Ira Smith's Hidden Gold, Terre Haute

[jeff of pa]

The Indianapolis journal. (Indianapolis [Ind.]), 08 Sept. 1901.



https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...=&proxValue=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=24

 

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[ken135]

Anyone working on locating this site?

 

[ken135]

Did a little more digging on Ira Smith. Appears he almost died five years earlier.





Another article similar to Jeff's original post with a little more color added.




I'm still looking for a hunting partner from the west-central part of Indiana.
Send me a private message if you're interested.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Did a little more digging on Ira Smith. Appears he almost died five years earlier.


View attachment 1944621


Another article similar to Jeff's original post with a little more color added.

View attachment 1944622
View attachment 1944623

I'm still looking for a hunting partner from the west-central part of Indiana.
Send me a private message if you're interested.

Almost died? Shotgun kills man dead.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Almost died? Shotgun kills man dead.

The place to start this hunt would be the death records office. Find out how many of these ira folk there were.

 

[Crow]

The place to start this hunt would be the death records office. Find out how many of these ira folk there were.

Good point.

I looked at the death records i have available and cont find a Ira Smith dying in 1901?

Yet strange enough from 1880 census i found location of Ira Smith recorded as farmer living in 1880.

he lived at 86 -95 Ohio street.

Today Fairbanks park is there, the buildings once belonging to Ira Smith are long gone.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Here is the location today.

Some views of the park.

So the chances to get to the original dirt levels may of changed drastically since 1880. All traces of building are long gone. But if i was in town it might be nice place to have a little detect and who knows?

Crow

 

[Crow]

His will confirms he had property.

This part of the will states he leave his property and effects to his wife the property in Terre Haute Below.

The will was made in Morristown New jersey. and probate was done in 1893.

He is only Ira Smith Found in that time period in Terre Haute. So the story of hidden money may of be rumor being reported by reporter failing to fact check.

His death is still a mystery? Yet the fact remains he was farmer (planter) on the census. and his property was at the end of OHIO Street right on the river?

Crow

 

[ken135]

You have the wrong Ira Smith.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

3 dead Iras so far

 

[Crow]

3 dead Iras so far

Maybe 4 There is another lived in Terre Haute in 1880 who worked as brake man. I gather that is some time to do with railways.

Another factor to consider perhaps the right Ira Smith never actually lived in Terre Haute its self but in small farming community and Terre Haute was largest settlement nearby? When the newspaper reported the story they gave the name of the largest settlement nearby instead of small hamlet or farming community where these events happen?

Maybe one was murdered and the other struck by lightning and two Ira smiths stories got mixed up?

Crow

 

[ken135]

Crow - good factors to consider. But there is one very important one you haven't considered.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Crow - good factors to consider. But there is one very important one you haven't considered.

I gots to know!

 

[Crow]

Crow - good factors to consider. But there is one very important one you haven't considered.

Well I have looked at 2 other possibilities. Amigo.

One: The whole story was early 20th century fill in story for a newspaper. and story and name was just a newspaper invention. Other newspapers copied the stories and added their own twist. it was in era of fierce competition between newspapers and gradual drift into tabloid news reporting.

Two: The assumption the newspaper story if was true? Did not give the full proper name of the person involved. Many people in 19th century my late mother included never used their first name. What was the official full name on the records and what every one knew them by could be completely different.

For example William Ira Smith officially in the records but known by people as Ira Smith. The newspaper reports what every knows him by. even if it was not his full name.

Crow

 

[ken135]

Crow - Excellent on both points. I have several newspaper stories that I researched and believe they were made up stories that other newspapers copied. Guess they needed a filler to complete the page that day. And everyone loves a "found lost treasure" story.

Point Two, is the factor I was thinking above. The person's Given name (first name) is often not used in newspaper articles for reasons as you stated above.

I stand corrected. You did consider this important factor. when researching newspaper articles.

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

I was hoping for something more dramatic

 

[jeff of pa]

Crow - Excellent on both points. I have several newspaper stories that I researched and believe they were made up stories that other newspapers copied. Guess they needed a filler to complete the page that day. And everyone loves a "found lost treasure" story.

.

If that is the case here there would be an identical story
with only the name and perhaps amount changed.
I Cannot Find one.

Plus there is More Details in Different Papers. But the Name didn't Change, Not Even in Spelling.

And Can be Found in the Area.

 

[FinderTravis]

Love a good buried treasure mystery! Following! My personal experience with researching anyone with the Surename Smith is that it can quickly become a 'wild goose chase..' As said with folks back then not wanting true identities being known publicly Smith was often a commonly used last name and one that was also given to those whome had changed their name for whatever reason..Open just about any phone directory and there will be at least one full page.. Best of luck!

 

[jeff of pa]

Not sure How far to go Back yet for his Death

this is 2 months earlier

Chronicle Tribune​

Thu, Jul 04, 1901 ·Page 8

 

[jeff of pa]

circa June 19 1901 He was a real Person & Was Killed by Lightning

Unless ya Think the Reporter Did the same research Or spent Months Concocting the Story