William Anderson Smith was the son of Samuel Smith and Ruth Duncan. William’s father, Samuel Smith was born on October 30, 1791, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. William’s mother, Ruth Duncan was born on January 1, 1800, in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. William was born on December 10, 1835 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
William Anderson Smith married Mary Anne Lanterman on February 8, 1860 in Fort Russell Township, Madison County, Illinois. Mary Anne was called Polly Anne all of her life. William came with his family to Fort Russell Township, Madison County, Illinois in 1843. William’s family bought land on Rattan’s Prairie. He was a farmer and a businessman in Illinois. As a farmer, he grew crops and raised stock.
When the Civil War broke out in 1861, William enlisted in the Union Army. He was assigned to Company D, of the 117th Regiment, Illinois Infantry as a private. When the war was over he was a Major. William was a Presbyterian and a Republican.
In 1889, William and Polly Anne sold their farm and moved their family to Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. In Sapulpa, he farmed some, bought a stable, and a store. They built the first hotel in town. William became the first post master in Creek County. He started mail routes all over the county. They donated a stable building to serve as the first school in Sapulpa. Polly Anne became the first school teacher, until a permanent one could be found. William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman were leaders in their community. Polly Anne started a ladies aid society to help the poor. They were involved in many areas of Sapulpa, Creek County and Oklahoma.
William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman had at least twelve children. The first of those was Margarett Eliza Smith. She was born in 1861 in Fort Russell Township, Madison County, Illinois. Margarett died as an infant in Fort Russell Township, Madison County, Illinois. She was buried in Fort Russell Township, Madison County, Illinois.
The second child born to William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman was Ruth Anne Smith. Ruth Anne was always called Ruth Annie. She was born onOctober 22, 1862in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Ruth Annie Smith married Benjamin Pearson Harris in 1880 in Bethalto, Madison County, Illinois. She was a school teacher by profession. Ruth Annie taught school in Bethalto. The principal of the school was Benjamin. Ruth Annie’s father was against the marriage. They decided to get married anyway. Her mother helped her with her plans for marriage. After marriage, they moved to Willow Springs, Howell County, Missouri, where they taught school and farmed. Their first child, Pearl was born in Willow Springs. Then, Benjamin and Ruth Annie moved to Springfield, Greene County, Missouri; where they lived on the North side of town. They had seven children in all.
William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman’s third child was Clara Estella Smith. She was born on May 24, 1864 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Clara died as an infant on December 20, 1865, in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. She was buried in Moro, Madison County, Illinois.
Fredrick Josiah Anderson Smith was the fourth child of William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman. He went by the nickname Fred. He was born on July 6, 1866 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Fredrick married Anna E. We don’t know her last name or when they were married. We have no further knowledge of Fredrick or his family.
The fifth child of William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman was Lewis James Smith. He was born on January 6, 1868 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Lewis married, but we don’t know who. He died in 1908, in California. Lewis was also buried in California. We have no further information about Lewis.
William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman’s sixth child was William Norman Smith. He was called Bill. He was born on September 24, 1869 in Lexington, Lafayette County, Missouri. William was a clerk by trade. We have no record of his marriage. We don’t know where he died or when.
Joseph Edward Smith was the seventh child of William Anderson Smith an Polly Anne Lanterman. He was called Joe. He was born February 26, 1872 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Joseph was a farmer all of his life. He never married. In 1890, Joseph drowned in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. He was buried in Moro, Madison County, Illinois.
The ninth child of William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman was Franklin Smith. He always used the name Frank. He was born on April 10, 1876 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Frank married Jennie in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. We don’t know her last name. They had a daughter named Virginia in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. He died in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. Frank was a butcher and a postman to help his father with the mail. Frank Died in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. He was buried in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma.
William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman’s tenth child was Elizabeth Smith. Her nickname was going to be Lizzie. Elizabeth was born on April 30, 1878 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. She died as an infant on May 25, 1878 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. Elizabeth was buried in Moro, Madison County, Illinois.
John Henry Smith was the eleventh child of William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman. He was born on March 26, 1880, in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. He died as an infant on August 4, 1881 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. John was buried in Moro, Madison County, Illinois.
The twelfth child of William Anderson Smith and Polly Anne Lanterman was Chester Marshall Smith. He was born on December 14, 1881 in Moro, Madison County, Illinois. He married Dora in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. We have no record of her last name. Chester was a carpenter by trade. He, also helped his father by delivering mail as a postman. In 1902 he drowned in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. Chester was buried in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma.
When William and Polly Anne sold their farm moved their family from Moro, Madison County, Illinois in 1889, to Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma, four of their children had died as infants. Five of their children were already out of the home. Three of the children went with the family to Oklahoma. William Anderson Smith died in 1913, in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma. He was buried in Sapulpa, Creek County, Oklahoma.