I have finally found the elusive Frank Edward Smith, estranged husband of Jean Louise Baron Smith and estranged father to Marie, Patricia and Eileen Smith .

Frank Edward Smith was born February 27, 1893 in Humboldt, Iowa to Hiram Gregg Smith and Julia Geeslin Smith.

1900

For some reason Frank was not listed with or not living with his parents in 1900 when the Census was taken.

1910

We next see him in 1910 living with his divorced mother Julia and brothers Ben, Sumner (Summer) and John.  Sometime between 1910 and 1920, Frank enlisted in the United States Navy and moved to New York.

1920

Then in 1920 we see him in two places.  In the first census record he is with his new bride Jean Louise Baron, her mother and her siblings on 81st Street in Brooklyn, NY.  For some strange reason, he is listed as a salesman for a chemical company, yet we know he was serving in the Navy.  I tend to think that  Frank was not present at the time of the census interview because his birthplace was listed as California.  California is where father and various siblings were living at the time, but not where he was born.

Then in another census record for the same year we find him at the Bay Ridge, Brooklyn US Navy Receiving Ship. A receiving ship, is any vessel, that serves as a point of induction into the service for new recruits. Vessels were not built for the purpose of serving in this role, rather, vessels were appointed. His occupation was listed as Water Tender.

1930

In 1930 we see Frank living with his first wife and three daughters on Culloden Road in Stamford, CT.  His occupation is listed as a stationary engraver in the lock manufacturing industry.  At this point he seems retired from the Navy. He is 37 years old.

Between 1930 and Present

We know Frank abandoned his wife and three daughters by suddenly disappearing, but we don’t know why. Sometime between 1930 and 1976, he married Almira Moore and settled in New Milford, CT. He was working as an auto mechanic.  He died of an Acute Myocardial Infarction on November 5, 1976 at New Milford Hospital and was buried at Reynolds Cemetery in Cross River, NY. Reynolds Cemetery is literally just down the street from where his great granddaughter Colleen and great grandson Jimmy were living at the time. Frank was 83 years old when he passed away.

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Photo By Kirk Beaty

His grave identifies him as a CWT with the US Navy.  CWT stands for “Chief Water Tender”.  In the Navy, it’s the highet ranked petty office charged with maintaining boiler pressure in a ship’s propulsion system.

Death Certificate For Frank Edward Smith

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New Milford Home Of Frank and Almira Smith

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105 Wellsville Avenue
New Milford, CT