Smith Family History
- Asahel & Sarah Smith: founders of the Pine Grove Cemetery Association
- Asahel Smith’s family dates back to the 1600s, likely making them some of the first families who colonized America.
- Asahel grew up in New York and had one child with his first marriage.
- After being widowed he remarried and had 6 additional children.
- His wife Sarah Holmes’ family ties also date back to the 1600s, as some of the first families to settle in America.
- Asahel served in the Civil War as a Union soldier and was taken prisoner in Battle of Lexington.
- The family lived in Missouri for a period of time and then moved to Colorado after the Civil War, ultimately settling on a property in the Pine Junction area and creating their home and ranch.
- While putting down roots their son Samuel died at only 8 years old. They buried him on the property, memorializing his life with a pure, white marble headstone engraved with a lamb that symbolized his brief, innocent life. This was the first burial in the Pine Gulch Cemetery.
- We’re not sure how he died, but it was likely diphtheria as there was a rash of other children who died of the same epidemic that year.
- A few years later, Asahel filed for a 160 acre homestead and it was issued to him on June 30, 1886.
- With the land secured as theirs, Asahel and Sarah carved out a portion of their property on April 12, 1890 to be a cemetery. They deeded 1.5 acres for $1, forming the Pine Grove Cemetery Association.
- A mere 3 years later, Asahel’s wife Sarah died at the age of 52 and was buried next to her son.
- After Sarah’s death, Asahel left Colorado to be with his son in El Paso Texas.
- He was well-regarded in the area and in 1900 he was kicked by a horse, died of internal injuries and buried in El Paso.
- His obituary said: “Asahel Smith was affectionately know to every man, woman, and child in El Paso as “Grandpa Smith”. Grandpa was generous to a fault. He used the money that he got from his pension or other sources where he thought it would do the most good to human beings who needed it. He was a familiar figure on the streets with his odd phaeton (a light, open, four-wheeled carriage) and plodding horse. Wherever he might be, he picked up somebody to enjoy a ride with him.”
Smith Family Tree
Asahel Smith (1826-1900)
Cause of Death: Internal injuries after kicked by a horse
Sarah Paggart (Unknown – 1857)
Married to Asahel Smith in appox. 1851
Child:
James Smith (1852-1933)
Sarah (Holmes) Smith (1841-1893)
Married to Asahel Smith in 1861
Buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
Children:
George Smith (1863-1926)
Leonora Smith (1864-1901)
Thomas Smith (1867-Unknown)
Samuel Smith (1871-1879)
Cause of death: Likely died of diphtheria
Buried in Pine Gulch Cemetery
John Smith (1875-1965)
Theron Smith Sr (1884-1943)