Individual 707: Smith, Elmer Dewey (Dick)

Individual Record 707

Name} Smith, Elmer Dewey (Dick)

Family History} Olson

Title}

Race} White

Sex} Male

Birth: Date} Fam 27 Oct 1898

Place} Aneta, Nelson, North Dakota

Marr.: Date} Fam 12 Jun 1935

Place} Cooperstown, Griggs, North Dakota (Link)

Death: Date} Exa 31 Oct 1978

Place} Orem, Utah, Utah

Burial: Date} Aft 31 Oct 1978

Place} Orem City Cemetery, Orem, Utah, Utah

Grave Marker}

Source 1}	281 = Family notes
Source 2}	281 = Family notes
Source 3}	1363=Genealogy
Source 4}	1589=1900 USA cen
Source 5}	1590=1910 USA cen
Source 6}	1594=Military rec
Source 7}	1591=1920 USA cen
Source 8}	1592=1930 USA cen
Source 9}	1593=1940 USA cen
Source 10}	551 = S.S. record
Source 11}	385 = Obituaries
Source 12}	963 = Cemetery rec

Parents: } Wallace E. Smith & Marie M. Unknown
Relationship No.} None

1st Household No.} 636 = Aneta, Nelson, North Dakota

Occupation 1} Salesman
Occupation 2}

Religion/Church}

Spouses: Prime} Detwiller, Vivian Edith
Total Number of} 1

Notes: Elmer Dewey Smith was born 27 Oct 1898 in Aneta, Nelson, North Dakota. He was the oldest of seven children of Wallace E. and Marie M. Smith. In the 1900 U.S. census, the family was living in Ora Twp., Nelson, North Dakota. Elmer, 1, had a brother, Homer, about one month old. His father Wallace was a hardware retail merchant.

In the 1910 U.S. census, Elmer was living with his family on Block 24, Serns Avenue, Aneta, Nelson, North Dakota. The children now included Elmer, Howard, Edith, Wallace, Walter, and Alvin. They had a servant, Martha Negel, and two lodgers, Melvina De Roche, and Tom S. Ham. His last brother Ralph was born about 1916.

Elmer joined the Marine Corps in Jun 1917. A summary of his service record, found in Source 1594, reads as follows:

[Elmer Dewey Smith] enlisted in the Maried Corps at Fargo on June 1, 1917; sent to Norfolk, VA.; served in USS Vermont, to Aug. 11, 1917; USS Georgia to March 31, 1918; Quantico, Va., to May 10, 1918; Casual Company, 4th Replacement Battalion, to May 27, 1918; arrived in France, June 8, 1918; served in the 17th Company, 5th Regiment, to July 25, 1919; returned to Camp Mills, N.Y., Aug. 3, 1919, and served there to Aug. 9, 1919; Quantico to discharge.
Grades: Corporal, May 18, 1918; Gunnery Sergeant, Sept. 28, 1918.
Engagements: Chateau-Thierry Sector; Aisne-Marne Offensive; Marbache Sector; St. Mihiel Offensive; Champagne Sector; Meuse-Argonne Offensive, including crossing of Meuse River; American Army of Occupation in the march to the Rhine River and the occupation of Niederbreitbach, Germany.
Discharged at Quantico, Va., on Aug. 13, 1919, as a Gunnery Sergeant.
Awarded Croix de Guerre for meritorious service on Oct. 4, 1918. His platoon commander having been wounded, took over the command of his platoon, leading it into attack and thereby proving his excellent qualities of courage and devotion. Awarded, Fourragere.
In the 1920 U.S. census, Elmer was again living with his family on Serns Avenue, Aneta. All of his brothers and sister were still living at home. By the 1930 U.S. census, only Howard and Edith had left home.

Elmer married Vivian Edith Detwiller on 12 Jun 1935 in Cooperstown, Griggs, North Dakota. In the 1940 U.S. census, Elmer and Vivian were living in Winnebago, Faribault, Minnesota. They were renting their home for $10. per month. Elmer had completed four years of high school, was a retail meat salesman, and had earned $1050 the previous year.

Elmer and Vivian had one daughter and one son. At some point in time they moved to Orem, Utah, Utah. Elmer died 27 October 1978 in Orem, and is buried in the Orem City Cemetery, Orem, Utah. Vivian died 3 Oct 1996 in Orem, and is buried with him.

Time of Birth}

Time of Death}

Fraternal/Social}

Baptism Date}

Place}

Confirm. Date}

Photos} Elmer D. Smith

Immigr'n Date} N/A

Port} N/A

Education: Grade} High school or Top 2 Degrees}

Military: Service} for the State of}

Health Condition}
Cause of Death}

Last Updated
by} Karen Hancock

Date Updated} 4 Apr 2014
Date Created} 16 Jan 2001

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