Ernest Roy Smith was born on May 20, 1895 in Madison County, Indiana. He was the son of Branson and Cynthia (Whetsel) Smith.  Ernest had one brother, Harry (1889) who was four years older and seven half brothers and sisters; Charles (1865-1874), Dora (1867), Ida (1869), George Albert (1871), Thomas (1873), Flora (1877-1877) and Cora (1877).

In the 1900 Federal Census, Ernest and his brother are found with Branson and Cynthia in Fall Creek, Indiana. Branson is a farmer. Ernest is four years old and not yet in school. By the 1910 Federal Census, Ernest is in school. At the age of eighteen, on June 4, 1914, Ernest enlisted in the army. He served as a cook during WWI. This information is available thru his Veteran’s interment record. I do not find his enlistment record. He was discharged on June 4, 1920 in San Francisco, California. In the 1920 Federal Census, he is found living with his wife, Ruth and his mother-in-law, Anna Van Buren. In the 1930 Federal Census, Ernest, Ruth and a daughter, Mildred on twentieth Street in San Francisco, California. In the 1940 Federal Census, Ernest is not listed with Ruth and Mildred.

But on Ernest’s Registration for the WWII draft, he states that he lives at 984 Valencia Street in San Francisco. He lists Hannah Plamondon as a person who will always know where he is. It appears that he is a boarder in her home at this time and I did find him in the 1940 Federal Census listed with Hannah. Looking back a few years it appears that Hannah and her husband, James, ran a boarding house at this location in San Francisco. In 1948, after the death of his first wife Ruth, Ernest married Zelma Elizabeth Hook.

Death Certificate for Ernest Smith

Fifty nine years ago today, Ernest Roy Smith died in San Francisco, California. He died of Lung Cancer. At the time of his death he was working as a bottler for the Hamms Brewing Company.

He as buried with full military honors in Golden Gate National Cemetery with first wife Ruth Smith (who died in 1948) according to National Cemetery Interment records in San Bruno, California.

Interment Record

Golden Gate National Cemetery

Rest in Peace, Ernest.

Love, Jan

Ernest is my first cousin three times removed.