My grandfather, Adoniram Warner Smith (b. 1880), known to most as "Nide". His life from birth to death may not have seemed note-worthy to him but for me, it has been an adventure.
I began researching shortly after my father died in 1988. Thirty-four years later (OMG - has it been that long??), Grampa's life proved that nothing was for sure and that every rabbit hole I went down was likely the wrong one. Ultimately, DNA proved that the descendants of Adoniram are not of the Smith clan (English Protestants), but of the Aughney clan (Irish Catholics) (Oh My!).
However, DNA cannot answer questions that have nothing to do with genetics: thoughts and motives.
Why did Leah not register Grampa's birth when she registered two prior illegitimate births?
Why did Leah name my grandfather -- first-name, second-name (Adoniram Warner Smith b. 1835) -- after the first cousin of her husband when he wasn't the father? Did she think he was the father?
One distinctive thing about Grampa Smith was his hazel eyes, the same eye colour as my Dad, the same eye colour as my niece, Amy-Lynne Kosick.
Posts about Adoniram
- Other Illegitmate Births of Leah EadyThe 1st document above shows the birth of John Richardson, illegitimate, December 31, 1869. Then the 2nd document shows John Richardson Jr.'s death, March 22, 1870 of whooping cough. Its interesting the death beside John Richardson Jr.'s is Mary Ecfort (Eckfort). This is Leah's sister who died 4 days prior of TB which she'd had for a year. Above is Leah's 2nd illegitimate son born April 11, 1873 without a name. Leah's Aunt Annie is the "accouchure" (midwife) and her mother is the "informant". I searched through all the 1881 Horton Township census, looking for an 8-year-old. Below… Read more: Other Illegitmate Births of Leah Eady
- Illegitimacy RevealedI received this letter from Florence Eagle, March 5, 1992. Florence was the daughter of Thomas Henry Smith, son of Philander and Ann Smith, thought to be a half-brother of Adoniram. Of particular interest, and shock at the time, was this: Your grandfather is not a blood brother of my Father, Henry Smith. ... Grandads 3rd wife ... No 3 came to work for Grandad bring[ing] a little boy with her who was later your Grandad. ... When your Grandad was very young he also took on the name Smith. When I asked my aunt about this (can't… Read more: Illegitimacy Revealed
- Horton Twp. 1891 & 1901 CensusH. Thomas Smith is Henry (Florence Eagle's father). He is the "Head" of the household as Philander died in 1900. Admiram is Adoniram. Possible error in his birthdate of Feb 19, as we always celebrated Feb 18. Orin and Julia are twins. Orin never married. Julia married William Scobie. E. George is actually Georgina. The only birth AFTER the marriage of Leah and Philander. Georgina married her cousin, Walter Eady. They later divorced. Philander's marriage to Leah was delayed for legal reasons. He promised to marry Mary Jamieson, the daughter of Mary Eady, Leah's first cousin. It seems… Read more: Horton Twp. 1891 & 1901 Census
- Gossip from Hazel EadyIn my search to find answers to my grandfather's heritage, I became somewhat of a "penpal" with Hazel Eady. She became my spy into the Eady clan of Horton Township. So Hazel set about attempting to find out information about Leah and my grandfather. The mystery continues to this day - where did the nickname "Nide" come from?
- Nide – Even a Mystery in DeathUPDATED: February 2024 - See recent comments There are a couple of different accounts of Grampa's passing. Hazel Eady passed along, in a 1992 letter, that the gossip was out there, that Grampa confessed on his death bed that he did not have his "proper name". So while the "death bed" confession as been de-bunked, a confession did take place on the eve of Aunt Edna's and Uncle Cliff's wedding. Then there's my brother's memory of what he heard: Grandpa died with his pants halfway pulled up. He was getting dressed in the morning and didn't finish. (Guess… Read more: Nide – Even a Mystery in Death
- Rutherglen Rural Telephone CompanyFebruary 17, 2012 - Email to Bell Canada from me. Hello, On February 10, 1921, my grandfather A. W. Smith bought 22 shares at $5.00 each in the Rutherglen Rural Telephone Company, Limited (Ontario). This rural telephone company would have been bought by Bell Telephone. What happened to these shares? Are they still valid? Thank you for looking into this for me. Wendy Smith February 20, 2012 Email from investor.relations@bell.ca Good afternoon! Thank you for your email. No, those old certificates are no longer valid. Bell bought hundreds of rural companies 40-50 years ago. In most cases, shareholders… Read more: Rutherglen Rural Telephone Company
- The Old Reliable"The old reliable on a Sunday morning" is written on the back of this photo. To date this picture, I zoomed in on the license plate and Googled "Ontario License Plates" which resulted in the image behind the photo. With this, I was able to date the picture to 1922. Also note, when I zoomed in on the license, over the back wheel, there are two little faces I hadn't seen before. This is the 1922 version of photo-bombing!! I can only make an educated guess that these two little faces belong to Lloyd (my Dad) and Emmett.… Read more: The Old Reliable
- Step-Brothers & Half-SiblingsThere are very few pictures of Grampa in the "early" days, without white hair and a mustache. So you might not recognize Grampa in this photograph believed to be taken at the funeral of his mother, Great-grandma, Leah Eady, who died May 28, 1924. When I found out that Grampa's biological father was not actually a Smith, it changed the way I looked at these pictures, now knowing that the half-siblings were really step-siblings. L-R: Henry (step), Emerson (Willard's son), Willard (step), Orin (half) and Grampa. Henry, Willard and Orin are all sons of Philander Smith. Henry's and… Read more: Step-Brothers & Half-Siblings
- Nide and his Children"Rutherglen - in front of the farm house before it was sheeted in. Taken in 1915." Dad, born in 1917, isn't in the picture of course. Aunt Edna said that was a big deal as every time he saw the picture, he'd get angry because he thought he was in the house and no one called him out for the picture. This house would be our farm house. The thin sapling behind Aunt Edna's shoulder became a huge lovely tree that shaded and cooled the back yard on hot summer days. L-R: Chester, Georgina, Grampa, Elmo, Vera, Gramma,… Read more: Nide and his Children
- Rahill Red Lake Mining Company LimitedFrom Wayne: "Billy Hill got some money from Grandpa. He was famous at the dances in Rutherglen because he would [become intoxicated] and step dance like crazy up on the stage. Last time I saw him was at the Orange Lodge and he fell off the stage. He sure could step dance. He lived between Jackson's gas station and Westley Rose's grandma's in a tiny house."
- A. W. Smith MemorabiliaMy Dad had a lot of memorabilia from my Grandfather and I also was able to save some from my Uncle Emmett's home as he inherited it from his parents. These are receipts from 1942 when my Grandfather sold cattle.
- Gas CouponsWhen I found these, I wondered how Grampa Smith got the gas he would have needed to run his tractor. But I then remembered that he likely used his team of horses. In my memory, Dad had a team of horses - Duke & Bess - and only later had a tractor. However, in my wondering thoughts, I did found this on the internet: "If you were employed in a factory that supported the war effort, you were issued a “B” card, while doctors, nurses, farm and construction workers, and mail employees were issued a “C” card, each… Read more: Gas Coupons
- My memory of Grampa SmithTo me, Grampa was always "old". In 1960, when I would have my first memories of Grampa, he was 80. So, yes, he was old. Between 1960 and 1968 (the year we moved from Rutherglen to Porcupine), I remember going to Aunt Edna's house many times for many occasions and seeing Grampa. I don't remember him at our house, which had been his home for many years.
- Lloyd George SmithLloyd was born June 17, 1917 to Adoniram Smith and Alice Pennell in Rutherglen, Ontario. He married my mother, Joan Gallson, on June 25, 1943 and they had 4 children. Dad died March 30, 1988. My Dad learned how to farm from his Dad. He went to a one-room school house, very close to our farm until grade 8. When Mom and Dad were first married, they lived with Dad's parents until Mom was pregnant with my oldest sister Donna. Then Mom pushed Dad to look for a home of their own. My Grandparents actually considered building another… Read more: Lloyd George Smith
- Georgena “Jo” Alice Smith (Buchanan)Georgena was always known to all as "Jo". Jo was born September 3, 1912 to Adoniram Smith and Alice Pennell. She married Jacob "Jake" Buchanan, December 24, 1937, and had two sons, David and Keith. She died January 3, 2009 in North Bay, Ontario. At the time, Jo was working at [Eaton's] but she had been scheduled to be off on her wedding day. However, as luck would have it, she was asked to fill in for another staff member on that special day. She agreed, but said, "I have to be off by 6pm, because I'm getting… Read more: Georgena “Jo” Alice Smith (Buchanan)
- Vera Myrtle Smith (Hughes)Vera was born April 14, 1910 and died October 11, 1951. Vera married Cyril Hughes in August 1950 and October 11 the following year, died of complications surrounding childbirth. Mom told me that they received news that a baby boy was born, and both mother and child were well. The story then says that Vera was left alone and hemorrhaged. I was told that Vera was a very warm and caring person. When her brother, Elmo, was killed March 1950, Vera made many trips to his widow and children, bringing clothes and food.
- Chester Warner SmithChester was born July 16, 1908 and died October 17, 2001. He married Hazel Farmer. They had no children, the reason being (I was told) Chester had mumps as an older youth/man and was infertile. Hazel always called Uncle Chester, "Ches", and she's the only person that I remember calling him that. Their farm was right next (behind) to our farm. His farm was the original farm owned by Willard Smith, Grampa's step-brother. Uncle Chester and Aunt Hazel treated farming like a business, not a hobby. They invested in machinery that would give them better returns on their… Read more: Chester Warner Smith
- Elmo Adoniram SmithBorn January 3, 1907, Elmo was the 2nd child of Adoniram and Alice Smith. He married Marie Transborg and had 6 surviving children. In 1950, when the youngest, Danny, was only 2 years old, Elmo died in a farming accident. His wake was held at Andy Green's house.
- Edna Eliza Smith (Ollivier)Daughter of Adoniram "Nide" Warner Smith and Alice Maria Pennell. Born May 17, 1905 in Rutherglen, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada. Died Feb 14, 1994 in North Bay,Nipissing Dist., ON, Can (88 years, 8 months). Married Clifford Charles Ollivier Jan 10,1928 in Rutherglen, Nipissing, Ontario, Canada. Edna was baptized into St. Margaret's Anglican Church by the Rev. Gordon Postlethwaite.She was the only child of Nide and Alice Smith to complete high school and continue toreceive her Teaching Certificate. One of her first positions was likely in Earlton, ON. Shecould also play piano. When Vera Hughes (Smith) died after giving birth,… Read more: Edna Eliza Smith (Ollivier)
- Emmett Richard SmithEmmett was born January 27, 1915, Rutherglen, Ontario and died March 24, 1990. He was the 2nd youngest son of Adoniram and Alice Smith. In the summer, Uncle Emmett helped Dad in running the farm as much as he could. He'd often drive over his tractor to pull the plow or the seeder or the rake. While using the bailor, Dad and Uncle Emmett would take turns either driving the tractor or pulling the bails off the bailor and stacking them on the wagon.
- Who Is Nide?The facts:Adoniram "Nide" Warner SmithBirth date: Feb 18, 1880, Haley Station, Ontario (not registered, just word of mouth date)Background (what I heard): Grampa lived with Aunt Edna and Uncle Cliff. It was determined that Grampa should be receiving the Old Age Pension. When they applied, the government had no record of Grampa's birth, so there wasn't a way to prove he should be getting Old Age Pension. At some point, the government allowed a "best guess" year to be submitted, which was 1880.