Finding the Smith Family: A Continuation of the Landon Journey

By Keaton Drennan, Summer 2025 Genealogical Research Intern

This is the second part of the Landon family search, the first part you can read here.

My last blog post concluded with the discovery of Matilda Parris and Joseph Landon's potential children in the Federal Census Records of Joseph Landon's mother, Maria Landon. The next step in my research process was to determine whether the children listed belonged to Matilda Parris and Joseph Landon or one of Maria Landon's other children.

I first researched "Lewis Landon," who was recorded as the grandchild of Maria Landon in the 1910 Federal Census and the 1900 Federal Census (his first name was spelled "Louis" instead). I found a 1930 Federal Census for a "Lewis Landon" in Marshall, Richmond County, Virginia, in which he is listed as the cousin of "T Landon Cox." I also found a WWII Draft Registration Card, a WWI Draft Registration Card, a Virginia Death Certificate, and a 1920 Federal Census—- none of which listed the names of Lewis Landon's parents. Lewis Landon was a farmer who lived in Warsaw, Richmond County, Virginia. The record trail for Lewis Landon ended, so I decided to switch my focus to Richard Landon, as he was listed in the 1900 Federal Census with Maria Landon.

“1910 United States Federal Census”, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: downloaded 25 June 2025), Roll: T624_1643; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 0106; FHL microfilm: 1375656, Lewis and Maria Landon, Marshall, Richmond, Virginia; citing “National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.”

I found a 1910 Federal Census for a "Richard Candon," most likely a spelling error, which was very common in federal census records. He is included in the household of "Frederick Corbin" and "Nancy Corbin," his aunt and uncle. "Louisa Parris" is also recorded with the household, also known as Lucella Cox. In 1910, he was living in Marshall, Richmond County, Virginia. However, my breakthrough with the Landon family came alongside the discovery of Richard Landon's obituary. His obituary, dated March 14, 1916, in the Washington Herald, listed the names of his parents as "Joseph Landon and the late Mrs. Landon" and his siblings as "Mrs. Ella Butler, Lula Smith, Jennie Thornton, and Helen Herbert." I still considered the possibility that Ida, Lewis, Betsie, and Georganna could still be the children of Matilda and Joseph Landon. Nevertheless, I decided to research the children that I knew absolutely belonged to Matilda and Joseph and who were listed in Richard Landon’s obituary: Ella Landon, Lula Landon, Jennie Landon, Richard Landon, Helen Landon, and Samuel Landon.

"Richard Landon Obituary, The Washington Herald March 1916" Newspapers.com. The Washington Herald, March 16, 1916. https://newscomwc.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-herald-richard-landon-obi/174448211/.

I did not locate other records for Richard Landon, so I looked for information concerning his sister, Jennie Landon. After finding the obituary, I knew she had married someone with the surname Thornton and that the Landon family had both lived in Richmond County, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. So, I focused my records search within Virginia and the District of Columbia and kept my eye out for the surnames "Landon" and "Thornton." I came across a Washington D.C. Marriage Certificate for "Jennie Landon" and "Albert Thornton" with a marriage date of August 17, 1911. Her birth date was recorded as approximately 1887, and her race was listed as "colored." She married Albert Thornton when she was 24. I also found a 1910 Federal Census record for "Jennie Landon," a lodger in Precinct 2, Washington D.C. The census record indicated that her parents were born in Virginia and that she was a black woman. In 1910, she was a single servant living in Washington, D.C., before she married Albert Thornton. I found an obituary notice from The Evening Star, mentioning the date of her death: November 23, 1931, at Freedmen's Hospital. Her obituary named no children.

“Washington, District of Columbia, U.S., Marriage Certificates, 1870-1920,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: downloaded 13 June 2025), Jennie Landon and Albert Thornton, Washington, D.C.; citing “District of Columbia Public Library; Washington, DC, USA; Washington, D.C. Marriage Certificates, 1870-1920.”

Helen Landon's journey spans between Washington, D.C., and New York. She married "Mat Herbert," probably Matt or Mathew Herbert, in Riverhead, New York, on December 10, 1914. I believe Helen Landon lived in Southold, Suffolk, New York, in 1915 under the name "Helen L Herbert," according to a New York State Census. I also tracked down a 1920 Federal Census for a "Helen L Herbert" in Seattle, Washington where she was working as a maid. The last document I found for Helen was a Virginia Death Certificate for her child, "Norma M. Herbert." "Helen Landon" and "Mathew Herbert" are listed as Norma Herbert's parents. Norma Herbert was born in Pennsylvania on September 6, 1925, and died at one year old, and is buried in Westmoreland County, Virginia. Helen Landon's birthplace is recorded as Washington, D.C. I hope to return to the Herbert family and learn more about the lives of Helen and Herbert. Did they have any other children aside from Norma? Why were they in Pennsylvania in 1925? Did they spend the majority of their life in New York or Washington, D.C.?

“1920 United States Federal Census,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: downloaded 13 June 2025), Roll: T625_1927; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 168, Helen L. Herbert, Seattle, King, Washington.; citing “National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.”

The other daughter of Matilda Parris Landon, Ella Landon Butler, lived in Washington, D.C. She married "Deloshia J. Butler" on July 26, 1905, in Washington, D.C. (in some records, her spouse is referred to as John D. Butler). She lived with John Butler and her children "Noble D. Butler" and "Helen Butler" in 1910 in Washington D.C. I found an obituary for "Mary Ella Seegers" from the Evening Star, listing a death date of October 17, 1942, in Washington D.C., and the names of children "Helen McLaughlin, Gladys Butler, Thelma Ford, Geraldine Wells, Noble Butler, and Arthur Wells." At first, I was unsure if the obituary was for Mary Ella Butler, given that there were unfamiliar names listed in the death notice outside of "Noble Butler" and that the obituary noted Mary Ella's maiden name as "Wells." On the other hand, it is important to keep in mind that sometimes errors are made in death notices. So, I decided to research the children listed in the obituary to see what census records I could find.

"Mary Ella Seegers Obituary, The Evening Star October 1942" Newspapers.com. The Evening Star, 20 Oct 1942.

In a 1930 Federal Census Record for Gladys Butler, the daughter of Mary Ella Seegers, Mary Ella is listed as head of the household under the name "Ella Wells" alongside her daughter "Geraldine Wells." However, her other children have different surnames—- Butler. In the census record, Thelma is listed as "Thelma Wells," which I later discovered to be an error. The census indicates that Mary Ella, also known as Ella, remarried someone with the surname Wells, the father of Geraldine Wells. In conclusion, the obituary for "Mary Ella Seegers" belongs to Ella Landon Butler. We can surmise from the obituary that she remarried again before her death to someone with the surname Seegers.

“1930 United States Federal Census,” database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com: downloaded 16 June 2025), Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0007; FHL microfilm: 2341105, Ella Wells, Geraldine Wells, Arthur Butler, Gladys Butler, and Thelma Wells, Monmouth, New Jersey; citing “National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.”

The last child of Matilda Parris and Joseph Landon that I researched was Lula Landon. Lula lived with her father, Joseph Landon, in Washington, D.C., in 1900, according to the 1900 Federal Census Record. At the time, she worked as a servant. She married William Smith in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1907. She lived in Washington, D.C., in 1910 with her husband and her sons, "Landon Smith" and "William Smith Jr." The last residence I have for Lula Landon Smith is in 1930 in Washington D.C., where she lived with her sons "Landon Smith" and "Helvon Smith" and Landon's wife and children. Unfortunately, I have not been able to locate a death record for Lula Landon Smith. However, one of the last records I discovered was a digitized photograph on ancestry.com, uploaded by one of Lula's descendants. It was a surreal experience to finally see the face of someone I had been researching.

My journey with the Landon family has been an eventful one, tracing their lives from Richmond County, Virginia, to Washington, D.C., and learning about their occupations, their marriages, and their families. I have so many questions for the Landon family; documents can only tell us so much. I wonder if they were aware of their ancestors' experiences and connection to Menokin?

• About the writer

  Keaton Drennan is a rising senior at the College of William & Mary studying government and history.

  Learn more here.