Harry E Smith was my great grandfather. I am looking for information about him prior to about 1985 when he married my great grandmother Sara Jane Henry from Northern Ireland in NYC. Below is what I have been able to find about him.


According to 1910 Census in Cayuga County New York State, Harry lived at 1 1/2 Mary St. with Sara Jane and five children. They were married for 15 years. At the time Harry was 51 years old. He was a laborer doing odd jobs.

According to Patty Brill Powers Harry being from Fredericksburg, VA was kin to some Smith Plantation...? Her father Kenneth Brill was going to visit when he was in the Navy and was in VA but never did.

culverpa1: "Harry's death certificate obtained from the vital records office in Auburn, NY states his death date as Aug. 25, 1912. It also listed his birth date as June 15, 1861."

Suicide of Harry E, Smith, Out of Work and Despondent.
-Harry E. Smith, despondent because he was unable to keep a permanent position, committed suicide early yesterday morning at his home, No. 138 Of borne street. Smith had a small vial of carbolic acid when he went home on Saturday night and early yesterday morning he got up
and mixing it with some water drank the potion. Mrs. Smith summoned John i£. McGovern, the druggist, who lives next door. He administered a first aid emetic and summoned a physician.
Dr. H. D. Chapman responding. Smith failed to respond to treatment and died soon after the physician arrived. Smith has been out. of work for the greater part of the time during the past two years and the city charities department has had to assist him at times. Smith was 51 years old and came here from New York 16 years ago. He was born in Virginia. He leaves his wife and five Children, Jennie, 16, Ethel, 14, Willard, 10, Edna, 5, and Mary, 3. The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock with burial in Soule cemetery. "The Auburn Citizen Newspaper, Monday, August 26, 1912.

Harry moved from Virginia to New York City around 1894. Married Sara Jane Henry about 1985 and moved with daughter Virginia to Auburn, NY around 1906.