James & Margaret Smart Family

Margaret's Sister, Martha Clapp, Marries Sam Darnall

During the Civil War, Martha Clapp, Margaret's sister, married Mary's nephew, Samuel Darnall and moved to Nebraska. It's possible James & Margaret met at her sister's wedding or one of the many social functions in Illinois. Sam and Martha will move to Oklahoma to be close to Margaret later in life. Both Sam and Martha would die in November of 1916, victims of the influenza epidemic.

James Marries Margaret Clapp

On February 16th, 1866, Mary and Joseph's son, James, married Margaret Clapp in Edgar (then Coles) County [Illinois Marriage Records, Vol. E, Page 26]. He was 31 and she was 22. After the wedding they moved to Beaver, Fillmore County, Minnesota.

Fillmore County, Minnesota

Fillmore County is just across the state line from Iowa, along the Upper Iowa River. As early as 1854 people searching for new opportunities out west began entering the area. Some names in that area have changed since then. The town of Beaver no longer exists. The area is still Fillmore County and is in the southeast corner of Minnesota, forty to fifty miles west of the Mississippi.

Margaret Gives Birth to Nine Children in Minnesota

While living in Minnesota, James and Margaret had their first nine children:

NAME
BORN
DIED
END OF TRAIL
Mary Jane Smart November 27, 1866 August 25, 1927 Spring Lake, TX
Rachel Clarinda Smart January 8, 1868 October 1, 1943 Stafford, OK
Martha Mandana Smart August 13, 1869 May 18, 1956 Port, OK
Ellen Florence March 4, 1871 Died @ 6 months old Fillmore Co., MN
Rosella Almira Smart February 13, 1872 April 16, 1963 Port, OK
Susan Amanda Smart October 1, 1873 October 13, 1956 Port, OK
George Joseph Smart May 2, 1875 September 25, 1934 Wenatchee, WA
John William "Bill" Smart January 15, 1877 June 24, 1957 Port, OK
Charles C. Smart February 21, 1879 June 6, 1957 Hardesty, OK
CHILDREN BORN IN TEXAS (coming later in our story):
Moses Bentley Smart February 16, 1882 Died young Pilot Point, TX

James Ota Smart

 April 2, 1884 May 9, 1945 Port, OK
Grover Cleveland Smart November 27, 1887 July 26, 1926 Port, OK
Frances Folsom Smart November 27, 1887 July 11, 1975 Guymon, OK