I have published a couple of posts about the wedding anniversary of Reddick Smith and Mary Ann Wolstenholme in this blog. This post combines previously published material plus additional data. Both families have presented research challenges, but they remain among my favorite ancestors. Mary Ann's grandfather, the Rev. Hugh Wolstenholme, came to America from England before 1820 as a result of his political views. Reddick Smith's grandfather was John Smith, but which one? Wythe County, Virginia is thought to have been his home. Until I find out for sure, I will continue to dig and dig and dig. In the meantime, here is my 2022 anniversary post on Reddick and Mary Ann.
Today is the 156th anniversary of the marriage of my great-grandparents, Reddick Smith and Mary Ann Wolstenholme. On the 2nd of August 1866, they stood before Henry Holt, justice of the peace in Davidson County, Tennessee, and promised to “love, honor and obey” each other for the rest of their lives.
I don’t know if they were able to fulfill that promise, but I do know they lived together until Reddick passed away in Hardin County, Illinois. Reddick and Mary Ann must have met during the Civil War when he was stationed in Tennessee. He stayed there when the war ended, they married, and had two children before moving to his family home in Hardin County about 1870.Reddick and Mary Ann had 14 children, with only about half living to adulthood. My grandmother, Beatrice Mary, was born in 1877 and lived until 1968. When I was a child, she told me that one of her younger brothers, I believe it was Earl (1883-1896), became ill suddenly and his footsteps remained in the dusty field after his death. Several others of the children died as infants.
In 1902, my grandmother married Lycurgus Mino Joyce and had given birth to two sons when they, along with her parents and her brother Ed. decided to move to the state of Washington. Selling everything they owned, they boarded a train to an area where they hoped life would be easier. According to a story told by my father, Reddick hurt his back, didn’t like Washington, so everyone boarded the train and returned to southern Illinois. Reddick died in Hardin County in 1913 and Mary Ann in 1933. Both are buried in Central Cemetery.
Oh, the stories they could tell! I would like to know about Reddick leaving the army each spring to go home to plant crops. I would like to know about the months he spent in Libby Prison before being exchanged. I would like to ask Mary Ann what her life was like in Davidson County. Why did she not keep in touch with her family after she moved to Illinois? Family legend has it that Mary Ann’s father, Hugh Wolstenholme, died on the road between her old home in Tennessee and her new home in Illinois. I've tried for years to find out where and when he died, but I bet she could tell me exactly what I want to know.
Reddick and Mary Ann witnessed many changes during their lives. They saw the birth of the telephone and automobiles and electricity became common. My dad used to relate the story told to him by Mary Ann about the first time Reddick heard a phonograph record, which was played on a wind-up apparatus and was part of a large cabinet. Reddick circled round and round the cabinet then tried to open the back to learn who was sitting inside singing.
All I have of Reddick and Mary Ann are stories originating from Mary Ann, a few documents, pictures and my prize possession, the wedding ring Reddick made for Mary Ann. A jeweler told me a silver coin was placed on a rod and hammered until a circle of the right size appeared. Apparently, this was a common way to fashion a ring when money was scarce. I wear this ring today.
On this anniversary of their marriage, I am thankful for the memories they made for their descendants.
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