Sydney (aka Sidney) Smith

June 12, 1888 - July 9, 1944

Sydney Smith was born on June 12, 1888 in Buckholts, Texas to John William and Dora Smith. Sydney married May Sterley, a native to Fort Worth. By profession, Sydney was a lawyer.

Passport records reveal that Sydney was 5’ 7” tall with brown hair and eyes. For much of the early 1900’s, Sydney worked for the federal government for the Department of State as an American Consulate for the Philippines and Mexico. Sydney and May lived in the Philippine Islands from 1912-1916,¹ where in 1914, May gave birth to their only child, Rosaileen May.² After leaving the South Pacific, the family moved to Mexico from 1917-1919 when he was appointed Consulate to Ensenada, Mexico.³

By 1922, Sydney was employed by the Sinclair Oil Corporation as a Foreign Attorney and traveled the world while his family returned to Fort Worth and then later El Paso.⁴ His daughter, Rosaileen, was just 15 years old when she entered Southern Methodist University from which she graduated in 1934. She also received a master's degree at The University of Texas.⁵

In 1943, May died after a battle with cancer.⁶ The following year, Sydney died at the age of 56 from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis.⁷ He is buried in the Sterley family plot alongside his wife, daughter and in-laws. 

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[1] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Roll #: 2019; Volume #: Roll 2019 - Certificates: 188476-188849, 10 Jun 1922-10 Jun 1922. Ancestry.com ; Accessed 23 Aug 2023. 
[2] “Rosaileen Smith Hoffman.” Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, 8 Jun 1961.  Ancestry.com ; Accessed 23 Aug 2023. 

[3] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Special Diplomatic Passport Applications, 1916-1925; Volume #: Volume 4. Ancestry.com ; Accessed 23 Aug 2023. 

[4] National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); 10 Jun 1922. 

[5] “Rosaileen M Smith Hoffman.” Find a Grave. N.D. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18911190/rosaleen-hoffman ; Accessed 23 Aug 2023. 

[6] “May S. Smith.” Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, 22 Jan 1943.  Ancestry.com ; Accessed 23 Aug 2023.  
[7] “Sydney Smith” Texas, Death Certificates, 1903-1982, 10 Jul 1944.  Ancestry.com ; Accessed 23 Aug 2023.