Margaret (Clapp) Smart's Later Years

Margaret's Life

In her 65 years, Margaret saw big changes. She traversed a great portion of a vast continent while raising 11 children and supporting her husband, James.

After the Civil War, she and James took a huge risk. They left their farm in Minnesota and set out on the long journey that ended in Texas for James who, after many frustrating years, died bringing in the cotton crop on someone else's farm.

For more than 25 years, Margaret would be drifting, lacking firm roots. She had endured crop failures, infant deaths, infestations, tornadoes, falling crop prices, drought, inflation, epidemics, and dust storms from Illinois to Texas and Oklahoma.

A Poem Margaret Wrote

I want when I die not a tear to be shed,
No engravement be placed on my tomb,: But lay me away upon my right side,
And rejoice that my suffering is done.

(She had nightmares on her left side and also on her back)

Margaret Passes On

Margaret spent her last days with the Taylors in Port, Oklahoma. She died December 24th, 1909 in Sentinel, Oklahoma.

She is buried in Port Cemetery with seven of her eleven children: Rachel, Martha, Rosella, Amanda, James Ota, Bill and Grover. This is one more indication that this was a close family--a reflection of Margaret's nature.