Eighth Generation

523. Comfort Dorsey "Bird" PORTER was born on 29 May 1857 in Hannibal, Marion, MO.¹³⁹¹ She appeared in the census in 1860 in Hannibal, Marion, MO.¹⁴⁰⁸ She appeared in the census in 1870 in Clarksville, Pike, MO.¹⁴⁰⁹ Bird Visit with daughter on 22 March 1928 in San Diego, San Diego, CA.¹⁸³² She on 8 April 1928 in San Diego, San Diego, CA.¹⁸³³ She Visit to Los Angeles with granddaughter on 30 August 1929 in San Diego, San Diego, CA.¹⁸³⁴ Bird appeared in the census in 1930 in San Diego, San Diego, CA.¹⁸³⁵ She donation list - unk date, unk cause about 1930 in Stockton, San Joaquin, CA. She died on 3 January 1950 at the age of 92 in San Diego, San Diego, CA.^1391,1836 Bird has reference number 616. Referred to as "Bird" by family members.

Comfort Dorsey "Bird" PORTER and William Harley SMITH were married on 18 October 1877 in Hannibal, Marion, MO.^1837,1838 They^{^1837,1838} appeared in the census in 1900 in Joplin, Jasper, MO.¹⁸³⁹ They^¹⁸³⁹ appeared in the census in 1910 in Joplin, Jasper, MO.¹⁸⁴⁰ Bird and William^¹⁸⁴⁰ appeared in the census in 1920 in San Diego, San Diego, CA.¹⁸⁴¹ William Harley SMITH, son of Harley T SMITH and Mary MITCHELL, was born on 7 October 1854 in Bowling Green, KY.^1842,1843 He Letter to Mrs E E Dorsey on 10 September 1866 at c/o Jas O Broadhead in St Louis, St Louis, MO.¹⁸⁴⁴ Mrs. EE Dorsey, c/o Col James O Broadhead, St. Louis, MO

Mrs Dorsey -

Having waited a sufficient length of time to receive an answer to my letter I have become impatient in waiting any long for fear that you didn't receive my letter of the 27th of August -- if you didn't get the letter I will state the proposition that I proposed giving you. It was two hundred dollars with a customary wages for all necessary improvements and making rails to fix up the fences. These improvements will have to be made makes no difference who lives on the place and I believe honestly that with 50 dollars worth of improvements it will be worth to the sale of the farm from four or five hundred dollars. I saw Mr. Brown last Monday he says I have made you a very fair offer on your farm. I saw Mr. Williams yesterday he says he does not want the farm at that price at all. He says there are no conveniences to the place to justify him in paying the price - has not answered your letter. Larkin has been very sick last week but is on the mend again. Aunt Comfort had a very severe attack of the cramp colic yesterday - very doubtful whether she will recover again. Mr. Thomas Roberts arrived at home last Thursday says Mr. John Dorsey will be on in a couple of weeks or so. I would be very much obliged if you would answer my letter immediately it is time for me to commence sowing wheat today if I only knew what I am to do in reference to fallowing up wheat land there is here to fallow. Let me know by the first mail whether you intend to take me up or not - if you don't intend for me to have the place I guess I will buy a small farm. If you did not receive my last letter let me know and I will state to you what I said in it.
Mr. Benton Lawrence misunderstood the meaning of your letter to Mr. W- I ought not to have said anything about what he said. Mr. E. Brown says he is going to take that smallest filly of yours but he would not tell me how much he ws willing to pay for. Are you going to rent your home farm or sell it this Fall. There are some inquiries about it.
I shall close my letter as badly written as it is hoping to hear from you in a few days. I remain Your Friend
W L Smith
(Actually this was W H Smith, the husband of E.E. Porter Dorsey's niece, Comfort.) In 1898 he was a real estate broker and secretary/treasurer of the Gilchrist-Porter Realty Co in Joplin, Jasper, MO.¹⁸⁴⁵ In 1898 William was a director of the Jopling Trust Company in Joplin, Jasper, MO.¹⁸⁴⁶ He died on 25 March 1921 at the age of 66 in San Diego, San Diego, CA.¹⁸⁴⁷ He has reference number 617.

Comfort Dorsey "Bird" PORTER and William Harley SMITH had the following children:

562	i.	Righter Levering SMITH was born on 26 August 1878 in Hannibal, Marion, MO.¹³⁹¹ He died on 4 January 1880 at the age of 1 in Hannibal, Marion, MO.¹³⁹¹ He has reference number 1150.
+563	ii.	Aaron Levering SMITH.
+564	iii.	Mary Eleanor "Eleanita" SMITH.