, and all their 
children were born after 1860.  Their ages also match other Census records of 
Alabama.

On one side, Jesse's neighbor is 27-year-old H.W. Smith a farmer also born in 
Georgia.

(Highlighted in Yellow)
On the other side, Jesse's neighbor is a Grocer named Jett Morgan but two houses 
down is a wealthy planter named Alex Smith, a 67-year-old from N. Carolina with 
a 34-year-old wife named Mary J. Smith and 5 children: 
- M.D. Smith age 21 male Law Student 
- J.A. Smith age 19 male Merchant Clk. 
- M.C. Smith age 12 female 
- L.J. Smith age 10 female
- L.   Smith age  7 male

Alex Smith's real estate is worth $7,500 and his "Personal Estate" (slaves) worth 
$35,485. There is a tick mark in a column showing he (or maybe his household) 
attended school and no tick mark showing they could not read or write.  This means 
they were likely literate and well educated for this time and place. 
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1870 U.S. Census of Coosa County, Alabama

(Highlighted in Yellow)
Notice that Alex's personal property value has dropped from over $35,000 to only 
$1,600 after the Civil War freed the blacks people who formerly Alex's slaves.  His 
real estate value has nearly doubled to $11,000.  Show at the bottom of this page 
are 77-year-old Alex who is now listed as a "Farmer" rather than a "Planter", his 
45-year-old wife, Mary, and two of their children.  I did not save an image of the 
next page which shows the rest of their children.  They are: 
- Laura  age 20 female (she is "L.J. Smith" on the 1860 Census)
- Lalton age 16 male whose occupation is "work on farm" (L. Smith on the 1860 Census) 
- Allice age 15 female 
- Annie  age  7 female 
- Libbie age  3 female 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1850 U.S. Census of Coosa County, Alabama

(Highlighted in Yellow)
- Alexander Smith age 57 male born in North Carolina
- Mary Smith age 25 female born in Alabama
- Thomas Smith age 17 male born in North Carolina
- Lovedy Ann Smith age 14 female born in Alabama 
- Malcolm Smith age 12 male born in Alabama 
- John Smith age 10 male born in Alabama 
- Mary Smith age 3 female born in Alabama 
- Sarah Smith age 2 months born in Alabama
and Charles C. Kirkpatrick, a school teacher 

This final Census, the 1850, is puzzling.  In 1850, Jesse Kirby Smith was only 33, yet 
he, nor any other Smiths appear as Alex Smith's neighbors.  Alex is certainly old enough 
to be Jesse Kirby's father.  Alex is 22 years older than Jesse.  Yet, Jesse Kirby Smith 
consistantly told Census takers he was born in Georgia.  If Alex is his father, why would 
Alex's wife have given birth to Jesse in Georgia then cross the state line back into N. 
Carolina (from whence many Georgian's came) to give birth to Thomas Smith (above) who was 
born in North Carolina??? 

Perhaps Alex isn't Jesse's father at all but rather his uncle or cousin.  Only a will, 
land records, and other probate records could prove their relationship.