Dora Belle was born on March 22, 1877 in Wells County, Indiana. She was the daughter of James W. and Oella (Denney) Smith.  James W. and Oella had six children; William Frampton (1869), Alvin Oliver (1873), Della (1874), Dora Belle (1877), Etta Clare (1882), Francis Willard (1887). They lived in rural Wells County near Ossian, Indiana. James W Smith was a farmer.

In the 1880 Federal Census, James W and his wife, Oella and four of their children including Dora are living in Union Township Indiana. The older children, William and Alvin, are attending school. The younger daughters, Della (4 years)and Dora (3 years) are at home with their mother.

William H Jackson, Oscar Jackson, Dora Belle Smith Jackson – 1901

Dora Belle married William Harvey Jackson in Zanesville, Indiana on June 30, 1895. In the 1900 Federal Census ,William and Dora Jackson are found in Lafayette Township. Allen County, Indiana. They have two sons; Oscar (1897) and Charles (1900; 4 months old). William is a farmer. This picture of the Jackson family, William, Oscar and Dora, was likely taken around 1901 after Charles had died. He is buried in the Family plot in Hoverstock Cemetery.

In the 1910 Federal Census, William and Dora have two children listed; Oscar who is fourteen and Ruth who is seven.  The Jackson family lives in Jefferson Township, Whitley County, Indiana and William is a farmer. They are renting their home.

This photo is believed to have been taken around 1910 of the James W. Smith Family. Dora and William Jackson are the couple on the far left. Ruth is standing next to Dora. Oscar is the boy standing in the center of the photo directly behind his Grandparents James W and Oella (Denney) Smith. Oscar is the oldest of their grandchildren.

By the 1920 Census, the Jackson family has moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Oscar has married and no longer lives at home.  Ruth is 17 and still does lives with her parents. William is a butcher for a local Wholesale Meat Company. They live on Fox Avenue. In the 1930 Federal Census, William and Dora live on Oliver Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana. William works in a Tank Factory.  In the 1940 Federal Census, Dora and William remain found in Fort Wayne and their daughter, Ruth and her children, Lloyd (16), Walter(12) and Marlene(8), are living with them. Ruth is divorced.

Sixty six years ago on January 15, 1953, Dora Belle Smith Jackson died.of Cardiovascular Renal Disease in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is buried in the Jackson Family Plot in Hoverstock Cemetery in Zanesville, Indiana.

Rest in Peace, Dora!

Love, Jan

Dora Belle Smith Jackson is my Great Grand Aunt.