Alvin Oliver Smith – 1892

Alvin Oliver Smith lived near Zanesville, Indiana. Zanesville is located south west of Fort Wayne where the Indiana counties of Allen, Wells and Huntington intersect. Alvin married Cora May Crites on December 24, 1892 in Zanesville. Cora was born and raised in Uniondale, Indiana which is located in Union Township, Wells County. In the 1900 Federal Census, Alvin and Cora live in rural Wells County. Alvin states that he is a general farmer. By the time of the 1910 Federal Census, Alvin and his brother, William, are living next door to each other. Both men are general farmers and it appears they are working together. Alvin’s WWI Draft Registry in September of 1918, states that he is employed as a truck driver by the George L. Hatter Creamery in Roanoke, Indiana. George L Hatter Creamery had three Cream Stations : the Zanesville station was in Wells County, the Roanoke station was in Huntington County and the Laud station was in Whitley County.

Alvin’s WWI Draft Record

Alvin must have become restless. He obviously felt out of place when he left his own farming enterprise and began driving a truck for the G. L. Hatter Creamery. It soon became apparent that even that did not satisfy him for very long. There would have been a lot of talk about the new Automotive Industry which had begun to really take off. General Motors was founded by William C. Durant ten years earlier in 1908 in Flint Michigan. He had been involved in the industry since the early days of motorized vehicles in the late 1880’s. In 1904, he assume control over Buick Motor company and by the time that he formed General Motors four years later in 1908, he had acquired and combined Buick, Cadillac, Oldsmobile and Oakland Auto Companies under the General Motors Corporation. Flint was 200 mile away from Alvin and his family. The thought of being able to go to work for someone and not having the heavy burden of owning and running your own farm must have had a strong lure. Can’t you just imagine how he must have felt. He would have to convince Cora that this was the best move for their family.

Listen in as Alvin talks to Cora….

“They say the work is really stable.”

“I can make more money and would not have to work so hard.”

“It will be better for the boys.”

“ They will be able to work there too when they are done with school.”

“ We will have a bright future to look forward too.”

“It is not that far from Indiana.”

“We’ll be able to get our own car.”

“ We can drive to Indiana to see our family when ever we want.”

Can’t you just hear him trying to convince Cora to leave her family in Indiana and move 200 mile away to the small town of Burton, Michigan, just outside of Flint. There were many new jobs at the new flourishing Buick plant.

Alvin convinced her because sometime between the 1918 WWI Draft registration and the 1920 Federal Census, they had moved. All their household belongings were loaded into a rail car including the Smith Cow and the dairy equipment. As he told Cora, “We’ll take the cow and the Dairy equipment just in case the “Automotive thing” does not work out.” Alvin and James Fredrick rode in the rail car to Burton with all their belongs and the cow while Everett and Cora rode to Burton in a motor car.

The Smith Cow

Not only did the “Automotive thing” work out, it brought about radical changes to our family, our country and society as a whole. It was relatively soon after that when most households could afford to buy a car. In 1920 the average cost of a car was $525.00.

A few months after Alvin and Cora moved, Alvin’s younger brother, Frank, came to Burton too. He is found living with Alvin and Cora on Term street in Burton in the 1920 census. Frank Smith got a job at the Buick plant and brought his family from Indiana to the Burton. In 1925, tragically, Alvin died of a heart attack while working on the factory line at Buick Plant #4 according to his obituary.

Everett and James Frederick standing and Alvin and Cora are seated in front of their home on Trem Street.

Alvin was the beginning of a pretty long tradition of Smiths working for GM /Buick. Frank Smith worked for Buick for over 30 years. Alvin’s son, James Frederick (Fred), worked his whole life at the same plant that his father worked and died at. He retired after more than 40 years. Frank’s son, James W Smith worked at Buick for 35 years and so did his son, Lawrence F. Smith.

Frank’s house under construction on Term Street.

Cora, Everett and James Fredrick (Fred) remained in Burton, Michigan after Alvin died. Alvin and Cora had built a house on Term Street in Burton. When Frank moved to Burton, he built a house right next door to Cora and Alvin’ s. Cora eventually remarried and move to Clio, Michigan. James Frederick (Uncle Fred ) live in the home build by his Mother and Dad on Term street all his life. Frank’s son, James W Smith and Grandson, Lawrence F. Smith eventually transferred to General Motors plants in the Indiana.

Happy Hunting , Jan

Alvin and Cora are my Great Grandparents. Francis Smith (Uncle Frank) is my Great Grand Uncle. Everett Smith is my Grandfather and James Frederick (Uncle Fred) is my Great Uncle.

#52ancestors