Rowan Co. birth records, on LDS microfilm #216839, list Daniel B. Smedley, b. 8 Aug 1858, son of Samuel Smedley Jr. & Delila Brown.

His death certificate states Daniel Boone Smedley, age 89 years 2 months 24 days, born 8 Aug 1858 in Rowan Co., died 1 Nov 1947 in Craney, Rowan Co., Ky, farmer, widowed, late wife Mary Eliza Ellington, father Samuel Smedley, mother Delilah Brown, both born in Ky, cause of death cardiac failure, informant Wm Smedley, Rt. 3 Morehead, Ky, burial in Smedley Cemetery.

There was a very long obituary about him printed in the Rowan County News:

Daniel Boone Smedley, 89, Dies At Home on Craney

Morehead. Daniel Boone Smedley, one of Rowan County's most loved citizens, died at the age of 89 Saturday at the home of his son, Jeff Smedley, on Craney.

Mr. Smedley, long recognized as the deam of the local Democratic political leaders, passed away almost on the eve of his party's victory. He was for Harry Lee Waterfield in the primary, but said that Clements was a "good man" and had predicted victory for the Democrats.

Funeral services were held at the Smedley cemetery Monday afternoon with Rev. Otis Murphy saying the last rites over this pioneer Rowan County citizen.

Surviving are the following children: J. D. Smedley, Craney; Frank Smedley, Harvey, Ill.; Kate Hargis, Morehead; Della Foster, Clearfield; Ora Smedley, Seattle; Emma Pigman, Morehead; John Smedley, Craney; Charles Smedley, Palmyra, Ohio; Mary Black, Dayton, Ohio; and Jesse Smedley, Zilpo.

* * *

In November of last year The Rowan County News carried the following story about Mr. Smedley:

Uncle Daniel Boone Smedley may well hold the honor of being the "rootenest-tootenest-straightest-voting" Democrati in the United States. He is 88 years old, has never voted anything but the Democrat ticket and he never failed to go th the polls any primary or general election except in 1944, when he was too ill to be hauled to the voting place. At that, he raised a great "ruckus" because no one would take him to the Piercy voting precinct, although he was in serious condition.

He plans to be on hand at the voting house Tuesday, November 5, and you won't have to do much guessing as to how his ballot will be marked.

"I can remember," and his jaw becomes firm as he looks straight at you, "when the Union soldiers camped on Lick Fork Rowan County and burned the fences in the neighborhood for their camp fires."

"Them rebels killed all the hogs, chickens, ducks and geese," he recalls. "Why, they even went into our poultry house and killed Mother's old setting goose."

Mr. Smedley saw his father Samuel Smedley shot, and took off his boots and threw them the Union soldiers.

Mr. Smedley was born on Lick Fork in 1858 and has lived all his live in Rowan County. He has a wonderful memory and can talk by the hour of many interesting happenings in the community. "Why, Morehead used to be a town with only half a dozen houses," he says.

"The good Lord has been mighty kind to me and my family," Mr. Smedley declared, "but, we've always tried to live right, pay our taxes and vote the straight Democrat ticket."

Her death certificate records Mary E. Smedley, age 80 years 5 months 7 days, born 7 June 1861 in Rowan Co., Ky, died 15 Oct 1941 in Morehead, Rowan Co., Ky, married, wife of Daniel Boone Smedley, father David E. Ellington, mother’s maiden name Ruth Jones, both born in Ky, cause of death “history of apoplexy Sept 29, ‘41 incapacitated entire right side the last time I saw her 1938 she had senile dementia, she has had no doctor since 1938”, informant Jeff Smedley (son), Morehead, Ky, burial in Smedley cemetery.

1880 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearce Prec. (#3), records as family #223:
Smedley, Daniel B., 22, laborer; Mary E., 19; Jefferson, 2. All born in Kentucky.

1900 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearce precinct, enumerated 9 June, lists on p. 6A as family #103:
Smedley, Daniel, 41, farmer, b. Aug 1858; Mary E, wife, 39, b. June 1861, married 23 years, mother of 9 children, 8 living; Forest F., son, 16, b. June 1883; Ruthie C., dau, 14, b. Dec 1885; Delila J., dau, 12 b. Mar 1888; Ora W., son, 9, b. Aug 1890; Emily E., dau, 7, b. Mar 1893; John D., son, 4, b. July 1895; Charlie, son, 2, b. Feb 1898; Ada, granddau, 2, b. Aug 1897; Jefferson D., son, 22, widowed, b. Feb 1878. All born Ky/Ky/Ky.

(Ada is Jefferson’s daughter, so probably should have been listed after him. Her mother was Georgia Ann Pettit, who died in 1898. This is, by the way, a rare case of a household in the 1900 census of Rowan Co.3 where every single birthdate is consistent with other records. Perhaps the family was more literate than most and kept a detailed family bible.)

1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Farmers precinct, enumerated 19 April, lists on p. 2B as family #25/26:
Smedley, Daniel B., 52, Ky Ky Ky; Mary E., wife, 49; married 33 years, mother of 11 children, 10 living; Ora W., son, 19; John D., son, 15; Charlie A., son, 12; Mary E., dau, 10; --sse (?), dau, 7. All born in Ky. (All that is clearly legible on the name of the youngest child is the “sse”. The beginning of the name is faded. But it clearly says “Daughter” in the relationship column. Emma Smedley Pigman47 says that it should be a son Jesse, and since he would be her own brother, she should know.)

1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Pearcy precinct, enumerated Jan 19, lists on p. 5B as family #93/100:
Smedley, Boone, 61, farmer; Mary E., wife, 58; Jessie E., son, 16. All born Ky Ky Ky.

Also in the same dwelling but with a different family number (93/101) are their dau Mary, age 19, and her husband Silas Black, age 25.

1930 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Morehead precinct, enumerated 9 April, lists on p. 1A as family #8:
Smedley, Daniel B., 71, age at first marriage 19; Mary E., wife, 68, age at first marriage 16. Both born Ky Ky Ky.

In 1940 Daniel Boone was living with their son Jeff, and Mary Eliza was living with their daughter Emma.