Soldier Information
Name: Edward Crapster
Alias: Smith
Place of Birth: Shelby KY Year of Birth: 1844
Occupation: Laborer
Eyes: Dark Hair: Dark Complexion: Dark
Height in Feet: 5 Inches: 5
View Ledger
Enlistment Information
Enlistment Date: September 26, 1864
Enlistment Place: Louisville
Enlistment State: KY
Compiled Military Service Record
Document: View
Congressional District: 4th
Company: L Regiment(s): 12th USCHA
Mustered Where: Louisville, Kentucky
Mustered Out Date: April 24, 1866
Rank at Muster Out: Private
Notes:
Private Edward Crapster aka Edward Smith was mustered into Co. L 12th USCHA on the same day as he enlisted at Louisville. Beginning in May 1865, he was on duty in Bowling Green, Kentucky, as at the post headquarters as an orderly (CMSR page 11). Private Edward Crapster aka Edward Smith was mustered out of Co. L 12th USCHA at Louisville on April 24, 1866. He was owed $7.78 for his clothing account, and $200 in Bounty payments.
Soldier Death Information
Died in war? No
Military Death Date:
Military Death Location:
Military Cause of Death:
Death Date:
Cause of Death:
Soldier Pension Information
Pension Card Link: Pension Card
Pension Application Date: April 29, 1892
Application No.: 1108123 Certificate No.: 1036428
Alternate First Name: Alternate Last Name: Smith
Widow Pension Information
Widow Pension Card: Pension Card
Widow Application Date: March 3, 1900
Application No.: 801131 Certificate No.: 618314
Other Family Pension Information
Pension Card Link: View
Application Date: December 7, 1905
Application No.: 839196 Certificate No.: 618315
Pension File Information
Pension File:
Pensioners:
Pensioner County: Pensioner State:
Number of Pages:
Pension Notes:
On April 29, 1892, Edward Crapster aka Edward Smith applied for an invalid pension which was later granted. On March 3, 1900, Edward Smith’s widow, Grace Smith, applied for and was later granted a widow’s pension. On December 7, 1905, an application for a minor dependent’s pension was filed for the Smiths’ youngest child, Robert Edward Smith. According to the pension card, minor’s guardian was William H. Crapster (1853-1934), the son of the soldier’s former enslaver. Robert E. Smith’s minor’s pension was approved on November 22, 1906, and commenced at a rate of $6 per month. On April 9, 1909, his benefits were increased to $12 per month. The final minor’s pension payment to Robert E. Smith was issued on May 13, 1912.
Freedman’s Bank/Freedmen’s Bureau Information
No Freedman’s Bank information found
No Freedmen’s Bureau Documents found
Family Information
Mother First Name: Mother Maiden Name:
Father First Name: Father Last Name:
Siblings:
Wife #1 First Name: Grace Maiden Name: Carter
Wife #2 First Name: Maiden Name:
Wife #3 First Name: Maiden Name:
Children: Ida J. Smith 1877
Mary Smith 1879
Lizzie Smith 1892
Margaret L. Smith 1885
Walter W. Smith 1887
Addie 1892 Smith
Robert Edward Smith 1896
Family Notes:
No marriage records were discovered for Edward Smith, but according to the 1900 Census, Edward and Grace Smith were married in 1876. According to the 1900 Census, Grace Smith had nine children during her lifetime, and as of 1900, seven were still alive. At least seven of the nine children that Grace Smith had were with Edward Smith, between the years 1877 and 1896. Edward Smith’s youngest child, Robert Edward Smith (1896-1956) was the only one of his children to receive a minor dependent’s pension. These benefits may have contributed to Robert E. Smith’s education and professional accomplishments. Robert E. Smith was a college graduate (Kentucky State College and Howard University) and attended dental school. Dr. Robert E. Smith practiced as a dentist in Louisville, Kentucky until his death in 1956. His last known residence at 115 Southwestern Parkway in Louisville still stands across the street from Shawnee Park.
No official death records were found for Edward Smith, however, given that he was living in Shelby County, Kentucky when the 1900 Census was conducted, and that his widow applied for pension benefits in 1904, it is reasonable to assume that Edward Smith died in Shelby County sometime between 1900 and 1904.
Family Tree:
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1870 Census
1870 Census Link: View
1870 Profession: Farm laborer
1870 Live with/near former enslaver? Yes
1870 Real Estate Value: 0 1870 Personal Estate Value: 0
1870 Ability to Read? Cannot read Ability to Write? Cannot write
1870 Census Notes:
In 1870, Edward Smith, age 30, worked as a farm laborer in the household of his former enslaver, the widow Mary E. Crapster, age 49, a farmer, who owned $5,000 in real estate. Also in the household were five of Mary E. Crapster’ children: Mary Crapster, age 26; Jennie (Jane) Crapster, age 24; John Crapster, age 22, a farm laborer; Elizabeth Crapster, age 19; and William H. Crapster, age 17, a farm laborer, who later became the guardian of Edward Smith’s son, Robert E. Smith. In addition to Edward Smith, two other African Americans lived and worked in the Crapster household: Hetty Smith, age 20, domestic servant (unknown if she is related to Edward Smith); and Peter Harris, age 10, a servant. All were born in Kentucky and lived in the Simpsonville area of Shelby County.
1880 Census
1880 Census Link: View
1880 Profession: Works on farm
1880 Live with/near former enslaver? Yes
1880 Ability to Read? Can read Ability to Write? Can write
1880 Census Notes:
In 1880, Edward Smith, age 34, lived in Shelby County and worked on a farm. He was married to Grace (Gracie) Smith, age 36, who kept house. There were three children were in the household: stepson Squire Allen, age 7; daughter Ida J. Smith age two; and Mary Smith, age eight months. It is unknown if Grace Smith was the mother of “stepson” Squire Allen and no information on Squire Allen’s father was discovered.
1890 Census
1890 Census information not found
1900 Census
1900 Census Link: View
1900 Profession: Farm Laborer
1900 Ability to Read? Can read Ability to Write? Can write
1900 Own/Rent: Rent 1900 Home Free/Mortgage: Unknown 1900 Farm/House: House
1900 Census Notes:
Edward and Grace Smith were enumerated in Shelby County, KY, with four children in the household. Grace’s listing noted she had given birth to nine children, with seven surviving in 1900.
1910 Census
1910 Census information not found
1920 Census
1920 Census information not found
Enslaver Information
Name: Mary Elizabeth Hollingsworth Crapster Location: Shelby, County Kentucky
Previous Enslaver:
Enslaver Notes:
According to the 1840 Census, William H. Crapster (1813-1856), husband of enslaver Mary E. Crapster, was not an enslaver. William H. Crapster was not listed in the 1850 Slave Schedule as an enslaver, but his brother, Basil Hobbs Crapster (1819-1882) enslaved at least eight persons. It seems unlikely that William H. Crapster Sr. was not enslaver by 1860 (he owned a large farm west of Shelbyville) and it is possible that this was just a Census and/or transcription error. The 1860 Slave Schedule, however, listed Mary E. Hollingsworth Crapster (1820-1900) (now a widow) as the enslaver of four persons, one of whom was a good match for Edward Crapster aka Edward Smith. After the Civil War, the Crapster family continued to have a relationship with Edward Smith. According to the 1870 Census, Edward Smith lived in the Crapster household and was employed by Mary E. Crapster as a farm laborer. In 1905, Mary E. Crapster’s son, William H. Crapster (1853-1934), was named as the guardian of Edward Smith’s youngest child, Robert Edward Smith (1896-1956). The Crapster farm was located approximately six miles west of Shelbyville, on the south side on what is today US 60, and situated between Little Bullskin Creek and Bullskin Creek.
1850 Enslaver Census
1850 Census Link: View
1850 Number of Enslaved:
1860 Enslaver Census
1860 Census Link: View
1860 Real Estate Value: $19,000 1860 Personal Estate Value: $8,000
1860 Slave Schedule Link: View
1860 Number of Enslaved: 4
1870 Enslaver Census
1870 Census information not found
1880 Enslaver Census
1880 Census information not found
Compensation Information
Compensation Application not found