Edna Adella Kemps Smith
1885 – 1932
By Roger Kemps © 2009
Photographs Courtesy of Philip Smith
Edna Adella Kemps was born on August 26, 1885 in Oakdale, Illinois. She died on December 20, 1932 in Cutler, Perry County, Illinois.
Her parents were Scotch-Irish Covenanters:
Samuel Henry Kemps (3/27/1842 - 4/2/1921)
Clara Amanda McClurken (6/7/1849 - 5/27/1936)
Edna was the one of seven children. Her siblings were:
Albert Rodman (6/1/1870 – 4/4/1958)
Lawrence Edward (4/20/1872 - 10/5/1873)
Luther James (2/25/1876 – 11/22/1935)
William Henry (10/29/1878 – 10/2/1964)
May Belle Kirkpatrick (6/14/1881 – 2/16/1964)
(Clara) Ethyl Boyle (12/23/1882 - 2/27/1953)
The 1900 Census shows Edna, at age 14, living on a farm with her parents, three brothers and two sisters in the Oakdale Township of Washington County, Illinois. She was attending school.
Edna about 1905
The “History of Oakdale Township” has one reference to Edna:
· Page 60 indicate that Edna Smith (Kemps at the time) clerked at the Garnholz-Borcherding Store until about 1906, when she went to St. Louis to attend Brown’s Business College.
The 1910 Census, shows Edna, at age 25, living on a farm with her parents and sister, Ethel, in the Oakdale Township of Washington County, Illinois. Her occupation was teacher in a Public School.
Edna and pupils at Willisville Illinois
On June 16, 1915, Edna married Armour Smith. Edna and Armour had one child:
Evelyn Clare Smith Goffin born on August 10, 1917.
An image of Evelyn Smith and her cousin, Mary Clare Boyle, is available at this link.
The 1920 Census shows Edna, Armour and daughter, Evelyn, living in the town of Cutler, Perry County, Illinois.
Armour, Edna and Evelyn Smith about 1925
The 1930 Census shows Edna, Armour and daughter, Evelyn, living in Cutler. Perry County, Illinois.
Edna Adella Kemps Smith died tragically on December 20, 1932 in Cutler, Perry County, Illinois. She had been suffering from a lingering illness before her death.She is buried in Cutler Cemetery.
Reference files:
1900_Samuel_Kemps.jpg see line 87
1910_Samuel_Kemps.jpg see line 93
1920_Armour_Smith.jpg see line 6
1930_Armour_Smith.jpg see line 84
1940_Armour_Smith.jpg see line 62
Edna_Kemps_Smith_Death_Certificate.pdf
Kemps_Family_Birth_Death_Record.pdf
Narratives of Randolph County.pdf page 80
History of Oakdale Township and references
Genealogy Trails Washington County Website
Last updated 8/21/2012