Ruth Duncan was the daughter of David Duncan and Letitia Anderson. David Duncan was born on September 6, 1772 in Ulster County, Ireland. His family came from Scotland. Letitia Anderson was born in 1757 in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Ruth was born on January 11, 1800 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Ruth Duncan married Samuel Smith on June 13, 1820 in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Samuel and Ruth were the parents of twelve children. In 1843, the Smith family and extended family left Cumberland County, Pennsylvania and moved to Fort Russell Township, Madison County, Illinois. Later, some of the family moved to Upper Alton, Madison County, Illinois. Still later, some of the family moved to Moro, Madison County, Illinois. The first of those children born was Hugh Smith. He was born in 1821 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Hugh was named after his grandfather, Hugh Smith. He married a woman with the last name of Waples. We don’t know her first name. We don’t know, if the couple had any children. We have no further record of Hugh Smith; when he died or where he was buried.
David Duncan Smith was the second child born to Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan. He was born in 1823 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. David was named after his maternal grandfather, David Duncan. David’s nickname as a child was Davy. He was a farmer, by trade, throughout his life. David married a woman, with the last name of Waples. We don’t know the first name of his wife, or when they were married. We don’t know if the couple were the parents of any children. We have no additional information about David Duncan Smith’s life, death or burial.
The third child born to Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan was James Purdy Smith. He was born on June 13, 1824 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. As a youth, he was always called Jimmy. James married Drusilla Ruth Bailhache in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. We don’t have a date for their marriage. She was born in 1831 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. They moved to Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado. Drusilla died in 1895 in Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado. She was buried in Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado. James died on December 4,1909 in Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado. He was buried in Salida, Chaffee County, Colorado. We don’t know, if the James and Drusilla were the parents of any children.
Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan’s fourth child was Letitia Smith. Letitia is, also spelled Letticia. She was born in 1826 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Letitia married Samuel Dorsey in Fort Russell Township, Madison County, Illinois. Letitia died in 1871 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. She was buried at Moro Cemetery, in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Letitia’s husband, Samuel later married Letitia’s sister, Margarett Anne. We don’t know, if Samuel and Letitia were the parents of any children. We have no further information about Letitia’s life, death or burial.
Elizabeth Smith was the fifth child born to Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan. She was born in 1831 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. As a child, she was called Betsey, as a nickname. Elizabeth married Harvey Smith in Madison County, Illinois. We don’t know, if he was a cousin. We don’t know the date of their wedding. We don’t know, if Harvey and Elizabeth were the parents of any children. We have no additional details of Elizabeth’s life, death or burial.
The sixth child born to Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan was Mary Smith. Mary was born in 1833 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. As we have very little information on Mary; she may have died as an infant. We don’t know if she married. We have no further record of Mary’s life, death or burial.
Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan’s seventh child was William Anderson Smith. He was born on December 10, 1835 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. William was about eight years old, when the Smith family moved from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania to Fort Russell, Madison County, Illinois. As the Civil War started, William enlisted in the Union Army. He fought in many battles and worked his was up to the rank of major. William married Polly Anne Lanterman on February 8, 1860, in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. She was born Mary Anne; but she was always called Polly Anne,as a nickname. William was a farmer in Illinois. William and Polly Anne were the parents of twelve children. In 1889 the Smith family moved from Moro, Madison County, Illinois to Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. William died in 1913 in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. He was buried in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. William Anderson Smith outlived his wife, Polly Anne by eight years. He died at the age of 78 year old.
Henry Black Smith was the eighth child of Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan. He was born in 1836 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. We don’t know if Henry married. Henry was called Hank as a youth. We have no other details of Henry’s life, death or burial.
The ninth child born to Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan was Margarett Anne Smith. She was born in 1839 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Margarett Anne was called Maggie or Maggie Anne as a child. She married Samuel Dorsey in Madison County, Illinois. Samuel had been the husband of Margarett Anne’s sister, Letitia, before she died. Margarett Anne died in 1923 in Madison County, Illinois. She was buried in Madison County, Illinois. We don’t know, if Samuel and Margarett Anne were the parents of any children.
Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan’s tenth child was the twin of Margarett Anne Smith. This child was born in 1839 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. This infant may have died before receiving a name. The baby died in 1839 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The child was buried in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Jane Smith was the eleventh child of Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan. She was born in 1840 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. We don’t know if Jane married. As we have no details, she may have died as an infant. We have no additional information about of Jane Smith’s life, death or burial.
The twelfth child born to Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan was Samuel Smith. He was born in 1841 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Samuel was named after his father, Samuel Smith. He died either in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, on the trip to Illinois or after 1843, when the Smith family made the trip to Fort Russell Township, in Madison County, Illinois. We know from the United States Census, that Samuel died before 1850.
Ruth Duncan died on March 6, 1855 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. She was buried at Moro Cemetery, in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Ruth Duncan was fifty five years old, when she died. Her husband, Samuel died the next year after she died.