White-Inman Ancestry - Person Sheet
NameReuben R. SMITH I 
Birth12 Feb 1797, Hancock, MA
Death27 Apr 1866, Romeo, Macomb County, MI Age: 69
BurialRomeo Cemetery
Census1850, Ray, Macomb County, MI
Land Purchase1824, Rhea, Macomb County
Spouses
Notes for Reuben R. SMITH I
Historic Settlements of Macomb County
There have been many settlements, hamlets, and former villages in Macomb County. Many grew up around the railroad lines and were very prosperous for a time. Most of these listed here had a U.S. post office at one time. Some, like Warsaw (now part of Mt. Clemens) and Beebe’s Corner (now part of Richmond), were absorbed by other settlements. Some were abandoned due to a natural disaster, such as the flooding of Belvidere. In many cases, remnants of the old settlement remain-such as a cemetery, schoolhouse converted to a residence (Prestonville), or old general store being used as a party store (Davis). Many have been remembered in other ways, such as Beebe St. Park in Richmond or Waldenburg Park in Macomb Township.
Ray Center-Located in the southern part of Ray Township, Ray Center’s post office was opened on February 13, 1846 and had Wilson W. Millar as the first postmaster. The post office closed briefly in 1872 and was then re-instated until 1906. The first land purchase in the area was made by Reuben R. Smith in 1824. First named Rhea, after the Latin name of a river in Europe, it was later changed to Ray, which is still the township name. Its location was at the intersection of 29 Mile, Hartway and Indian Trail Road on the north branch of the Clinton River. One of the main businesses was the Shafer Mill. It went into decline when the railroad passed it by, instead going by Armada and Romeo.
Ray-This rural post office in the center of Ray Township opened on May 1, 1827 with Reuben R. Smith as the first postmaster. Not to be confused with the Ray Center post office, it operated until June 25, 1868.