I am trying to research my Smith family line and I am hoping I can find some help through this forum. My great-grandfather is Turner Corbin Smith. According to information I have been given, he was born in 1863 in Rabun County, GA. He eventually moved to South Carolina where some of his children, including my grandmother, were born. My grandmother (Emmaline “Sybil” Smith was born in Oconee County, SC. Turner’s parents were William Riley Smith and Mary Etta Savage (one census spells her name Marietta). One piece of information I have says William Riley Smith was born in Habersham County, but he is listed in the 1880 Rabun County census. It is William Riley Smith and his ancestors that I am trying to find more info on. I came across a family tree that says William Riley Smith’s father was Wash (or Washington) Smith (who married a Cherokee Indian---I do not have a name for her). I have not been able to confirm this. I contacted the person who posted the family tree and they had no other info. I also came across some info through another forum that Wash (or Washington) came from Ireland as a young child. The information says that Wash’s surname was Hulse (or Hulsey) and that when both of his parents died while he was young, he was taken in by a Smith family. Both of these stories go along with things I was told by my grandmother…that there was Indian blood in the family and that there was a Hulse/Smith name issue although she couldn’t remember the details. There are several family trees on Ancestry that have Turner’s father listed as a William Riley or Raleigh Smith (whose parents were Samuel John Smith & Alsey Alsa or Alice Maddocks, but this seems to be incorrect information as it does not fit with any information I have or have heard from conversations with my grandmother before her death.

Also, Turner Corbin Smith’s 2nd wife was Mary Margaret Lyles Standridge (this is my grandmother’s mom) who I also have as being born in Rabun County, Ga. I have no other info related to her family line.

If anyone has information to provide that will help me to extend my family tree further back on the Smith/Standridge/Savage sides or who can help me solve the Cherokee Indian/Hulse & Smith mysteries, I would greatly appreciate it. I am willing to share any information I have regarding Turner Corbin Smith’s family line in South Carolina. Feel free to respond through this forum or directly by email wlmjohnson@charter.net