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Note: N78 Louisa had been born August 20, 1850, in London, England, the daughter of Benjamin and Dinah North. She had been married to a Joseph Turner, and they had arrived in the United States about 1870, likely in Maine or near there, on the steamship, Parovia. A son, Herbert S. Turner was born on the boat from England, August 5, 1870. Another daughter, Gertrude L. Turner was born May 7, 1872, in Maine. Louisa's death certificate indicates she arrived in Little Rock, about 1875, however the 1880 Pulaski Census record has her husband and the two children living on Cross street. Louisa was not listed as being in the home. It's known she filed for a divorce, but not when or if granted.
The Little Rock City Directory for 1886 listed a Louisa Turner, grocer, as living at 1123 W. 8th St. The Directory for 1887 listed a Mrs. R. J. Pritchard, groceries and dry goods, living at the same address as 1886. The Directory for 1888-9 listed a R. J. Pritchard, groceries and Provisions, at 1123 W. 8th. The address was only listed a Robert J. Pritchard, residence 719 Cross on the 1893-4 Directory.
Robert and Louisa, were married for about ten years, and had two daughters. According to her granddaughter, Florence McGowan Peters, Louisa was surprised she could have children so late in life. She was about 42 years old when their first daughter was born and 43 when the second was born. Robert was 63 and 64 himself. Florence also indicates that according to her mother, Pearl, Robert and Louisa had a good marriage and is remembered by his descendants as a good man, who loved Louisa and his two daughters.
Louisa and Robert are both listed on the L.R. Personal Property Tax records in 1888 and 1889. Louisa had quite a lot of property. She stated that she had a horse worth $50, two carriages worth $25, goods and merchandise listed under merchant worth $200, and other property valued at $335. They are listed as living at separate homes. Louisa lived at 1123 W. 8th and Robert is listed as living at 1518 State in 1888 and 1304 Gaines in 1889. This could indicate that they may not have always got along, or they preferred their own place, but the 1890 tax assessment indicated they lived at the same address, 1120 Cross.
Louisaís granddaughter, Florence McGowan Peters made the following statements, to Joe Herring, March 26, 1993.
Louisa is believed to have came to Arkansas from up North. She had been married to a Mr. Turner, who was a minister. After arriving in the U.S., he had contacted a venereal decease. It is believed, Louisa nursed him back to health or he died. She either divorced him or was widowed.
After her second husband Robert, died, Louisa married Mr. W. T. Smith, October 17, 1903. This also was a good marriage, but Louisa never knew for sure what Smith did for a living. He told her he was a salesman. He would be home for a few weeks, and then he would leave again. He always came home with money. He would bring the two girls gifts and would give money to his wife. One time he left and they never saw him again. They had only been married about two years. One of the girls, Pearl, thought he was a gambler. Louisa tried for a long time to found out what happened to him, but never did.
Robert apparently didn't have much money when he married Louisa, but Louisa always worked hard and saved. After she married Smith, who gave her some money, she seemed to do quite well. She was very thrifty, some would say tight, and when she loaned money to her children, she always charged them interest. At one time she owned a grocery store, and later some rental property. She had a block of old homes, which she rented to colored people, and every week, they would have to come pay her their rent. She also had property she would rent to railroad men. Louisa was a handsome woman, well educated and always the proper Englishwoman. She was strict with her children and grandchildren and very business like. She was about 5'3", of medium build, who wore her white hair up, and usually had a apron on. When she died in 1930 she had $20,000 and property. In Louisaís later years she had a maid named Cary. She was sick for about a year before she died on August 24, 1930 and had lost the sight in one eye. -- Florence McGowan Peters
Louisa Pritchard is listed as living in Little Rock on the 1900 Pulaski census along with her two daughters, ages 6 and 7. She indicates she owns her own home and her children are in school, that she was born in England as were her parents and that she has four children living out of eight. She was living on Cross Street at the time. Louise is still living on Cross Street in 1910 with her daughters according to the Census. The 1920 Census indicated Ruby and Pearl had left home, as Louise was still living on Cross Street, but she was alone, except for four renters.
Louisa Pritchard Smith filed a pension as a widow of a Civil War veteran, Robert J. Pritchard, on August 18, 1915. The following is her Affidavit: STATE of ARKANSAS , County of Pulaski Mrs. Louisa Smith being duly sworn states that on October 3, 1886 she was married to R. J. Pritchard also known as Jordan Pritchard and that said R. J. Pritchard died on August 15, 1896 in the city of Little Rock, Arkansas. That she often heard him tell of his experiences in the army and believes that he was a Confederate soldier.
That on October 17, 1903 she married again to W. T. Smith (born 1846) who was also an ex-Confederate soldier. That she and the said Smith lived together until about September 15, 1905 when business called the said W. T. Smith to Savannah, Georgia from which place she received a letter from him dated September 23, 1905 and that since that date he has not been heard from although she has made diligent inquiry in regard to him. That she verily believes that the said W. T. Smith is dead as if he were now living he would be upwards of 70 years of age. Louisa Smith Subscribed and Sworn to before me this 18th day of August 1915. H. S. Turner, County Clerk. (H. S. Turner was Louisa's son.) Louise died August 24, 1930, age 80. In her will, Book T, page 167-171, which she made, March 9, 1927, she left her three children who survived her, everything she owned, except $100.00 she left to her friend, Loraine Evans and a watch and chain she left to her daughter-in-law, Josie M. Turner. Josie Turner was the daughter of James H. and Nancy Pritchard, son of Robert Jordan Pritchard. (See Children of Robert J. and Jane Pritchard) Herbert S. Turner, Ruby Jane Wylie and Bernice Pearl McGowan were her three surviving children. One daughter, Gertrude L. Brewer, had died between the time Louisa made her will March 9, 1927 and August 24, 1930, when Louisa died.
Louisa died August 24, of a stroke, and was originally buried at Oakland Cemetery, August 25, 1930, in a mausoleum belonging to her son, H.S. Turner. It began to leak, and June 8, 1955, her body was moved to Roselawn Cemetery. The tombstone at Roselawn indicates she died on the 26, instead of the 24, which is on her death certificate. According to the cemetery records, two infants were buried with her, in the same grave, but her granddaughter, Florence McGowan Barrett, said these two children belonged to Josie Turner. The two children's names were Frederick L. and Basil (a baby) Turner. They had originally been buried in a country grave, moved to Oakland, and finally to Roselawn. Josie, wife of H.S. Turner was also originally buried in the same mausoleum, at Oakland, but her remains and those of her husband and son, were moved to Pine Crest Cemetery, June 2, 1955.
The family bible went to Pearl McGowan, and is now owned by Florence McGowan Barrett Peters. This is the bible that had the births and deaths of Robert J. Pritchard, his wife, and his children.
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