The Ancestors of
Margaret Gertrude Smith
with notes regarding additional family members
Margaret Gertrude Smith was known as "Gertrude," "Gert," or "Gertie" by everyone she knew.  She appears at age 12 in the 1900 US Census for Tabor Township, St. Clair County, Missouri as "Gertrude Smith."  Gertrude was the third of five children born to Henry Thomas Smith and Sarah Jane Sigler.
Henry Thomas Smith b. Wayne Co., Kentucky October 1, 1856
d. Albia, Monroe Co., Iowa July 10, 1931.
Sarah Jane Sigler b. McConnellsville, Morgan Co., Ohio June 13, 1856 d. Albia, Monroe Co., Iowa November 4, 1916
Henry Thomas Smith stated for the 1925 Iowa State Census that his parents were James O. Smith and Sarah J. Huffaker, both born in Kentucky.  With those clues, a Kentucky marriage record was found, dated August 15, 1857 for James C. Smith of Wayne County, KY, 22, single and born in Illinois and S.A. Huffaker of Wayne County, KY, 15, single and born in Wayne County, KY.  The record also stated that the marriage had taken place in Tennessee. Also found was Henry's birth record from Wayne County, Kentucky:
Other Family Members
The Siglers
Henry Clay Sigler (4th child of Joseph and Mary King Sigler)
b. March 10, 1845 in McConnellsville, Morgan Co., OH; d. September 5, 1914 Morrow Co. OH
m. Nancy Jane Herron November 13, 1878 (b. April 12, 1854 d. March 23, 1926)
Jacob Sigler; (3rd child of Joseph and Mary King Sigler)
b. February 15, 1843 in Ohio
m. Iona Catherine Spurgeon Miller October 26, 1898 Monroe Co., Iowa
(b. September 26, 1874 Monroe Co., Iowa d. May 21, 1909 Monroe Co., Iowa)
divorced about 1901
d. no record for Jacob has been found after 1910
Jacob appears as a farm hand on his father's farm in the USCensus for Meigsville Morgan Co., Ohio in 1860 at age 17. He registered for the Civil War draft from Morgan County, OH on July 1, 1863; 1870 USCensus for Morgan Co., OH shows Jacob employed as a farm laborer; 1880 USCensus Morrow County, OH employed as a "servant." 1900 USCensus Troy Twp. Monroe Co., IA b. 2/1846, widowed, living with his sister, Maggie R. and husband Wm. F. Hill, working as a day laborer; 1905 IA State Census and 1910 USCensus Guilford Twp. (Hiteman) Monroe Co., IA by himself, working as a farmer;
The Smiths
As presented above, the parents of Henry Thomas Smith may have been James Oliver Smith, aged 22, and Sarah Huffaker, aged 15, married in 1857.  Further clues are provided by the 1880 U.S. Census which included children Henry, born in Kentucky, James and Maggie, both born in Iowa, and Rosa and William, born in Illinois.
Keeping in mind the 7 year age difference between James Oliver and Sarah Huffaker Smith as noted in the 1857 marriage record and the 1880 Census record that included Henry, born in Kentucky, and James, born in Iowa...an 1860 U.S. Census record for Wayne County, Iowa was found that included JSO Smith, married and 25 years of age, SA Smith, 18 years of age (same 7 year age difference) and born in Kentucky, children H.T. Smith, age 1, born in Kentucky and J.J. Smith age 2/12, born in Iowa.
A loose timeline of the Smith's journey based on the birth years and places of their children:marriage in 1857, birth of child 1, son Henry Thomas, in Kentucky in October 1859, relocation to Wayne County, Iowa in 1860 where children 2 and 3, James and Maggie, were born in 1861 and 1863 respectively, next relocation to Illinois in 1864 where, during that same year, child 4, Rosa, was born, followed by child 5, William, born in 1866; the family moved again by 1869 as child 6, Charles, was born that year, followed by child 7, Walter, born in  1876, and child 8, Lula, born in 1879, all 3 born in Missouri.  Sarah Huffaker Smith died between Lula's birth in 1879 and the June 1, 1880 U.S. Census which listed her husband, James Oliver Smith, as a widower.
Fate steps in . . .the Smiths arrived in St. Clair County, Missouri by about 1869; the Siglers relocated from Morgan County, Ohio to St. Clair County, Missouri in the late 1870's.  The following are 1880 U.S. Census records for Tabor Township, St. Clair County, Missouri:
In her autobiography, Gertrude indicated her father owned a restaurant in Schell City and a historic record was found about Schell City entitled "A Thriving Town Wiped Out" detailing the effects of a January 4, 1894 fire that destroyed "the opera block."  If true, this could have been the motivation for the family to relocate to Iowa in 1904.
Gertrude stated that, upon arriving in Iowa, the family lived with her aunt and uncle in Albia, Iowa for a time.  She was very likely referring to her mother's sister, Margretta R. (Maggie) Sigler Hill (known as Aunt Mag by her nieces and nephews) and her husband, William Hill, who lived in Albia at that time.
Left:
Myrtle Smith Phipps
1897 - 1968
Gertrude Smith Love
1888 - 1979
Nellie Smith
1891 - 1974
Joseph Sigler was born January 24, 1809 in York, Co., Pennsylvania and wife Mary T. King Sigler was born November 14, 1816, in Pennsylvania.  The couple was married November 30, 1837 in Richland County, Ohio, where Mary's family was living.
The September 9, 1850 U.S. Census included Joseph and Mary Sigler, farmers, living in Meigsville, Morgan County, Ohio and their children:
Michael King Sigler born November 6, 1838
Joseph Harrison Sigler born November 1, 1840
Jacob Sigler, born February 15, 1843
Henry Clay Sigler, born March 10, 1845
George Howard Sigler, born June 24, 1847
The 1860 U.S. Census shows the family still residing in Meigsville Township, Morgan County, Ohio, but also includes the location of the area's post office, which was McConnellsville, Ohio where most if not all of their children were born.  Missing from the record is Joseph Harrison Sigler who died October 22, 1852, about 8 days shy of his 12th birthday.  Three more children were born between 1850 and 1860:
Mary Catherine Sigler, born July 6, 1850
Margretta Sigler, born March 7, 1853
Sarah Jane Sigler, born June 13, 1856
Civil War draft registration records were found for both Michael King Sigler and Jacob Sigler who must have registered together as both records show the registration date as July 1, 1863 in Morgan County, Ohio.
The census of July 8, 1870 for Meigsville Township, Morgan County, Ohio shows the entire Sigler family still intact.  Michael, Jacob, and Henry Clay Sigler were working as farm laborers, George Howard was a painter, Mary Catherine was "at home," and Margretta and Sarah Jane were "at school."  The Sigler land holdings were valued at $7,000 ($123,000 in 2012 dollars) and Joseph valued his personal estate at $1,000  ($17,500 in 2012 dollars).
The Siglers
Died, of typhoid fever, in Knox County, O., on Sunday, July 29, 1877, Mary C., wife of Jeremiah Williams, and daughter of Joseph and Mary Sigler, aged 27 years.  A deep gloom has settled on the bereaved husband, parents, brothers, and sisters, who mourn her loss.
Dear sister, thou are gone to rest,
  Peaceful be thy silent slumber,
Life's short warfare closed at last,
  Thou no more wilt join our number.
Yet, again we hope to meet thee,
  When the day of life is fled,
There in heaven, with joy to greet thee,
  Where no sorrowing tear is shed.
Farewell, dear sister, farewell,
  Thy troubles are all over,
We soon shall meet you
  When a few more days are over.
Sarah J. Sigler
To the right, the obituary for Mary Catherine Sigler Williams, Joseph and Mary Sigler's sixth-born, and first daughter.
Joseph and Mary Sigler, and three of their children, Henry, Maggie (Margretta) and Sarah Jane, relocated from Meigsville Township, Morgan County, Ohio to Tabor Township, St. Clair County, Missouri sometime between the 1870 and 1880 United States Census, possibly after 1877 when daughter, Mary Catherine, died.
From an 1883 Morgan County, Ohio newspaper: Our old friend Joseph Sigler died of typhoid fever, at his home, near Taberville, Missouri, on the 10th instant, in the 76th year of his age.  Mr. Sigler was born in York county, Penna., and removed to this county in 1834, where he lived for about forty-nine years.  He was a man of positive character and deep convictions, a worthy citizen, and a kind, obliging, warm-hearted friend and neighbor.  For many years prior to his removal from this county, he was noted throughout the state as a successful and intelligent fruit-grower, his many exhibits at the State, and various county fairs, bringing him into prominence in this regard.  He was an old and tried member of the Masonic fraternity, and one who never lost sight of the ancient land-marks.  His wife and children have the warmest sympathy of his many old friends and acquaintances throughout the state, and especially in Morgan county, in their bereavement.
Henry and Sarah were married October 6, 1881 in Rockville, MO.
Margretta R. Sigler  (7th child of Joseph and Mary King Sigler)
b. March 7, 1853 in Ohio d. __?__
m. William F. Hill in 1884 (b. July 28, 1852 in Ohio d. __?__); carpenter and railroad worker; lived in Morgan Co., OH in early years; parents: James Hill (b. December 2, 1825 Ohio d. May 30, 1856 Noble Co., OH) and Ruth Ann Grimes (b. August 22, 1829 in Morgan Co., OH d. August 15, 1901 in Butler, Bates Co., Mo.) married February 13, 1850 in Franklin Co., OH; after James' death in 1856, Ruth Ann Hill married Nathaniel Henderson in 1861;
The 1880 USC places Maggie in St. Clair Co., Mo and James F. Hill 5 counties north in Jamesport, Daviess Co., Mo employed as a servant.  The 1900 USC indicates the Hills had been parents to 2 children who were no longer living in 1900.  According to Claire Sigler Douglass, Maggie's great-niece, in her 1998 letter to a cousin stated "Uncle Will and Aunt Mag" (the Hills) gave her father (Chancy Sigler) a home when he needed one as a young fellow.  "The Hills came to live with us when I was a teenager….however they were such care that the doctor told my dad they were breaking down my mother's health, so they went into a lodge furnished home."  The 1920 USC shows the couple still living in Albia Ward 1 with William working at the Power Plant.  The 1925 Iowa State Census shows William F. Hill, widower, living at the "Old Folks of Iowa" International Order of Odd Fellows home in Mason City, Iowa; no further information is available;
Mary Catherine Sigler (6th child of Joseph and Mary King Sigler)
b. July 6, 1850 in Meigsville Twp. Morgan Co., Ohio
m. Jeremiah Williams (b. 1848 in Knox Co., Ohio) in the early 1870's
d. July 29, 1877 in Knox Co., Ohio
Dau: Claire May Sigler
b. June 15, 1914 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa
m. Charles Donald (Jack) Douglass December 9, 1934 (Jack b. October 23, 1912 in Green Twp., Fremont Co. Ia; d. May 11, 2001 in Tabor, Iowa)
d. February 22, 2012 in Tabor, Fremont Co., IA
CLAIRE M. DOUGLASS, age 97 years, 8 months and 7 days of Tabor, IA, died Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at Tabor Manor following an extended illness. Claire was born in Council Bluffs, IA as Claire May Sigler on June 15, 1914 to Chancy C. and Ellie May (Huston) Sigler. The family moved to Fremont County to a farm between Tabor and Bartlett in 1919. She attended Bartlett Consolidated School and graduated in 1931. Claire married Charles Donald (Jack) Douglass on December 9, 1934. To this union a daughter and son were born. They resided on a farm in Fremont County between Tabor and Thurman for 24 years moving to Tabor in 1958. During the earlier years of her marriage she was a dedicated mother as well as a very active member of the Community of Christ Church. She was music director for many years and directed three separate choirs. She also was active in many rural women's clubs, 4-H committees, and Phythian Sisters Lodge in which she later became state musician for the Iowa Grand Temple for 14 years. Claire became a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and served as Unit President and Fremont County President. Claire's love of music inspired her to share her gift with the community in many ways. She was a dedicated volunteer at nursing homes in the surrounding area including Tabor, Malvern, Sidney and Shenandoah. Claire was preceded in death by her parents, husband Donald (Jack) Douglass, brother Clarence Sigler, a son-in-law and a great-great grandson. She is survived by a daughter, a son, 7 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, a sister-in-law, and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Son: Living
Dau: Living
Son: Benjamin Clarke Sigler
b. September 17, 1880 in Ohio
m. Margarette Katharina Feller (1880-1932)
d. April 14, 1922
Son: Alvin Allen Sigler (1914-1987)
Dau: Mary Sigler (no information available)
Clarence Sigler
Dau: Living
Son: Living
Claire Sigler Douglass
Claire and Jack Douglass
Sigler and Douglass
family photos
courtesy of
Joey Rickabaugh,
a relative of
Ella Huston Sigler
Photo taken in 1945
Back Row: Claire May Sigler Douglass holding her son; Charles Donald Douglass; Neva Marjorie Grosse Sigler (widow of Clarence Huston Sigler);
Son: Clarence Huston Sigler
b. October 10, 1910 in Council Bluffs IA;
m. Marjorie Grosse Sigler (b. August 21, 1915 in Rawles Twp., Mills Co., IA)
d. October 21, 1940 in Macomb, IL
Front Row: Claire and Jack Douglass' daughter; Chancy Sigler; Clarence and Marjorie Sigler's daughter; Ella May Sigler; Clarence and Marjorie Sigler's son;
Chancy Sigler
1878 - 1963
Ella Huston Sigler
1901 - 1950
George Howard Sigler (5th child of Joseph and Mary King Sigler)
b. June 24, 1847 in OH; d. October 22, 1926 in Clarinda, Page Co., Iowa
m. Laura B. Williamson September 23, 1875 in Sandusky, Erie, OH b. ~1858
(Note: granddaughter, Claire M. Sigler Douglass, stated GHS had been married 5 times)
Son: Chancy Clayton Hayes Sigler
b. October 12, 1878 in Sandusky, Erie, OH; d. August 4, 1963 in Tabor, Fremont Co., IA
m1. Ella May Huston August 21, 1901 in Nebraska City, NE (b. May 1, 1884 Tabor, Fremont Co., Iowa; d. February 20, 1950 in Thurman, Fremont Co., IA
m2. Lessie Cecil Vanatta Asman September 19, 1950 (b. November 10, 1887 IA; d. November, 1979 in Tabor IA)
Note: Grandfather Joseph Sigler was acquainted with President Rutherford B. Hayes, hence Chancy's middle name; on his 1918 draft registration, Chancy listed his name as "Chauncy Clarence Sigler"; truck driver for a bakery and living at 331 Benton, Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa; his occupation per the 1920 U.S. Census was: farmer;
Dau: Daisy Belle Sigler
b. December 28, 1886; d. September 30, 1972
m. William H. Perkins 1890 - 1987
The two census records above show the Smith farm as the census taker's stop #138 on June 1, 1880; stop #139 on the same day was the Sigler farm.  The two familes more than likely lived on adjacent farms...all by chance, making Henry Thomas Smith and Sarah Jane Sigler next door neighbors.
Henry and Sarah were married October 6, 1881 in Rockville, Missouri. Note: the Sigler census record is a good example of census taker error, which is replete throughout all census records, in that Sarah Jane is listed as "Sidda Sigler."
1976 autobiography of
Margaret Gertrude Smith Love
documenting the Smith Family's move
from Missouri to Iowa in 1904
Lawrence Leslie Smith
1883 - 1954
The listings of "Nancy" and "Florence" on the Sigler record don't include their relationship to Joseph Sigler. Nancy Herron Sigler was the wife of Henry Clay Sigler and Florence Sigler was their daughter.
Lawrence Smith's 1954 Obituary:
L.L. Smith,
Pioneer Merchant, Dies
L.L. Smith, pioneer Albia merchant, died today at his home after a lingering illness.  He was 71 years old.
The body is at Lewis Funeral Home.  Services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at First Methodist Church, with the Rev. Donald C. Bissinger officiating, and burial will be in Oak View Cemetery.
Mr. Smith operated the Smith Piano Company for 42 years.  A member of the National Music Merchants association, he ranked among the veterans in the midwest piano retail sales field.
Interested in all phases of music, he was for many years a member of the choir of First Methodist church and sang every Sunday morning untill illness kept him at home.
He was among the first in the field of radio, as a retailer of receivers and accessories and in broadcasting.  He set up Albia's first amateur broadcasting station in the 1920's.
Mr. Smith was for 17 years secretary of the Albia Lions club.  He was a member of all Masonic orders including the Shrine, and a member of the Methodist church.
Survivors are his widow, a daughter, Mrs. Hal Hollingshead of Iowa City, three sisters, Mrs. J.V. Phipps of Centerville, Mrs. Harvey Love and Miss Nellie Smith, both of Albia, and four grandchildren.
The Henry and Sarah Smith family in about 1897;
Henry, Sarah (holding Myrtle), and Nellie, seated;
Lawrence and Gertrude standing;
Maude May Smith b. July 23, 1882 and d. August 24, 1882 in or near Vernon Co., Missouri; died at the age of 1 month and 1 day.
Lawrence Leslie Smith b. in Schell City, Bates Co., Missouri November 17, 1883 d. Albia, Monroe Co., Iowa December 2, 1954; married Mabel Gillespie (1879-1935) on June 5, 1912; 2nd marriage: Icle C. Neal Allison (1900-1988); no children; operated a music store in Albia, Iowa for many years.
Margaret Gertrude Smith Love b. in Schell City, Bates Co., Missouri September 21, 1888 d. in Grinnell, Powesheik Co., Iowa November 25, 1979; see James Harvey Love page;
Nellie Frances Smith b. in or near Vernon Co., Missouri October 22, 1891 d. in Albia, Monroe Co., Iowa February 9, 1974;
Myrtle Dorothy Smith Phipps b. in Rockville, Bates Co., Missouri August 6, 1897 d. in Ottumwa, Wapello Co., Iowa February 11, 1968; married Virgil John (Jack) Phipps July 1, 1948 (Jack b. July 31, 1891 in Galt, Missouri; d. April 4, 1959 in Centerville, Iowa);

Note regarding birthplaces of the Smith children; family records show specific locations for Lawrence, Gertrude, and Myrtle; Maude and Nellie are listed here as having been born in or near Vernon Co., Missouri as exact locations are not known; Schell City may at one time have been located in Bates County, but today is in Vernon County.  This area is roughly 90 miles south and slightly east of Kansas City, Missouri.
Sarah Jane Sigler was the 8th child of Joseph Sigler and Mary King, both born in Pennsylvania.  Joseph was a very successful farmer in Morgan County, Ohio where he was also known for his expertise in producing prize winning apples.  An 1857 account of a competition held by the Morgan County Horticultural Society noted that Joseph Sigler presented specimens of over a dozen different apples, including his famous "Sigler's Pound Apple."
The Children of Henry and Sarah Smith
Newspaper article from the late 1860's Mr. Joseph Sigler, of Meigsville township, recently challenged through a column in The Herald, the fruitgrowers of Morgan County to an exhibition of Apples, on New Year's day last past.  The exhibition was held in this office, and strange to say, no one appeared to contest for the championship in growing this kind of fruit, but Mr. Sigler.  We think it would have been useless for anyone to have competed with him, as he displayed eighty-three different varieties of the luscious fruit which, all in all, we have never seen equalled.  We thank Mr. Sigler for the abundance which he left to our care.
An 1850 USC record for Wayne County, Kentucky was found listing Sarah A. Huffaker, age 10, daughter of Justus and Mahala Huffaker; siblings included Henry C. 17, Emaline M. 15, Matilda J. 13, Harriet L. 11, and J.B. (male) 8 mo.; Justus Huffaker was first married to Anna Gillespie, born November 15, 1801 and died August 18, 1844; all the children, with the exception of son, J.B., were the offspring of Justus and Anna Huffaker;
Justus Huffaker's parents:
Isaac Huffaker        
b. September 3, 1776 Saltville, Washington Co., Virginia
d. May 22, 1835 Monticello, Wayne Co., Kentucky
Elizabeth Hutchinson
b. 1781 Caroline, Virginia
d. September 25, 1859 Wayne Co., Kentucky
Justus Huffaker's grandparents:
Michael Huffaker
b. 1730 York, York Co., Pennsylvania
d. December 1, 1817 York, York Co., Pennsylvania
Catherine Cokley Kitsby Kegeli
b. November 25, 1736 Karlsruhe, Baden-Wuerrtemberg, Germany
d. 1812, Seven Islands, Knox Co., OH

(Note: these records have not been verified as pertaining to Henry Thomas Smith's parents.)
Son: Jeremiah H. Sigler
b. May 1, 1881 in Bellville, Richland Co., OH;
m. Amy M. Sowers in 1899
(b. November 19, 1880 in Ohio d. March 30, 1925 Morrow Co., OH
d. May 19, 1945 in Crawford Co., OH
Dau: Florence Gertrude Sigler
b. May 23, 1879 in St. Clair Co., MO; d. May 15, 1957 in Mt. Gilead Morrow Co., OH
m. Lorenzo Henry Smith Jan 6, 1907 Morrow Co., Ohio (b. Dec. 16, 1878 Knox Co., Ohio d. August 20, 1947 Knox Co., Ohio)
Son: Marion Edgar Smith
b. January 30, 1908 Morrow Co., OH
m. Clara J. Carr 1934 Knox Co., OH (1913 - 1996)
d. August 1976 Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio

Dau: Iris Birdella Smith
b. August 3, 1912 Morrow Co., OH
m. Kenneth Breese Dec. 23, 1939 Mt. Gilead, OH
(1904 - 1989)
d. October 7, 1993 Mt. Gilead, Morrow Co., OH
Dau: Mary Aletha Sigler
b. March 15, 1883 in Morrow Co., OH;
m. James Blaine Campbell (1884-1965)
d. November 4, 1973 Delaware, Delaware Co., OH
(note: death caused by severe burns suffered in a fire at Grady Hospital)
Son: Donald LaRue Campbell (June 4, 1904 - January 4, 1935)
Son: Paul E. Campbell (1912 - 1988)
Dau: Marguerite Arlene Campbell b. September 10, 1920 Edison, OH; d. April 3, 1977 Delaware, Delaware Co., OH
m. Robert Leroy Warner (1916-1990)
Dau: Birdie M. Sigler
b. May 28, 1901 in Morrow Co. OH
m. Vernon Virgil Hetrick February 23, 1921 Morrow Co., OH
(b. November 1, 1899 Mt. Gilead, Morrow Co., OH d. September 19,      1970 Morrow Co., OH)
d. April 6, 1931 Richland Co., OH