Marian (Lacey) Smith

Notes:

Birth:
• Marian Smith was recorded as born on 3 Oct 1899, Meadow Creek [Summers Co, WV], son of G.M. Smith of Meadow Creek & Francis Plumley Smith of Raleigh Co, WV. This record return date is 4 Oct 1899.
• 20 days later, a transcription of this record, listing the birth name as Lacey Smith, recorded as born 23 Oct 1899.
• The 1900 census of Richmond District, Raleigh Co, WV, shows all the children of General Marion (G.M.) Smith and (Martha) Francis (Plumley) Smith. This is the only census which could ever show this child (or as some have put forward, these twins...highly unlikely). Only Lacy is shown. Those suggesting two children born in October 1899 also suggest they both died 7 months later on the same date...extremely unlikely.
• No first name is shown on the gravestone.
• By these two birth records (both transcriptions in lists), and the 1900 census, and the single gravestone inscribed with INFANT son of (etc.), it is fairly clear there was only one child born then; who reportedly died of whooping cough.
• The actual name could have been intended by the time of the second transcription, to be Marion Lacy Smith, but could also have been intended as changed from Marian (Marion) Smith to Lacey (Lacy) Smith.
— This family lost six sons: one son in 1875 and four sons to a diphtheria epidemic in 1898, just before Marian's death...and lost another son less than 5 years later.