Miles J. Smith was the son of Mary Ann Padden daughter of Heman and Ruth Padden, and Willard William Smith. He was born 2 April 1860, Mower County, Minnesota. His father died when Miles was very young and his mother later married John Henry Rochford. The Rochford family moved to Osborne, Kansas 1887 when Miles was about 19. He did not go to Kansas but remained in Austin, Minnesota. Miles was working for the railroad and stayed with his aunt, Mary Ann Wilson Padden Lester, his mother’s sister-in-law.

About 1887 he married Madge L. Beers who was born June 1863 in Pennsylvania. During his residence in Austin, he was employed as a policeman and later as a house carpenter in addition to working for the railroad as mentioned.

Miles and Madge had five children:

• Tracy Miles Smith was born on 23 April 1888. He was married about 1909 to Catherine (Kate) Marie (maiden name unknown), who was born on 7 October 1887 in Minnesota. They had one child Bernice B. Smith born about 1912 in Minnesota. Tracy work at the Geo. A. Hormel Packing Plant in Austin. He died 8 April 1975, Spring Valley, Fillmore County, Minnesota. His wife died 5 June 1962, Mower County, Minnesota.

• May L. Smith born about May 1889 Minnesota. She married about 1918 to Milton Erickson who was born about 1887 in Minnesota. He worked as a boilermaker in a railroad shop. They had a daughter Madeline Erickson born about 1909.

• Carl John Smith was born 8 October 1894, Jackson County, Minnesota. He was a farmer employed by Herman Geiser, at Wiseman.

• Ira Edwin Smith was born 12 August 1895, Minnesota. He married Mildred S. (maiden name unknown) who was born about 1901 in Minnesota. He worked at the packing plant. He died 19 February 1962, Mower County, Minnesota.

• Mildred R. Smith was born about 1907, Mower County. She married about 1924 Stanley M. Sather, born about 1901, Minnesota. He also worked at the packing plant. His parents were Suer and Maggie Sather.

Miles J. Smith died 10 March 1933 and his wife Madge died 4 September 1936, both in Mower County, Minnesota.

 

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Sources:

• Osborne County, Kansas 1870-1930, Vol. II, Book 2, Osborne County Genealogical and Historical Society, 1981
• United States Federal Census 1860 through 1930 Minnesota and Kansas
• World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Ancestry.com.

Submitted to MnGenWeb, Mar. 2007, by Joyce A. Reilly