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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