William was the son James McClanahan & Mary Ann "Polly" Hubbard and the grandson of David McClanahan & Mary "Polly" Ingram.
His father would die during the Civil War in Rutherford County, Tennessee. His mother would later remarry to Henry Smith, ca. 1869 and they are next found in Clay County, NC in 10 Sep 1870. At this time, "Joe", as he was commonly known, was using the surname, Smith. He was briefly raised by his step-father, Henry Smith in Clay County, NC.
He would later marry Luvenia A. Woods, ca. 1878 in Clay County. She brought to this union one illegitimate daughter, Dovie V Woods, who was born in 1876.
After their marriage, Joe and Luvenia would remove to the Alarka Community of Swain County.
Four children would be born to this union:
Thomas Vance McClanahan
John Anderson "Peat" McClanahan
William Arthur McClanahan
Minnie (McClanahan) Herron Adams
Following the death of Luvenia, Joe would remarry to Addie Herron on 02 Oct 1914 in Swain County. She brought to this union one illegitimate son, Frank Herron, who married Joe's daughter, Minnie McClanahan. No children would be born to this union.
Joe would interchange the McClanahan and Smith surnames throughout his life. In their later years, following the 1940 census, most of his children would also begin using the Smith surname as well; but not before each were married and had children of their own. No legal name change was ever performed for the McClanahan family even though the Smith surname has now been handed down for generations.
The mystery of why this family line began using the Smith surname is unknown; even though many have arguably "presumed" to know the truth behind the riddle. Colorful & interesting fables have been told by many; yet no two are alike.
Joe was 76-years of age.
His father would die during the Civil War in Rutherford County, Tennessee. His mother would later remarry to Henry Smith, ca. 1869 and they are next found in Clay County, NC in 10 Sep 1870. At this time, "Joe", as he was commonly known, was using the surname, Smith. He was briefly raised by his step-father, Henry Smith in Clay County, NC.
He would later marry Luvenia A. Woods, ca. 1878 in Clay County. She brought to this union one illegitimate daughter, Dovie V Woods, who was born in 1876.
After their marriage, Joe and Luvenia would remove to the Alarka Community of Swain County.
Four children would be born to this union:
Thomas Vance McClanahan
John Anderson "Peat" McClanahan
William Arthur McClanahan
Minnie (McClanahan) Herron Adams
Following the death of Luvenia, Joe would remarry to Addie Herron on 02 Oct 1914 in Swain County. She brought to this union one illegitimate son, Frank Herron, who married Joe's daughter, Minnie McClanahan. No children would be born to this union.
Joe would interchange the McClanahan and Smith surnames throughout his life. In their later years, following the 1940 census, most of his children would also begin using the Smith surname as well; but not before each were married and had children of their own. No legal name change was ever performed for the McClanahan family even though the Smith surname has now been handed down for generations.
The mystery of why this family line began using the Smith surname is unknown; even though many have arguably "presumed" to know the truth behind the riddle. Colorful & interesting fables have been told by many; yet no two are alike.
Joe was 76-years of age.
William was the son James McClanahan & Mary Ann "Polly" Hubbard and the grandson of David McClanahan & Mary "Polly" Ingram.
His father would die during the Civil War in Rutherford County, Tennessee. His mother would later remarry to Henry Smith, ca. 1869 and they are next found in Clay County, NC in 10 Sep 1870. At this time, "Joe", as he was commonly known, was using the surname, Smith. He was briefly raised by his step-father, Henry Smith in Clay County, NC.
He would later marry Luvenia A. Woods, ca. 1878 in Clay County. She brought to this union one illegitimate daughter, Dovie V Woods, who was born in 1876.
After their marriage, Joe and Luvenia would remove to the Alarka Community of Swain County.
Four children would be born to this union:
Thomas Vance McClanahan
John Anderson "Peat" McClanahan
William Arthur McClanahan
Minnie (McClanahan) Herron Adams
Following the death of Luvenia, Joe would remarry to Addie Herron on 02 Oct 1914 in Swain County. She brought to this union one illegitimate son, Frank Herron, who married Joe's daughter, Minnie McClanahan. No children would be born to this union.
Joe would interchange the McClanahan and Smith surnames throughout his life. In their later years, following the 1940 census, most of his children would also begin using the Smith surname as well; but not before each were married and had children of their own. No legal name change was ever performed for the McClanahan family even though the Smith surname has now been handed down for generations.
The mystery of why this family line began using the Smith surname is unknown; even though many have arguably "presumed" to know the truth behind the riddle. Colorful & interesting fables have been told by many; yet no two are alike.
Joe was 76-years of age.
His father would die during the Civil War in Rutherford County, Tennessee. His mother would later remarry to Henry Smith, ca. 1869 and they are next found in Clay County, NC in 10 Sep 1870. At this time, "Joe", as he was commonly known, was using the surname, Smith. He was briefly raised by his step-father, Henry Smith in Clay County, NC.
He would later marry Luvenia A. Woods, ca. 1878 in Clay County. She brought to this union one illegitimate daughter, Dovie V Woods, who was born in 1876.
After their marriage, Joe and Luvenia would remove to the Alarka Community of Swain County.
Four children would be born to this union:
Thomas Vance McClanahan
John Anderson "Peat" McClanahan
William Arthur McClanahan
Minnie (McClanahan) Herron Adams
Following the death of Luvenia, Joe would remarry to Addie Herron on 02 Oct 1914 in Swain County. She brought to this union one illegitimate son, Frank Herron, who married Joe's daughter, Minnie McClanahan. No children would be born to this union.
Joe would interchange the McClanahan and Smith surnames throughout his life. In their later years, following the 1940 census, most of his children would also begin using the Smith surname as well; but not before each were married and had children of their own. No legal name change was ever performed for the McClanahan family even though the Smith surname has now been handed down for generations.
The mystery of why this family line began using the Smith surname is unknown; even though many have arguably "presumed" to know the truth behind the riddle. Colorful & interesting fables have been told by many; yet no two are alike.
Joe was 76-years of age.
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