Josephine Licher and her husband, Elmer Smith

Last spring, I published several sets of pictures obtained from my mom's cousin, the daughter of Josephine Licher and Elmer Smith.  I also published two letters to Josephine from her father, Albert Licher.  Here are links to those posts:

Licher and Smith Family Photos, Part 1
Licher and Smith Family Photos, Part 2
Licher and Smith Family Photos, Part 3
Licher and Smith Family Photos, Part 4
Letter from Albert Licher to Josephine Smith, Aug. 1933
Letter from Albert Licher to Josephine Smith, April 1935

I see that I haven't yet done a post about Josephine and Elmer, so I thought I'd do that today.  Josephine was my great-aunt & my grandmother, Georgia (Licher) Perry's, oldest sister. 

Josephine Licher - 1st Communion - ca 1900

Josephine Catherine Licher was born 29 January 1893 in Anderson, Madison Co., Indiana.  She was the first child of Albert Licher and his wife, Anna Fricke.  I suspect she was named for her paternal grandmother, Josephine (Moellmann) Licher. 

She was baptized on 5 February 1893 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Anderson.  Josephine is found on the 1900 and 1910 censuses living with her parents and siblings in Anderson, Indiana.  She is also shown with her parents in the 1913 City Directory for Muncie, Delaware Co., Indiana; her parents were living at 1417 E. Gilbert St. by that time. 

On 16 April 1913, Josephine married Elmer Willis Smith at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Anderson.  She was 20 years old.

Josephine Licher and Elmer Smith Wedding Picture, April 1913

Elmer Willis Smith was born 28 April 1892 in Shelby Co., Indiana.  His parents were Arthur O. Smith and Eva M. Arnold.  I have not done any research on Elmer's early life or his family.

Josephine and Elmer had twelve children born between 1915 and 1933.  Since some of those children are still living, I will not go into any details here.

I found Elmer and Josephine living in Anderson on the 1920 census.  About 1923, Josephine and Elmer shared a home in Yorktown with Josephine's sister, Georgia and Georgia's husband, James Perry.  The 1923 city directory for Yorktown lists James M. Perry and wife Georgia on page 951; on page 952, it lists Elmer Smith and wife Josephine and says Elmer is the proprietor of Yorktown Motor Sales.

However, the 1930 and 1940 censuses show Josephine and Elmer back in Anderson and they seem to have lived there most of their lives.  Their home was at 1902 Fletcher Street.

On 19 May 1963, Josephine and Elmer had a celebration for their 50th wedding anniversary.

Josephine and Elmer Smith

On 7 March 1975, Elmer died in Anderson, Indiana.  He was buried in East Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson. 

Elmer Smith's obituary published in the Muncie Evening Press, March 7, 1975, page 16

Josephine lived another 12 years and died in Anderson at age 94 on 23 October 1987.  She was buried beside Elmer in East Maplewood Cemetery, Anderson, Indiana.

Josephine Smith obituary published in Anderson Daily Bulletin, 24 Oct. 1987 page 2