I wrote an AI-assisted ABC Biography of my 2nd great-grandfather Devier James Lamphier Smith (1839-1894) in 52 Ancestors Week 19: #26 Devier James Lamphier Smith (1839-1894) based on my genealogical sketch of his life.
1) Based on the genealogical sketch, I requested Claude Sonnet 4 to create a memoir written by Devier J. Smith answering certain questions posed by his children about his life in 1894. Here are Devier's AI-assisted memories (lightly edited for accuracy):
Prompt: Using the attached genealogical sketch, please create answers to these questions that Devier James Lamphier Smith might be asked by his children,say at age 54 in early 1894 in a memoir:
- Tell us about your childhood. Who was in your family, where did you live, did you go to school, did you work, what fun did you have?
- What occupations did you have?
- What major life decisions did you make and how did they work out?
- What were the hardest challenges in your life?
- What was your biggest accomplishment?
- What are you proudest of?
- How do you want to be remembered?
- What advice do you have for your grandchildren?
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3) The Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4 Response:
A Father's Reflections: The Life and Times of Devier James Smith
As told to my children in early 1894
Tell us about your childhood. Who was in your family, where did you live, did you go to school, did you work, what fun did you have?
My dear children, my early years were quite different from what you might expect. I was born Devier James Lamphier in Jefferson County, New York, in 1839. My birth parents remain a mystery to me, but the Lord blessed me with wonderful adoptive parents who became my true family.
Ranslow and Mary (Bell) Smith of Henderson, Jefferson County, took me in as their own when I was an infant. They also adopted your aunt Mary Jane, who was born around 1837. When I was about four years old, we made the great journey west to Wisconsin when it was still a territory - quite an adventure for a young boy! We settled in Dodge County, in what is now Rolling Prairie between the towns of Burnett and Oak Grove.
Father Ranslow was an industrious man - a farmer and innkeeper with considerable property. By 1850, he owned $2,000 worth of real estate, and by 1860, he had built that up to $7,800 in real property and $930 in personal property. Mother Mary was a gentle soul from New York, like Father.
I did attend school for several years, along with Mary Jane. As I grew older, I worked as a farm laborer on Father's land and then handled the horses at Father’s “Four-Mile Inn” in Rolling Prairie, learning the value of hard work and the skills that would serve me well throughout life. The Wisconsin frontier was a fine place for a boy to grow up - plenty of space to roam, work to keep us busy, and the satisfaction of helping build something from nothing.
What occupations did you have?
Throughout my life, I've worn many hats, as they say. I started as a boy as a farm laborer working for my adoptive father, but I always had an eye for opportunity and wasn't afraid of hard work.
In Wisconsin, I was both a farmer and helped Father with his inn-keeping and livery business. When we moved to Iowa, I continued farming and livery on my own land, but also got into the land speculation business - something that was a thread throughout my career. In Missouri, I farmed and expanded into cattle trading, which taught me about markets and negotiation.
When we moved to Concordia, Kansas, I really found my calling in the livery and livestock business. I ran a livery and sale stable, traded cattle and horses. I was always looking for the next opportunity.
In western Nebraska, I established the Blue Front livery stable with your brother David in McCook. We also had a taxi service for several years, sold hair tonic for a time at $2 a bottle, and I even patented a harness rack in 1885 (Patent Number 331,565) showing that a man can innovate even in a practical business. But I never lost my love for the land – in 1885 I patented 320 acres in Wano, Kansas and tried my hand at ranching.
What major life decisions did you make and how did they work out?
The most important decision I ever made was marrying your dear mother, Abbie Vaux, on April 4th, 1861, in Rolling Prairie, Wisconsin. She has been my constant companion through all our moves and adventures, and together we built a family I'm proud of.
Another crucial decision was when I petitioned the Wisconsin State Senate in 1866 to legally change my name from Devier Lamphier to Devier J. Smith. Father Ranslow's will referred to me as "Devere J. Lamphear, Commonly called Devere J. Smith, my adopted son," and I wanted to honor the Smith name legally. Governor Lucius Fairchild approved the act on March 21st, 1866, making me officially the adopted child and legal heir of Ranslow Smith.
Perhaps the most significant decision was our constant willingness to move west seeking better opportunities. From Wisconsin to Iowa in 1867, then to Missouri in 1873, then Kansas in 1878, and finally Nebraska in 1885, plus the ranch in Wano, Kansas. Each move was a gamble, but each taught us something and brought new opportunities. When we obtained the land in Wano, I wrote in our family Bible about the "Spring Ranch" and how I believed Kansas was "the grandest state in the Union, and Cheyenne county the banner county in Kansas."
What were the hardest challenges in your life?
The hardest challenge, without question, was losing our precious little ones. Our daughter Agnes Bell, whom we called "Aggie," was born on February 26th, 1868, but died on April 23rd, 1870, at just two years old in Bedford, Iowa. Then our son Lucian H., "Lutie," was born on June 16th, 1875, but died on March 19th, 1878, at age two in Concordia, Kansas. A parent should never have to bury their children, and your mother and I carried that sorrow with us always.
The financial pressures were also constant. Every move meant starting over, building new businesses, establishing credit and reputation in new communities. When Father Ranslow died in 1873, settling his estate took years - it wasn't finally resolved until 1885. During those years, we had to manage without that inheritance while building our lives in Kansas.
The physical demands of frontier life were considerable too. I wrote in our Bible in 1889 about being alone on the ranch while your mother was in California and you children were scattered. The isolation could be difficult, but I found comfort in reading the Holy Bible and writing letters to family.
What was your biggest accomplishment?
My biggest accomplishment is the family we built together. Despite the hardships and losses, we raised three children who have become fine adults. Della, you've become a music teacher and married well to Henry Carringer. David, you've taken over the livery business and shown real business sense. And Matie, you too became a music teacher and have made a good marriage to George Chenery.
Beyond family, I'm proud of the businesses I built and the way I adapted to each new place and opportunity. From nothing, I built livery stables, traded cattle, farmed hundreds of acres, and even received a patent for my harness rack invention. I helped settle three different states and left each place better than I found it.
What are you proudest of?
I'm proudest of the fact that I never gave up. Born without knowing my true parents, I could have wallowed in that mystery. Instead, I embraced the family that chose me and honored their name. When faced with hardship, I moved forward. When we lost our little ones, we grieved but continued building our lives.
I'm proud that I was able to provide for my family and give you children opportunities. That you both learned music and became teachers shows we valued education even on the frontier. I'm proud of the honest living I made with my hands and my mind, never cheating anyone but always looking for the next opportunity.
Most of all, I'm proud of the legacy of hard work, faith, and family that I hope to pass on to you and your children.
How do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as a man who worked hard, loved his family, and helped build the West. I want to be remembered as someone who faced challenges head-on and never lost faith in the Lord's plan, even when that plan included sorrows I couldn't understand.
I hope people will remember that I was fair in my dealings, innovative in my thinking, and always willing to help a neighbor. I want to be remembered as a man who honored his adoptive parents by living up to the Smith name and who raised children who will carry forward the values of hard work, honesty, and family loyalty.
When I wrote in our family Bible that November day in 1889, I said, "May we all praise the Lord forever is my prayer." That's how I want to be remembered - as a man of faith who trusted in God's providence through all of life's trials and blessings.
What advice do you have for your grandchildren?
My dear grandchildren, none of you I've had the joy to meet, and others I may never see, but I want you to know these things:
First, never be ashamed of humble beginnings. I started life not even knowing my birth parents, but I was blessed with adoptive parents who loved me. Your circumstances at birth don't determine your destiny - your character and hard work do.
Second, be willing to take chances and move when opportunity calls. We moved from New York to Wisconsin, then to Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Each move was scary, but each brought new possibilities. Don't be afraid to leave what's familiar if it means bettering your family's future.
Third, treat every person fairly and honor your word. In business, your reputation is everything. I built livery stables and traded cattle across multiple states, and my word was my bond. People knew they could trust D.J. Smith.
Fourth, value education and culture. Even on the frontier, we made sure your parents learned music and became teachers. Learning makes you adaptable, and adaptability is essential in a changing world.
Fifth, hold fast to your faith. I've found comfort in the Holy Bible through the darkest times. When we lost little Aggie and Lutie, when I was alone on the ranch, when business was uncertain - faith sustained me.
Finally, remember that family is everything. Love each other, support each other, and never let distance or disagreements break the bonds between you. The Smith name - the name I chose to honor my adoptive father - should stand for loyalty, hard work, and love.
The frontier is closing, but America will always need people willing to work hard, innovate, and build something better for their children. That's your inheritance from me - not just whatever property I leave behind, but the example of a life lived with purpose, faith, and determination.
May God bless you all, and may you always make the Smith name proud.
Your loving father and grandfather,
Devier James “D.J.” Smith
McCook, Nebraska
January 1894
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I think that these relatively short memoirs are poignant and would be interesting to her family members, especially to his great-grandchildren, and even to his 3rd great-grandchildren.
This format provides a different perspective than a biography, doesn't it? It is historical fiction, but many of the historical facts from the genealogical sketch are included and it rings true to me.
In May 1894, Devier died in McCook, Nebraska and is buried there. His wife, Abigail (Vaux) Smith was in San Diego with their daughter Della and her husband Austin Carringer and their son Lyle Carringer; son David and his wife Leava and a daughter Eva were in McCook; daughter Matie and her husband George Chenery were in McCook.
I will write more of these memoirs or life memories as told by my ancestors as time goes on. This is great genealogy fun for me!
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