William R. Smith

My grandfather married Cora Hisey

and had 5 children 3 boys and 2 girls with my dad being the youngest.

Front: Grandma Smith, Gene Smith, Bill Smith Grandpa Smith Back: Martha Smith (Pickle), Murl Smith, Ray Smith

This is from the same setting and includes my dads 2 older brothers and spouses and 1 of his sisters and her spouse plus 2 grand children. Bill Fennig being held by my grandmother was born in 1930 so this picture must be about 1932 which puts my dad at 8. The other baby, Jim Smith, was a big surprise to me in the late 60’s. He was the son of Murhl who had a falling out with the family shortly after Grandpa Smith died (which was just a few months after I was born) and so I didn’t even know he existed. So in the late 60’s I thought I had a ticket out of the draft by being the only remaining male Smith until dad pointed out the error of my thinking. Of course after typing all of that I finally noted that someone dated the picture as 1931.

Grandma Smith holding Bill Fennig (son of Martha and Harold) Fene Bill (dad), Grandpa Smith holding Jim Smith Back: Peg Smith Ray Smith, Martha and Harold, Violet and Murhl.

Grandma Smith as a young woman. Don’t know who the other people are.

An Early photo with the 3 older children.

Grandpa, Ray, Martha, Murhl, Grandma

March 1935

Christmas 1940

August 1949

Before the family moved to Portland they lived in Ohio and Grandpa was involved in a small bank there.

There is still a stock certificate and I did check to make sure this bank wasn’t the founding source for Chase bank or Wells Fargo. It wasn’t.

Grandma Smith’s mother died in 1938. There are still a number if Hiseys living in Portland.

Grandpa Smith obituary