Nancy Ellen Smith (wife of Walton Smith), granddaughter of Cornelius RITCHIE (son of John Ritchie and Jemima QUICK, from Scotland and Holland respectively) and Kesiah JUPIN Ritchie, of Nelson Co., owned about 450 acres of the old Charles Smith homestead, Bellwood, Nelson Co., Ky., he being her father-in-law and one of the earliest settlers of Nelson Co.
The Smiths built a vat and tanned their own leather, in that time shoemakers went to the house taking measurements and returning later with shoes for the family.
The original Smith house burned before 1850 and was replaced with one built of logs hewed on all four sides and and fitted neatly in the corners. It is the oldest house in that community, the others having been burned or torn down. There is a large meathouse built of white limestone by James Cork, formerly of Boston, Nelson Co., Ky. that is an excellent piece of workmanship. The stone fence surrounding the property was built by his slaves and is in good preservation. The family cemetery is upon a hill and Charles Smith is buried there.
Across the valley from his house is a negro cemetery where Smith and his neighbors buried their slaves, their children and grandchildren brought their dead there in the late 1890s. It is among the largest burial ground for slaves and their descendants in the state of Ky.
The Smiths raised flax and made it into cloth, they also kept a flock of sheep and carded the wool into rolls for weaving. Nancy Ellen Smith and her daughters all carded, spun, and wove, making socks, stockings, linsey for petticoats, blankets, and carpets."
Nancy Ellen (daughter of Lewis RITCHIE and Mary Christina RAZOR, granddaughter of Adam Razor and Martha LeMASTER and great granddaughter of Hugh LeMASTER and Mary JUPIN) was born in 1833 and died in 1904, she is buried at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery, Bardstown, Nelson Co., Ky., her husband Walton ( son of Charles Smith and Ellender MARRIMAN) died in 1882, buried in Smith Cemetery, Bellwood, Nelson Co., Ky. They had 12 children.
Mary Ellen, b. Nov. 22, 1852, d. Feb. 25, 1900, married 1st, William C. RITCHIE, May 12, 1874, 4 children, 2nd, Samuel HASTINGS; Margaret Ann July 1856- 185_; Matilda Susanna 1857-1900, m. Mar. 19, 1879, Thomas Y. BOONE, son of Charles Boone and Priscilla Ann BURCH, 3 children; Nancy E. 1859-1918 m. Aug. 13, 1888, Nelson Co. GEORGE WASHINGTON SMITH, b. Mar 13, 1867, died Mar. 6, 1926, son of JAMES SMITH, (son of CHARLES SMITH and ELLENDER MARRIMAN) and Laura Ann DAWSON, both are buried in Smith Cemetery, Bellwood, Nelson Co., Ky., 5 children; Charles Louis 1861-1889 m. Mary A. ICE, Jan. 1887, buried St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery, Bardstown, Nelson Co., Ky., 1 child; Frances Ann 1864-1889 m. Samuel L. ICE, it appears she died shortly after they were married, giving birth to twins, which may not have survived, Samuel married 2nd Alice Barnes; Martha 1866-1926 m. Aug. 6, 1889, John VITTITOW, son of Samuel L. Vittitow and Sarah CORBETT, he died 1939, both are buried in Smith Cemetery, Bellwood, Ky., 9 children; Cora Lee 1867-1886 never married, buried in Smith Cemetery; Florence b. 1868, William R. 1871-1938 m. June 1 1910, Ida Mae HALL, dau. of Elijah M. Hall and Pearl E. LESHI, 4 children; John S. 1876-1944 m. May 22, 1900, Mary Ora BEAN, dau. of Irvin and Mary Bean, buried St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Bardstown, Ky, 7 children; Walter.