Madness Monday: Where Is That Family Bible

I'm not sure if it's worse to not know for sure if there was a family Bible or to definitely know there was, but be unable to locate it today.  I posted the will of Amy A. (Cleveland) Smith on Friday.  Part of the will specifically notes:

So as of 5 May 1910 there was a family Bible and it was given to John Wesley Smith 1860-1940.  Not only that but it was "his grandfather Smith's" meaning that the Bible was once the possession of James Smyth (Sr.) 1809-1885 who came from Ireland to New Brunswick, Canada.  Could that Bible have a specific place in Ireland?  Could it reveal James's parents names?  Through other sources I know James came from County Armagh, but with a name such as Smyth/Smith I can use all the help I can.

Sadly my search for this Bible (lo these last 15 years) has not born fruit.  Seek and ye shall find (my ass). [improvised from Matthew 7:7].  John Wesley Smith's widow, Mary Olivia (Snyder) Smith died on 3 November 1958, leaving her two daughters and a daughter from John's first marriage.  I was told that the eldest daughter got the Bible.  She was Gertrude Maude (Smith) Lefavour and she died on 19 July 1967 [which is now within my lifetime!]  She had six children.  When I started my search only one was still alive in a nursing home and in no shape to answer questions.  None of the grandchildren of Gertrude whom I asked seemed to know where the Bible ended up. There were two theories: (1) it went to eldest daugther Ruth Lefavour who married a minister surnamed White; or (2) it went to daughter Elsie who died Elsie Piper in 1992.  She was evidently a pack rat and presumably anything in that house was tossed out upon her death.  

So, if you happen to come across this Bible, please let me know.

Comments

[Theresa Casteel]

How very frustrating to know so much and yet not be able to locate it. What a great shame that it might have been tossed. Who knows what other tidbits of treasures might have been lost in the act of 'cleaning up'.