Hi Billy and Betty (sounds like a double act!!)
From bits and pieces I've found out I am thinking that the older Smith who died in 1900 was the Provost. As Betty already knows I had discovered a few months ago passport applications for the younger Smith Anderson though until tonight didn't have the final piece of the jigsaw that confirmed it was our Smith Anderson. Tonight I found his death certificate (20 April 1935) and it confirmed his parents as Smith Anderson, Colliery Manager, and Marion Benny. It also noted his usual residence as Alameda, California, USA which ties in with the passport applications I have. He died in Kelvingrove, Glasgow, so I'm guessing it was just chance that he happened to be visiting here when he died of prostate cancer.
From the passport papers and various US Federal Census' he emigrated in 1882. He was widowed at age 52 in 1913 when his wife Emma Bartlett died. The 1910 Census shows children Helen M Anderson age 17 and Smith C Anderson, aged 10. Betty and I know through my dad that we had relations over in America called Smith Chesley Anderson so this might fit.
Attached to papers in 1918 is a letter from the National War Work Council of the YMCA of US certifying that he was appointed a Secretary for service with the troops of the American Expeditionary Force In France. 1921 papers show that he was coming back to the British Isles on family business and to attend a Rotary Convention. His occupation in America at that time was Dairyman, and on his death certificate he is noted as a Company Director.
The long and short of all this, is that I don't think Smith Junior was the Provost 'cause he was living in America at the time. But I think the rest of it makes interesting reading too. I did wonder if the YMCA would have any archive information. Good luck at the library Betty.
