Jesse Baker Smith, II, son of Jesse Baker Smith

Jesse Baker Smith, Jr
South Seas Island, 1944

Jesse Baker Smith, II, son of Jesse Baker Smith, was born March 30, 1913, at Evanston, Wyoming.  He married, on July 9, 1938, Ernestine Letita Ricci, born August 2, 1915, in Georgetown, Colorado.  Ernestine's parents were from Italy.

Jesse, II (Jess), attended the University of Wyoming for two years.  During World War II he served four years (1942-1946) in the Southwest Pacific Anti-Aircraft Artillery and Communications and was released from duty with the rank of captain.  He worked three years for the Unita County Abstract and Title Company in Evanston, then went to the Title Guaranty Company in Denver in 1940.  Since 1952 he has been vice president of Title Guaranty and in April 1964 was appointed manager of the Jefferson County Branch at Lakewood.  He has many interests and activities; is a past president of the Denver Realty Board, Mile-Hi Sertoma Club, Presidents' Round Table, and Land Title Association of Colorado, and was District Governor of Sertoma for two terms.  He is active in the Denver Board of Realtors, the Denver Home Builders Association, and the Chamber of Commerce.  He is a member of the Denver Athletic Club, Pinehurst Country Club and Sigma Nu Fraternity.  

Jesse Jr, Jesse Sr, and Merrill Smith

Jesse's and Ernestine's one child is

Jesse Baker Smith, III

Jesse Baker Smith, son of Elias William Smith

Jesse Baker Smith, age 16
Ceralvo, Kentucky

Jesse Baker Smith, son of Elias William Smith, born July 8, 1884, at Ceralvo, Kentucky; died March 30, 1947; married on June 20, 1912, Sarah Ellen Gerrard, born October 2, 1889, at Evanston, Wyoming.  Sarah's parents were Daniel and Sarah (Morris) Gerrard, both of whom were born in England.

When Jesse Baker Smith was in his early twenties, he left his native State of Kentucky to seek employment in Florida.  Later he decided to leave Florida and go to Portland, Oregon.  He went by train as far as his money would take him, which was to Evanston, Wyoming.  There he left the train to look for a job.  He was employed as a carpenter and he worked at that trade the rest of his life.

Sarah Ellen Gerrard,
age 19

Jesse arrived in Evanston in August 1908.  About a year later, a close friend, who was a member of the Latter-day Saints Church, invited him to attend a Church meeting.  Jesse was introduced to several Latter-Day Saints girls, one of whom was Sarah Ellen Gerrard.  They became friends and went to church together, to dances and other entertainments.  Jesse became a convert to the L. D. S. Church in July 1911 and he and Sarah were married on June 20, 1912, in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  In time, they became the parents of five children.

Some time later, unemployment in Evanston necessitated Jesse's going to Rock Springs, Wyoming, to find employment and he continued to work there.  He died in the Rock Springs Hospital on March 30, 1947, and was buried in Evanston on April 2. 

Jesse Baker Smith & Sarah Ellen Gerrard, 1910

Although Sarah G. Smith and this writer have not met, they have corresponded for twenty years and have exchanged a great deal of information about the Smith and related families.  Before her marriage Sarah was a school teacher.  When she was 66 years of age she enrolled for 8-month courses in English Literature and Social Science.  This is only one evidence of her industry and quest for knowledge.

The children of Jesse Baker and Sarah Ellen (Gerrard) Smith are:

Sarah Smith,
Merrill, Claude, Jesse Jr.

Jesse Baker Smith, II

Jesse Baker Smith

David Merrill Smith

Claude Gerrard Smith

Phyllis Marie Smith

Elenor Elizabeth Smith