Ancestor: Anna Smith (maiden name: Zajac, Ziatz, Zajatz, Zajacz, Zajączkowska , or perhaps even Zajączkowski) 

Born: April 11th, 1865 in Galicia, Poland 

Died: September 3rd, 1946 in Peekskill, NY 

Parents: Unknown

Siblings: Unknown

Spouse: First husband Michael (Michal) Jaszczak; Second husband Joseph Smith

Children: Mary (~1888), Michael (~1892) (might not be her son), John (1902), Joseph (1904), Andrew (1906), and George (1908)

Profile of Life (this is a best guess based on research)

Anna Smith lived in Galicia before arriving in the US. Her maiden name was Anna Zajac.  She was the daughter of Juliani (Julian) Zajac and Evae (Ewa) Pelo, who were farmers in Trzciana. Her family likely left because of terrible living conditions. At least 2 million people left Galicia from mid-1890s to the first World War (1914). Ukrainian was spoken at home. She had at least two children (Anna and Michael) from her first marriage with Michael (Michal) Jaszczak in Trzciana. Michael was a farmer. His father, Xenia (Ksenia) Jaszczak from Zawadka, was also a farmer. Her second marriage was to Joseph Smith around 1894 while still in Eastern Europe.  He was from Slovakia. Around 1899, Joseph went to the US looking for work and found it building the New Croton Dam.  Anna and Mary traveled to the US shortly after.   

The Smith surname was adopted in the U.S. when a foreman at the dam asked Joseph for his name and converted his hard to pronounce Slovakian name to Smit. Later it was converted to Smith.[1] The original name might have been something like Smitowski [2] or a phonetic way of spelling would be Tooczinski [3].  

After arriving in the US, Anna spent the rest of her life with Joseph in Peekskill, NY, or the surrounding area.  While living in Peekskill, she had four sons with Joseph: 

• John Smith born in September 25th, 1902

• Joseph Smith Jr born July 14th, 1904

• Andrew Smith born June 10th, 1906

• George Smith born June 21st, 1908 

Michael also lived with Anna and Joseph for most of his life. He was listed as living with them on the either the NY or the US census for the years 1905, 1910, 1915, 1930, and 1940. In 1917, he was living in Yonkers with Mary Beck and working at the sugar factory.  In 1918, he was drafted into the Great War.  

Andrew Smith baptism record indicates that he was baptized in Yonkers, NY, at the Hungarian Slavonic Greek Catholic Church of St. Nicholas of Myra which was renamed the Greek-Catholic Church of St Nicholas of Myra in 1906. Note that Mary Smith Beck's was active in the St. Michael's Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Yonkers. These two churches align with the cultural background of Joseph and Anna.     

The New Croton Dam was completed in 1906. After working on the New Croton Dam, Joseph got work at an oil cloth factory with Michael.  In 1912, he began his longtime employment as a yeast maker at Fleischmann's Yeast, which was later bought by Standard Brands. Joseph and Anna were active in the Slovak community.  Anna was a member of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Union and the Greek Catholic Union of New Jersery. Joseph was a member of the Jednota Slovak Society and the Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church. 

Anna and Joseph suffered some terrible tragedies in the 20's and early 30's. In 1922, the husband of Mary Smith Beck (Anthony Beck) drown in the Hudson river leaving Mary to care for their four young children in Yonkers.  In 1929, at the age of 24, Joseph Jr. passed away after a motorcycle accident [4]. In 1932, their daughter-in-law, Anna Nohai Smith, passed away leaving her husband, John Smith, to care for two very young children: John Jr. and Doris. Also in 1932, Mary Smith Beck, passed away leaving her four late teens/early 20's children parentless.   In addition, sadly, one of John Smith's children (Doris Smith) passed away at the age of 2 in 1933. 

However, there must have also been some joyful events during these times.  John, Andrew, and George were all married ... and each to a woman named Anna! John Smith married Anna Nohai in 1927. Andrew Smith married Anna Radachovsky in 1928. George Smith married Anna LaBoda January 10, 1932.  George and Anna moved into the house right next to them (1227 Jackson St) and raised a large family there. George's profession was also in the Yeast Industry.  He started working for Fleishmanns Standard Brands in 1933. On the 1940 census, he listed his profession as a 'Yeast Tester.'

After the death of Anna Nohai Smith, John Smith and his son, John Jr., lived with Anna and Joseph in the late 1930 and 1940s.  John Sr. reenlisted in 1940 and his son, John Jr, enlisted at the age of 17 in 1944.  

In her later years, Anna is known to have suffered from diabetes and have bad legs & knees [3]. Also, one of her grandchildren (Joyce) remembers Grandma Anna Smith would climb onto the coal cars and kick the coal off and the kids would run along side and pick it up off the ground to heat the house.  Anna Smith was ill for the last 18 months of her life before she passed away on September 3rd, 1946. Joseph would die suddenly in 1948 after a fall that injured his hip and lead to a blood clot.    

[1] Story told to Mary Ellen Smith-Bedrossian (Daughter of George E. Smith Sr and niece of Mary Beck). She heard it from her Aunt Anna (Andrew Smith's wife). 

[2] Relied to me by Brian Smith as a recollection of George Smith Jr.

[3] Relied to me by Brian Smith as a recollection of Joyce Cherchia Smith. 

[4] Recollection of Mary Ellen Smith-Bedrossian. 

1900 US Census from Cortlandt, NY 

Line 16 - Joseph Smith (age 42)

Line 17 - Annie Smith (age 35)

Line 18 - Mary Smith (age 11)

Line 19 - John Smith (age 2 - nephew)

Line 20 - Mike Sejash (age 40 - boarder)

NOTES: Birth Nation is Poland ; Joseph is a laborer; Joseph arrived in 1894; Joseph and Annie were married in 1894; Annie has had 2 kids but only 1 is living. Enumeration District of census: 0058. 

1905 NY Census from Cortlandt, NY 

Line 26 - Joe Smith (age 40)

Line 27 - Anne Smith (age 35)

Line 28 - Annie Smith (age 15)

Line 28 - Mike Smith (age 3)

Line 28 - John Smith (age 2)

Line 28 - Joe Smith (age 3 months)

NOTES: Address is Over Croton and Bowery; Birth Nation is Hungary; Joe arrived in 1892; Annie and Mary arrived in 1898; Joe's job is a stone mason

1915 NY Census from Cortlandt, NY 

Line 1 - Joseph Smith (age 49)

Line 2 - Anna Smith (age 45)

Line 3 - Mike Smith (age 22)

Line 4 - John Smith (age 12)

Line 5 - Joseph Smith (age 10)

Line 6 - Andrew Smith (age 8)

Line 7 - George Smith (age 6)

NOTES: Address is Beloch Park (community north of the city of Peekskill); Birth nation is Austria for Joseph, Anna, and Michael. Joseph has been in the U.S. for 19 years; Anna and Michael have been in the U.S. for 18 years. 

1917 World War I draft card - Yonkers, NY - Michael Smith 

Draft card of Michael Smith at age 25 in New York.  His address (3 Jefferson St) matches the address of Mary and Anthony Beck.  He states he was born in Glaizien, Austria which is likely Galicia, Austria. On the draft card, he mentions a mother and father in Peekskill. His physical description is medium build and medium height with blue eyes and light hair.   

1918 Order of induction into Military Service, Michael Smith  

Letter received by Michael Smith ordering him to report for military service for the Great War. He is to report for duty at 8pm on May 2nd, 1918 at city hall. He was living in Yonkers with his sister Mary Beck and was working at the sugar factory. 

1920 US Census from Peekskill Village, NY - Crossed Out

Line 9 - Joseph Smith (age 50)

Line 10 - Annie Smith (age 50)

Line 11 - John Smith (age 14)

Line 12 - Andrew Smith (age 13)

Line 13 - John Smith (age 17)

Line 14 - George Smith (age 11)

NOTES: Joseph and Annie both immigrated to the US in 1900.  Their birth nation was Austria and their mother tongue was Slovak. Joseph worked as a yeast maker at a yeast company and John as an operator at a Pearl Studio. 

1925 NY Census from Peekskill, NY

Line 50 (page 31) - Joseph Smith (age 61)

Line 1 (page 32) - Anna Smith (age 60)

Line 2 - John Smith (age 22)

Line 3 - Joseph Smith (age 20)

Line 4 - Andrew Smith (age 18)

Line 4 - George Smith (age 16)

NOTES: Joseph and Anna birth nation Austria-Hungary. Joseph arrive 30 years ago and Anna arrived 25 years ago.  Joseph was naturalized 1917 in White Plains and Anna listed as a citizen. Joseph Sr. is a yeast maker. John and Andrew are painters.  Joseph Jr. is a chauffeur. They live at Husted St. 

1929 Gravestone of Joseph Smith Jr

Born on July 14th, 1904, Joseph Smith Jr. passed away on November 24th, 1929, four days before Thanksgiving. Joseph Jr. was 25. 

1932 Obituary of Anna Nohai Smith

This obituary is from the Peekskill's newspaper: The Evening Star dated October 6th, 1932.  She is the beloved wife of John Smith (of McQuire Ave, Beloch Park) and is survived by her husband, son (John Jr.), and daughter (Doris).  Funeral held at her late residence and at the Church of the Assumption. Interment at Assumption Cemetery.

1932 & 1933 Gravestones of Anna E. (Nohai) Smith and Doris Ann Smith

Anna Nohai Smith was the wife of John Smith. Doris Ann Smith was their daughter. Born on 1905, Anna Nohai Smith passed away in 1932 at the age of 27. Doris Ann Smith was born in 1931 and died in 1933. 

1940 US Census from Peekskill Village, NY 

Line 10- Joseph Smith (age 60)

Line 11- Anna Smith (age 70)

Line 12- Michael Smith (age 40)

Line 13 - John Smith (age 35)

Line 14 - John Jr. Smith (age 12)

NOTES: Joseph birth nation is Czechoslovakia. However, Anna and Michael's birth nation is  Ukraine. Joseph is a laborer in the yeast industry. Michael is a quarry worker. John is a truck driver for construction.  Michael and John were seeking work. They owned the house at 1235 Jackson St where the home value was estimated to be $5,000. For 'Highest grade of school completed' Joseph was '3', Anna was '0', Michael was '2', John was 'H-1', and John Jr. was '6'.

1941 Delayed Birth Certificate of Andrew Smith 

On this 'delayed registration' birth certificate, Joseph birth year is stated as 1865 and his birthplace is Austria Hungary.  Anna birth year is stated as 1864 and her birthplace is Poland.  Her maiden name is Zajatz.  

1944 Service card of John Smith Jr. 

Indicates the John Smith Jr. enlisted at age 17 in 1944 while living at 1235 Jackson St (his grandparents home). 

1945ish Picture of Joseph Smith

Picture of Joseph Smith (with cat Dickie) at a family social gathering on Jackson St.   

1948 Obituary and article about Joseph Smith

These images are from the Peekskill's newspaper: The Evening Star dated March 2nd, 1948.  He was born in Austria-Hungary. He retired from Standard Brands in April, 1941, where he was a yeast maker. He had been employed by Standard Brands and Fleischmann Yeast Co. for 40 years. He was a member of the Jednota Slovak Society and the Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church. 

He died from a blood clot that formed after fracturing his left hip. He fell in his cellar well tending to the furnace. His injury occurred on a Friday and he passed away on Tuesday morning. 

Services were held at his son George's house (1227 Jackson St) and St. Peter and Paul Greek Catholic Church. Interment occured at Assumption Cemetery. In addition to obituary, there is an article titled "Joseph Smith Dies Suddenly."

1982 Death Certificate of Andrew Smith

Death Certificate of Andrew Smith. On it, Anna's last name is spelled Ziatz.