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Name: ROOKEN-SMITH, Joseph Francis 'Frank'
Nee: son of William Alexander Rooken-Smith
Birth Date: 1884 S. Africa
Death Date: 7 Feb 1948 Nairobi
First Date: 1908
Profession: Was badly mauled by a lion in Masai Reserve and was brought by bullock waggon to Kijabe Hospital. Recovered and later farmed at Eldoret
Area: 1908 Narok, Eldoret
Married: 1. In King Williams Town, S. Africa 14 Nov 1912 Dorothy Irene Pritchard b. 3 Mar 1890 S. Africa, d. 1 Dec 1918 Eldoret; 2. In Eldoret Susan Wheeler
Children: 1. Sidney William (1915-10.2.1981 Nairobi); Patricia Lorraine (Footman then Dyer) ((5.1.1916 Elmenteita); Lesley Margaret (Cramer then Campbell) (1917); Bruce Alexander (6.12.1918 Nairobi, d. in infancy) 2. George Enslin (2.9.1922 Eldoret-19.10.1935 Eldoret); Joseph Francis (7.10.1924 Eldoret-8.10.1924); Martha Yvonne Lilian (George then McLean) (1928)
Book Reference: Gillett, Hut, KAD, Red 22, Red 25, RS, Land, Barnes
General Information:
RS - After the death of his first wife Dorothy, Frank married Susan Wheeler in Eldoret - one son George who died aged 10. This marriage ended in divorce. While Dorothy was alive Frank did ox-wagon transport from Londiani to Eldoret. Prior to this he was very badly mauled by a wounded lioness and was many months in hospital. His brother Donald had to take him by ox-wagon from the Guaso Nyero to Kijabe and from there by train to the hospital in Nairobi. The trip took several weeks. As the years went by his wounds flared up again and he was very crippled in one arm and one leg. He eventually died in Nairobi where he was then living with his daughter Patricia. After his separation from Susan Wheeler he lived with his brother Lennox on the farm Glen Roi in the Laikipia district. After selling his farm at O1 Joro Orok, Sid became a very successful grower of orchids. Though born Smith details of his will in the Kenya Gazette indicate Rooken Smith.
Land - W.A., W.R. and J.F. Smith leased 30955 acres at Eburru, passed to Lord Delamere and A.L. Block and C.N.M. Harrison
Red 22 - J.F. Smith, Eldoret
Gazette - 7/4/15 - Liable for Jury service, Elmenteita - J.F. Smith (British), Settler
Nairobi City Park cemetery - Joseph Francis Smith, died 7 Feb 1948 aged 65
Eldoret cemetery to the memory / of / Dorothy Irene / born Mar 3 1890 / died Dec 1 1918 / the loved wife of / Joseph Francis Smith all thee that pass this way along / think on how sudden I was gone / God does not always warning give / so friends be careful how you live
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