My family is connected to Volney Smith's and Margaretha Stern's family twice, I think, by marriage. Frank Volney Smith, son, was married to Rena Jane Sherman, half-sister to my great-great grandmother, Lavina Baker. Also, I believe Lowell W Smith was married to my great-great-grandfather's sister, Eliza C Soper. Please feel free to contact me if you're interested in exchanging information. Also, there is a website called familysearch.org that has some information about this family.