Smith Ancestry – 3rd Generation: The Story of John Caleb Smith (1852-1940) and Deborah Emmeline Boutilier (1859-1940) – Part 2

About Deborah Emmeline Boutilier (1859-1940)

Deborah Emmeline Boutilier was born on July 7, 1859, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her father, Isaac Joseph Boutilier (1831-1918), was 27 and her mother, Louisa Margaret Eisenhauer (1832-1920), was 27. On November 20, 1859, she was baptized at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, French Village, Halifax. As the family tree shows, she was the second oldest of 6 children – 5 girls and 1 boy.

Emmeline Boutilier Family Tree

Emmeline married John Caleb Smith in her hometown, Tantallon, Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 27, 1881. He was 29 years old and she was 22 years old. They had 8 children in 25 years – 6 boys and 2 girls. The records indicate that all 6 boys enlisted and served in World War 1 (see Smith Ancestry – Remembering the Battle of Vimy Ridge) but only 5 returned!

Emmeline Boutilier at home c1922

Emmeline Boutilier with grandchildren c1922

Deborah Emmeline Boutilier died on May 1, 1940, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, at the age of 80, and was buried at St. Margaret’s Anglican Cemetery, Tantallon, Halifax. The Nova Scotia Death Certificate (#26) indicates that she passed away of an intestinal obstruction (probably carcinoma) at the age of 80 years. Her son Ernest M. Smith signed as informant (Ernest's first-born and only son, Russell Cannon Smith, is the baby in Emmeline's photo above).

Emmeline Boutilier - NS Death Certificate 1940

Emmeline’s Obituary, dated Thursday, May 2, 1940 was posted in the Halifax Chronicle. It read: “MRS JOHN SMITH. The death occurred yesterday at her home at Lower Tantallon, of Mrs. Emeline Deborah Smith, wife of John C. Smith, in her 81st year. Mrs. Smith was a native of Tantallon, and one of the most widely-known residents of the district. She is survived, besides her husband, four sons, Horace in Prince Edward Island; Norman in Ontario; Ernest of Halifax, and Weldon of Tantallon; and two daughters, Mrs. James Boutilier, Tantallon, and Mrs. Willard Carr, Tantallon. The funeral will be held from her late home on Saturday at 2:30 with service conducted by Rev. Mr. Ruderham."

John Caleb Smith and Emmeline Deborah Boutilier - Gravestone 1940