Saturday, January 5, 2013

B.O. Thrift, Smithland Bricklayer

 
I am always curious about what drew people to settle in Smithland, Kentucky.  Economic opportunity was likely the draw, at least during the early days. Smithland was becoming prosperous during the 1830s and people from various countries and other states came to Smithland to become part of its growth.

One person who took advantage of Smithland's opportunities was Barruch/Barrick O. Thrift, who was born about 1808 in Virginia.   He married Margaret Hagey 22 December 1831 in Davidson County, Tennessee and by 1837 had moved to Smithland. Settling on Lot #7, at the corner of Front and Mill Streets, he was granted a license to keep a tavern in  his home. From that time, his name, usually given as B.O. Thrift, is found often in county records. He bought two lots, including his own brick dwelling house, just past where the Smith/Strait house stands today. Thrift was also a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a trustee of Ward 2 in Smithland.

Sometime after moving to Smithland, Thrift became a bricklayer and that was listed as his occupation on the 1850 Livingston County census. He was likely kept busy as many brick houses and businesses were constructed in Smithland during this time period. Did he help build the Olive-Davis home in 1841? Or the old courthouse in 1845? Or perhaps he helped construct an addition to the Gower House.

B.O. and Margaret Thrift had eight known children. They are as follows: John W., Margaret Ann, Mary Catharine, William H., Emma, Charles H. and Alice. Mary Catherine and William H. died as children and are buried in Smithland Cemetery.

In 1860, the Thrift family moved to Metropolis, Massac County, Illinois. According to History of Massac County, Illinois by O.J. Page (reprinted 1995 by the Massac County Genealogical Society), B.O. Thrift had a store and hotel, called the Thrift House. They were also members of the local Methodist Church.

B.O. Thrift, age 60, died 15 October 1868 in Massac County.

 
Tombstone of William H. Thrift (1842-1846)
Smithland Cemetery
 
 
Published 5 Jan 2013 on Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/


3 comments:

John Hundley said...

B. O. Thrift was the grandson of Charles Thrift II who served as a Private in the 4th, 8th, and 12th VA Regiment during the American Revolution. His wife Margaret Hagey Thrift was the daughter of John Hagey who served in the French Light Horse during the Revolution and was General Lafayette's body guard. She was also the grand daughter of Michael Ault who served as a Private in the Northumbrerland County, PA Militia during the Revolutionary War.

Brenda Joyce Jerome said...

Thank you very much for this additional information.

John Hundley said...

Barruch Odel Thrift was named after his grandfather, Baruch Odell, the father of Keziah Odel who married Charles Thrift III. Baruch Odell is Patriot Ancester #A085588 in the DAR database. During the American Revolution, Baruch Odell served as a Private in the Maryland Militia under Captain Wilcoxen, 2nd Company and under Colonel John Murdock, 5th Company, 29th Battalion. He also took an oath of allegiance in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Maryland Society of the Sons of the American Revolution has a patriot grave registry for Baruch Odell. Baruch Odell was married to Margaret Offutt.

Margaret Offutt was the daughter of William Offutt Jr. and Elizabeth Magruder. Charles Thrift II was married to Elizabeth Offutt, another daughter of William Offutt Jr. and Elizabeth Magruder. William Offutt Jr. is DAR Ancestor #A085695 and NSSAR Ancestor #P-26274. William Offutt Jr. signed an Oath of Fidelity and Support in Montgomery County, MD (Revolutionary Records of Maryland by Gaius Marcus Bumbaugh and Margaret Roberts Hodges, Clearfield Company, Inc. (1924) p 7).

Elizabeth Magruder was the daughter of Samuel Magruder and Margaret Jackson. Samuel Magruder is DAR Patriot Ancestor #A073130 and NSSAR Patriot #P-240743. The Maryland Society of the Sons of the American Revolution has a patriot grave registry for Samuel Magruder. Samuel Magruder served on a Committee of Observation in Frederick County, Maryland, signed an oath of fidelity and support in Montgomery County, Maryland (1778)(Revolutionary Records of Maryland by Gaius Marcus Bumbaugh and Margaret Roberts Hodges, Clearfield Company, Inc. (1924) p8) , and provided wheat for use by the military (1780-1781).