Rutha, as she was called all of her adult life, is my Ggramma.
She is found on the 1860 Lavaca County, TX Census as Susan SMITH living with with James T and Malona (HALL) WILSON.
In the July 1858 Lavaca County Court of Estates, James T WILSON is appointed as guardian of "Susana Rutha SMITH, daughter of John SMITH and wife, deceased".
I believe John SMITH's wife is the sister of Malona(HALL) WILSON.
Malona HALL is the daughter of Berriman and Margaret HALL.
Berriman and Margaret appear on the 1830 Greene County and 1840 Sumpter County, AL.
It is likely that this is the same piece of property. In 1830, The Choctaw ceded this area to the USA in the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. The HALL's lived here before this treaty was signed.
On these two census, there are two daughters that are about Malona's age.
I have been unable to find this HALL daughter on any 1850 census.
Rutha married Elijah Thomas WILSON, Malona and James nephew after he returned as a disabled CSA veteran. They were probably married in 1867 at the Salam Baptist Church In Lavaca County.
They are the owners of property adjacent to Malona on the 1870 Lavaca County census. They sold this property and bought another parcel from Elijah's father William WILSON in the 1880's but I have not found them on any 1880 census.
Any help finding this "John SMITH and wife" would help me break throught my family brick wall.
Thanks for your consideration.
Ed Antonette