William Smith (1863–1945)

    Quick facts

    Born
    1863
    Died
    1945

    When was William Smith born? 1863.

    When did William Smith die? 1945.

    Life story

    William Smith (1863–1945) was born in 1863, and died in 1945, at about age 82. A cemetery record documents William's grave. Source: Names in Stone. AncestryData does not yet have further details about William's life.

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    The world William lived through

    1. 1863 · age 0 — The Emancipation Proclamation took effect

    2. 1871 · age 8 — The Great Chicago Fire burned much of the city

    3. 1898 · age 35 — The Spanish–American War was fought

    4. 1908 · age 45 — Ford introduced the Model T

    5. 1918 · age 55 — World War I ended and the influenza pandemic swept the world

    6. 1933 · age 70 — Prohibition ended in the United States

    7. 1941 · age 78 — The attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II

    Questions about William Smith

    When was William Smith born?

    William Smith was born in 1863.

    When did William Smith die?

    William Smith died in 1945.

    How old was William Smith at the time of death?

    William Smith was about 82 years old.

    Where is William Smith buried?

    A cemetery record from Names in Stone documents William's grave; see the source link on this page for the cemetery map.

    Who was president when William Smith was born?

    Abraham Lincoln was president of the United States when William was born.

    Who was president when William Smith died?

    In 1945, the U.S. presidents were Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman.

    What happened in the world the year William Smith was born?

    In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

    What major events happened during William Smith's lifetime?

    During William's lifetime: the Emancipation Proclamation took effect (1863, age 0); Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone (1876, age 13); the Wright brothers made the first powered flight (1903, age 40); the United States entered World War I (1917, age 54); Prohibition ended in the United States (1933, age 70); Allied forces landed in Normandy on D-Day (1944, age 81).

    Which U.S. censuses would include William Smith?

    Federal censuses taken during William's lifetime and now public: 1870, 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940. Most 1890 census records were lost in a 1921 fire.

    Census years to search

    Life events

    1. Birth

      1863

    2. Death

      1945

    3. Burial

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    Cite this record

    AncestryData, "William Smith (1863–1945)," record page, https://www.ancestrydata.com/person/william-smith-1863-1945-a0d6c202/, accessed 2026-11-14.

    https://www.ancestrydata.com/person/william-smith-1863-1945-a0d6c202/

    Sources

    Names in Stone

    Cemetery record from Names in Stone

    View the grave on Names in Stone

    Other William Smith records

    Born 1876

    Died 1938

    Born 1927

    Died 1991

    Browse Smith family records
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