Dear Walter,
I just came across your post. I don't know if this will be of any benefit to you but in my search for Smihula, the Ellis Island web site list Svihula as an alternate spelling for Smihula. There they list a Terezia, Franz, Josef, Janos and Mihal (Svihula). By any chance have you seen your family name spelled Smihula. Thank you.
Nancy