Biographic Notes on Peter SMICE, Ogle County, Illinois This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Layne A Holley Biographical Notes on Peter SMICE (by Layne A. Holley) Peter Smice was the father of Nathan Smice. Both were long-time residents of Ogle County, Illinois. Peter Smice was born March 2, 1801 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Peter Smice was the son of Johannes Schmeiss and Maria Elizabeth French. Johannes Schmeiss (John Smice) was a Hessian soldier, captured at the Battle of Trenton during the Revolutionary War. Johannes became a P.O.W. and sent to Pennsylvania. Johannes married and settled in Pennsylvania. On June 27, 1824, Peter Smice married Elizabeth Parks in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland. The ancestors of Elizabeth Parks are unknown at this time. Peter and Elizabeth Smice were probably members of the Lutheran church in Maryland. In 1844, Peter and Elizabeth moved their family to Ohio, possibly Miller Township, Knox County. In 1848, the Peter Smice family migrated to Ogle County, Illinois. Peter and Elizabeth Smice are known to have had ten (10) children: Margaret, Susanna, Elizabeth, Rebecca, John, George, Amelia, Mary L., Nathan, and Alonzo Keith. Elizabeth Parks Smice was stricken with "Bilious Cholic" and died on October 3, 1849. Cemetery records state that Elizabeth was "sick one day". Elizabeth's death left Peter with several small children. It is believed that Peter never remarried. Elizabeth Parks Smice is buried in the Pine Creek Brethren Cemetery (Dunkard's Cemetery), Pine Creek Township, Ogle County, Illinois. In January of 1851, Peter Smice received a land patent for forty (40) acres in the area of Grand Detour and Pine Creek, Ogle County, Illinois. Peter Smice was a farmer and became a long-time resident of Grand Detour, Illinois. He died January 30, 1884 in Grand Detour, Ogle County, Illinois. Peter Smice is buried next to his wife in the Pine Creek Brethren Cemetery. LAND PATENT: Certificate # 32000; Land Patent Patentee Name: SMICE, PETER Authority: April 24, 1820: Cash Entry Sale (3 Stat. 566) Signature Date: January 10, 1851 Land Office: Dixon, Lee County, IL Legal Land Description: 1, SWSW, 34/, 23-N, 9-E, N, 4th Principal Meridian-1815 Illinois, 40 acres, Ogle County, IL THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Certificate No. 32000 To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: WHEREAS Peter Smice of Ogle County Illinois has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a Certificate of the REGISTER OF THE LAND OFFICE at Dixon whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Peter Smice according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An act making further provision for the sale of the Public Lands," for the South West quarter of the SouthWest quarter of Section Thirty Four in Township twenty three North of Range nine East, in the District of Lands Subject to Sale at Dixon Illinois containing Forty acres. according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR GENERAL, which said tract has been purchased by the said Peter Smice. NOW KNOW YE, That the United States of America, in consideration of the Premises, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT, unto the said Peter Smice and to his heirs, the said tract above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Peter Smice, and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Testimony Whereof, I, Millard Fillmore PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these Letters to be made PATENT, and the SEAL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to hereunto affixed. Given under my hand, at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the Tenth day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty one and of the Independence of the United States the Seventy fifth BY THE PRESIDENT: Millard Fillmore By Alex. McCormick, asst. Sec'y. E.S. Terry Recorder of the General Land Office 1830 U.S. CENSUS, Washington County, MD: Peter Smice shows up for the first time on the 1830 census, married, and living in District 7 (Boonesboro), Washington County, Maryland. 1850 U.S. CENSUS, Pine Creek Township, Ogle County, Illinois, 18 September 1850, page 003 dwelling # 4/4 Peter Smice 47 M Farmer PA cannot read or write Elizabeth 17 F MD John 15 M IL George 13 M IL Mary 5 F IL Nate 2 M IL Milly 9/12 F IL 1860 U.S. CENSUS, Grand Detour, Ogle County, Illinois, 18 July 1860, page 382 dwelling # 2755/2664 Peter Smice 55 M Farmer 1000 300 PA cannot read & write Elizabeth 25 F MD George 20 M MD Milla 18 M (census error, should be female) Ohio Nase 13 M Ohio 1865 State of Illinois, Ogle County Agricultural Census: 20-30 20-30 40-50 Peter Smice 1 M 1 M 1 F 1 M 1870 U.S. CENSUS, Pine Creek, Ogle County, Illinois, 3 September 1870, page 17 dwelling # 120/120 Smice, Peter 65 MW Farmer MD Trump, Amelia 28 FW Keeps House MD Smice, Nace 23 MW Farm Hand Ohio Trump, Lydia A. 2 FW IL The WILL of Peter Smice: "In the name of God Amen. I Peter Smice of the town of Grand Detour in the County of Ogle and State of Illinois of the age of 73 years and being of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say. And as to my worldly estate and all the property real and personal or mixed of which I shall die seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease. I devise bequeath and dispose thereof in the manner following to wit. First, my will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall by my executive here-in after named be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall by them be found convenient. Item, I give devise and bequeath unto my daughters Susanna Keith wife of John Keith one dollar to my daughter Margaret Nettz wife of Henry Nettz one dollar to my daughter Elizabeth Welty wife of John Welty one dollar All the rest and residue of my estate real personal and mixed of which I shall die seized and possessed as to which I shall be entitled at my decease I give and devise and bequeath to be equally divided between and among my sons & daughters John Smice, George Smice, Nace Smice, and Mary Lawver wife of Andrew J. Lawver also Amelia Trump widow of Oli Trump deceased And lastly I do nominate and appoint James Rogers and John Smice my son to be the executor of this my last will and testament, In testimony whereof I the said Peter Smice have to this my last will and testament contained on one sheet of paper, Thereof I have subscribed my name and affixed my seal this eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven. Peter Smice his "X" mark Signed sealed published and declared by the said Peter Smice as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses Thereto John D. Wiley witness Grand Detour Ills Henry Lawver witness Grand Detour Ills William Jones witness Grand Detour Ills 1880 U.S. CENSUS, Grand Detour, Ogle County, Illinois, page 34 dwelling # 307/314 Smice, Peter WM 76 Unemployed MD Baden (Germany) MD Milla WF 36 Daughter Keeping house MD PA MD Trump, Lydia WF 12 Grand Daughter At School IL Ohio MD OBITUARY,"Dixon Evening Telegraph", February 7, 1884, page 4 (Lee County, IL): "Peter Smice died January 30th. He was born in Pennsylvania; went to Maryland and married June 27, 1824; moved to Ohio in 1844; emigrated to Ogle County in 1848. His wife died in 1849, leaving him with several small children. Mr. and Mrs. Smice belonged to the Lutheran Church in Maryland, but never joined here. Two children died several years ago, and eight children, twenty-five grand children and nine great grandchildren await the summons of the master." INVENTORY, State of Illinois, Ogle County In the Matter of the Estate of Peter Smice Deceased. The following is a full and perfect Inventory of all the Real and Personal Estate of the said Deceased, so far as the same has come to the possession or knowledge of the undersigned, executor of the last will and testament of Peter Smice, deceased. REAL ESTATE. VALUE. Dollars Cts. Lot 4 Block 5 Grand Detour Illinois Title fee simple. Estimated value, 180 00 ***************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproducd in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ***************************************************************** Contributed by: Layne A Holley