could be Buffalo's crossing the platte

 Research Papers


Today is:

                                                       Gambling Man John Smith

Arrested July 27, 1889, in the first gambling raid

First record found of him living in Kearney – 1885 Nebraska Census
        John Smith, 24, born about 1861 in Iowa, barber
        Ophelia, wife, 18, married during the census year

His Business in the 1890’s

1890 – The NE business Gazetteer locates him at 2109 Central

March 1891 – His shop was destroyed by fire and water so he opened a shop temporarily in the small brick building just south of the old post office building [which was also located in downtown on Central]

A 2nd Job?
        It’s the end of 1892 and into 1893.  The Boom Period had ended and the general financial picture was not good.

        John Smith apparently took on a second occupation, that of caterer.

            December 28, 1892 – a ball was held at city hall with about 30 couples present.
            “an elegant lunch was served in one of the side rooms under the management of John Smith.”


            January 5, 1893 - John Smith and his partner were awarded the contract for the firemen’s banquet to be held
            later in the month.


            A week later in a description of plans for that event, the news article ended by saying the convention would
            close with the grand banquet.
                “The supper will be prepared by the caterer, John Smith, assisted by John May,…”


            November 29, 1893 – Baptist ladies were arranging for a Thanksgiving dinner.
            “Kearney’s capable caterers, John May and John Smith will be on hand to do the serving….”


Smith continued his primary occupation of barbering

He was now operating in a shop “two doors south of the Havana cigar store.” [wherever that was]

February 1895 - Smith sold his business to two other barbers and planned to move to Boulder, Colorado.

        However, by August he had returned to Kearney was opening a shop in a room east of the post office.

        Two years later (1897) Smith was making improvements to his shop by putting up new wallpaper and painting
        trim in a color to match.


        Then he took on a second barber, a man
            Now, referred to as the post office barber, he was having an addition built onto his residence.


1900 – A barber who apparently had lived in Kearney and then moved to Lexington, returned and went to work in John Smith’s barber shop.
        [I’m guessing the barber from Cheyenne, who came 3 years ago, had moved on]


        That barber apparently did not stay either because the next January when Smith was sick, his shop was closed
        for several days.


The Business Moves Around

December 1901 - Smith moved his barber shop from east of the old post office to a small room adjoining the Fess jewelry store [2123 Central, corner of 22nd & Central so he may have been just around the corner east]

August 1902 – formed a partnership with John Ball and set up in Ball’s shop in the Hamer block.
        [back on Central at 2101]


July 1907 – opened his shop in the building next to Lee’s drug store which was 2105 Central

March 1912 – moved his shop to the 2nd floor over the C. V. Chase Clothing store [2117 Central]

June 1912 – Smith made his last move. He purchased the Opera House barber shop and moved there.

Retirement

That’s where he stayed until January 1916 when he sold his barber shop in the Opera House, planning to go to California for a rest, at least until spring.

Smith had been in business over 30 years in Kearney and was believed to have opened the first barber shop here

But he did not get to California. His retirement date from the Opera House barber shop was February 1.
A week later he was filling in for another barber who had gone to Omaha to consult with a medical specialist.


Then he apparently got to rest.

1918 – At the end of May 1918, after being ill for a while, John Smith went to Omaha to consult with doctors and have minor surgery. He appeared to be recovering but then suddenly died on May 26. He was survived by his two sons, Paul and Jack.

Now we get to the really interesting part

Presuming he was buried in the Kearney Cemetery, a search of those records was the next step
Of the several John Smiths who have been buried there over the years, there was only one who died in late May 1918

John E. Smith, died May 26, 1918, age 58, cause of death – heart failure
Ophelia Smith (Mrs. John), died April 19, 1905, age 37, cause of death – cancer
        This explains why he sold his house in the fourth ward in September 1905

In this record there is one other bit of information. This is where the researcher stops & blinks
        – John Smith was labeled as (Colored)

Never was he referred to as the “colored barber” in any news article, not even the story about his death

This called for a closer look at the Census records

First, while they were living in Kearney

1885 Nebraska Census says he and his wife are white

(No 1890 Census)

1900, Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska

John Smith, 39, head, black, born Oct. 1860 in Iowa, living at 317 26th Ave, black, married in 1885, barber,
        father born Illinois, mother born Kentucky

Ophelia, 32, wife, black, had 3 children, 2 were living, both parents born in Kentucky
Paul H, 12, son, black, born Oct 1887 in Nebraska, at school
John E, 10, son, black, born May 1890 in Nebraska, at school

1910, Kearney, Buffalo County, Nebraska, 2101-2103 Central Avenue [upstairs]

Dwelling #2 - William Johnson, 21, mulatto, born in Kansas, waiter in restaurant
                    Paul Smith, 21, mulatto, born in Nebraska, waiter in restaurant
Dwelling #3 - John E Smith, 49, mulatto, living on Central, owns his barber shop, widowed
Dwelling #4 - Jack E Smith, 20, mulatto, born in Nebraska, waiter in restaurant
                    Josephine Smith, 18, wife, white, born in Nebraska

A closer look at the Census records before coming to Kearney

1880 – Keokuk, Lee County, Iowa
Keokuk is located in the extreme southeast corner of Iowa, across the Mississippi River from Illinois, just north of Iowa/Missouri border

Eli Smith, 48, head, mulatto, born in Kentucky, stone mason
Martha, 53, wife, mulatto, born in Virginia, keeps house
Eugene, 25, son, mulatto, born in Missouri, labour
Susan, 21, dau, mulatto, born in Missouri, works out
John, 18, son, mulatto, born in Missouri, at school
Luella, 16, dau, mulatto, born in Iowa, works out

1870 – Jackson Township, Keokuk P O, Lee County, Iowa 

Eli Smith, 36, head, black, born in Kentucky, farmer
Martha, 44, wife, black, born in Virginia, keeps house
Susan, 13, dau, black, born in Missouri, home
John, 11, son, black, born in Missouri, home
Maria, 10, dau, black, born in Missouri, home
Luella, 7, dau, black, born in Iowa, home

Nothing in 1860 census or earlier

Concluding theory – possibly all except the youngest daughter were born into slavery, living in Missouri when Civil War began.  When slaves were emancipated, they moved north to the Iowa side of the border.

 

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Revised: 05/05/2021