Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



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William Wrenshall Smith and Emma Willard McKennan




Husband William Wrenshall Smith 1 2 3

           Born: 15 Aug 1830 - Washington, Washington Co, PA 2 4
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 


         Father: William Smith (1800-1887) 2 5
         Mother: Fanny Wrenshall (      -1861) 2 4


       Marriage: 13 Jun 1867 3 4 6



Wife Emma Willard McKennan 3 4 6

           Born: 5 Nov 1846 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 30 Aug 1879 3 6 7
         Buried: 


         Father: Judge William McKennan (1816-1893) 8 9 10
         Mother: Pauline Gertrude de Fontevieux (1821-1886) 11 12




Children
1 M William McKennan Smith 3 4 6

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Lucy Butler (      -      ) 6


2 M Ulysses S. Grant Smith 4 6

            AKA: Hugh Grant Smith 3
           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 




General Notes: Husband - William Wrenshall Smith


His elementary studies were pursued in the preparatory department of Washington College, under Prof. Robert Milligan, and in 1848 he entered the freshman class. After his graduation, in 1852, he commenced commercial life in his father's dry-goods store and banking office, becoming a partner in 1853. Mr. Smith studied law in the office of Robert H. Kuntz, but was not admitted to the bar, having exclusively devoted himself to the business upon which he had entered. During the Civil war he served as a volunteer aid-de-camp on the staff of Gen. U. S. Grant, both in the Southwest and in Virginia.
He was elected treasurer of the Episcopal Church in 1853, holding this office until 1892; was three times representative of the diocese of Pittsburgh in the general conventions of the church, held respectively in Boston (1877), in New York (1880) and in Philadelphia (1883), and for many years was one of the board of trustees of Washington and Jefferson College. He was proprietor and Rector of Trinity Hall, a select boarding school for boys in Washington, Pennsylvania. He was the owner of much valuable business property in Washington borough, including the well-known "Iron Hall" block; of numerous fine farms in the county; lands in Florida and West Virginia, besides valuable residence property in Philadelphia.

TRINITY HALL.
In 1866 Mr. W. W. Smith became owner, by purchase, of this fine property where he resided until the death of his wife. The school was established in 1879 by Mr. Smith, mainly in order that his own sons should be instructed at their home. The original building was erected in 1857 as a private residence, owned and occupied by Joseph McKnight, and, since its purchase by Mr. W. W. Smith, who occupied it as a private residence for over twelve years, it has been greatly enlarged from time to time, as the growth of the patronage of the school demanded. The Rev. Fred C. Cowper, of Amesbury, Massachusetts, pays the following tribute to the excellency of Trinity Hall and its surroundings: "The school grounds contain forty acres situated in a rich and beautiful hill country, 1,200 feet above tide water, and surrounded by wide-spreading maples, elms, lindens and evergreens, with orchards, gardens and vine-yards, through which wind broad drives bordered by well-kept lawns. There has never been sickness in the school. Delicate boys become strong and manly in its pure health-giving atmosphere. The morals of the place are pure; the tone elevating and refining. Under the present management, the household in all departments is suitable for the sons of gentlemen, and has all the comforts of a refined home. It is a lovely spot indeed, favored by nature, developed by the best skill of the landscape gardener, kept up by those who take pride in it; and fortunate is the boy who is permitted to spend his school days at Trinity Hall." [CBRWC, 117]


Notes: Marriage

Among the many distinguished guests present at the wedding of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Smith were Gen. U. S. Grant (who was a frequent visitor at their home), wife and sons, and of the General's staff were present Gen. Hilyer and Col. William Dunn.

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Sources


1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 117, 101.

2 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 876.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania (New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1911), Pg 1645.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 117.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 114.

6 Joseph F. McFarland, 20th Century History of Washington and Washington County, Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1910), Pg 879.

7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 101.

8 Boyd Crumrine, History of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1882), Pg 252.

9 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 99.

10 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania (New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1911), Pg 834, 1644.

11 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 100.

12 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania (New York, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1911), Pg 1646.


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