MEMOIR WRITTEN BY HENRIETTA C. SMITH
Omaha – November 25, 1935 Henrietta C. Jann Smith was born in New York January 13, 1854. In 1856 my father and mother moved to Iowa City, Iowa. They had just lost a two-month-old baby boy. There were three families: the Janns; the
Hoetzes with two children and Grandma Hoetz; and the Groegler family. Also, two children and three unmarried men. One was my father’s half brother, Adam Gill, who I was very fond of and he liked me.
They thought it would be best to move to a new country. Could live much cheaper and work than in New York. Father, Mother, and Uncle Gill had just received their share of money from their home in Germany. Mr. Hoetz was a carpenter so he built an eight room house. Uncle got married. Each had two rooms but the carpenter wanted his money. Did many things to destroy the property. At last the three others offered to buy his share. He wanted what it cost to build it, all four shares. They at last gave it to him. He built a much nicer house for himself at the next corner, but did not live long. My brother was born but passed away in 1859, the year sister Margaret was born.
Father worked in a large stagecoach shop. In 1860 the company moved to Des Moines, Iowa, so Father was transferred. He went ahead of the family until he could find a place to live in Des Moines. Came back after us in two months, packed our household goods, sent them ahead on a big transfer wagon.
One morning at 4 o’clock there was a stagecoach at Uncle’s door, (where we stayed after our goods had gone). Father, Mother, baby sister and myself started fro our new home, Des Moines. I loved my uncle -- was hard to part from them and little boy.
Well, a long trip for only 125 miles. They changed horses every 25 miles. We were always glad to get out (and) walk to some spring or well for a drink of water while they were getting the horses ready. Sometimes a new driver. I do not remember any other woman besides my mother or children besides little Margaret or as we called her then, Dodie or Gretchen. We had the back seat (first class) for the trip. It was war time. There was one soldier with us. We had some lunch with us. Stopped at a tavern for supper, some of the meals, Grimmell one place. Drove until next day in the afternoon, 4 o’clock. 125 miles make it now in about three hours or less. When we arrived at the state office in Des Moines, very tired.
They took us to my father’s boarding house. We had a nice large room. Good German meals. We had to stay two weeks until our goods came, then we moved into a small house with another family on the other side who we knew as they also came from Iowa City. Mr. Seburger (sp?) also worked for the stage company.
Well, it was September. You could not get much to put up for winter. A few tomatoes. Mother made jam and pickles and half bushel apples bought from a man in a covered wagon from Missouri.
I had five brothers and three sisters. Three brothers died when young. Sister Louly when she was four years old. August, the oldest to live married, passed away at 68. Albert, the youngest child, never married, died in 1905.
There are we three sisters left. Pearl, 72 a widow, lives in her house alone. Margaret, 76, also a widow, lives with her daughter, Margaret Alden and family. Myself, now 82, oldest of family, live with my oldest daughter, Martha (Smith) Erion and family. Have a very good and comfortable home. Had many friends and good neighbors, but not many left now.
Well, Christmas was coming and afraid we could get no evergreen tree then like now. So my father went out in the woods, got a wild cherry tree, kept it in limewater six weeks, did now some green. Could not get wax candles so he had some holders made, cut large candles in half. Bought gold leaf for nuts
1854 - 1939 (85 years)
Siblings
. Carl Andrew SMITH, b. 9 Aug 1879, Des Moines, Polk, Iowa 
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