Mary Jane (Flippin) Smith Family
[submitted by Nova A. Lemons]
Mary Jane Flippin was born 15 October 1864 in KS (Territory?) to Samuel Wesley and Nancy Mosby (Lewis) Flippin. Some of her early childhood was spent in AR before the family settled down in TX where she met and married James Francis Marion "Frank" Smith, son of Gilbert and Catherine (Hambrick) Smith. They married on 27 December 1883 in Comanche Co., TX. I have not been able to locate the Flippins on 1870 and 1880 censuses. They were in Washington Co., AR on 1870 tax list but not on the census.Frank Smith was born 27 January 1852 in (Columbia Co.?) AR and grew up as "James" but eventually was called "Frank." Mary Jane was sometimes called "Mollie."According to one of their granddaughters, Frank worked in a traveling carnival for some years. The carnival troop had a very small woman midget and if they wanted to move from one tent to another, Frank would wrap her up in a blanket like a baby then go right through the crowd without being noticed.Frank served as a sheriff for awhile in Rio Vista, Johnson Co., TX then returned to farming. All of their children were born in Cleburne, Johnson Co., TX. The Smiths went to western OK Territory sometime during 1904 where they stayed until 1915 when Frank and Mary with most of their children moved to Marshall Co. in eastern OK along with their daughter Rosa's family.While living in Oakland, Marshall Co., OK, James Francis Marion "Frank M." Smith died on 14 July 1919 and was buried at Oakland Cemetery. Mary Jane (Flippin) Smith died on 24 February 1934 and was buried next to Frank.Their nine children were: Walter Charles [he later changed his name to James Walter] (1884-1940), infant son (1886-1886), Rosa Mattie PRYOR (1888-1974), Artie May FOSTER (1891-1968), Willie Molsby GLEASON (1893-1934), John Luther (1896-1962), Lou Catherine (1896-1896), Thomas Alexander "Tommie" (1899-1971) and Trulla Stella TILLER (b. 1903). Luther and Lou were twins. Rosa Mattie (SMITH) PRYOR was my grandmother.NOTE: For more information, check out Mary's grandfather Isaac Flippin (#75) in the Flippin Families section and Nova Lemons' line.
