The Smith Families of Allamakee County, Iowa

IRA E. SMITH.

Ira E. Smith, a worthy native son and representative agriculturist of Allamakee county, is the owner of an excellent farm of three hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Post township. He was born in that township, near his present farm, on the 5th of December, 1871, his parents being David and Marena (Barham) Smith, natives of Cole county, Indiana. Throughout his active business career the father followed general agricultural pursuits. When a boy he came to Iowa with his father, who built the old stone house and also erected the first sawmill in this vicinity. This was as early as 1838. David Smith grew to manhood here and experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, in later years recounting many tales of frontier existence in a district which was but thinly settled and was still the habitat of wild animals. Much arduous toil was necessary before the land was ready for the plow. Mr. Smith devoted his attention to the work of grubbing and clearing and in the fall seasons operated a threshing machine. When about twenty years of age he became a landowner and during the remainder of his active life was busily engaged in the work of the fields. In 1900 he took up his above in Frankville and there died in March of the following year. The period of his residence in this part of the state covered about six decades and in his passing the community lost one of its honored pioneers and esteemed citizens. His widow still survives and makes her home at Frankville. They were the parents of two children: Ida, who lives with her mother; and Ira E., of this review.

In the acquirement of an education Ira E. Smith attended school at Myron in Post township. When twenty years of age he secured employment as a farm hand and about a year later purchased one hundred and sixty-seven acres of land and started out as an agriculturist on his own account. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-four years of age, when he was married and took up his above on his farm, residing thereon for seven years. On the expiration of that period he bought the old homestead property and subsequently lived thereon for eight years or until March, 1911, when he purchased an additional tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section 9, Post township, where he has remained to the present time. He has disposed of some of his original holdings but still owns three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land and cul-

IKA K. SMITH AND FAMILY tivates all of it with the assistance of tenants. He raises both grain and stock and keeps high-grade horses, cattle and hogs, at times dealing in stock to a considerable extent. His work is conducted along practical and progressive lines and he is systematic in all he does, so that there is no loss of labor or material, and the fields annually pay tribute to his efforts in rich and bounteous crops.

On the 19th of November, 1895, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Smith, whose birth occurred in Post township on the 9th of July, 1875, her parents being John N. and Susan (Lee) Smith, born in the years of 1828 and 1838 respectively. The father, a native of New York, was a stage owner in early manhood, driving from Decorah to McGregor until twenty-five or twenty-six years of age. At that time he located on a farm in the eastern part of Post township, continuing to reside thereon until called to his final rest in July, 1895. His widow makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ira Smith. The latter was the youngest in their family of eight children, of whom but two are now living, namely: Ida, the wife of Samson A. Harris, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work; and Mrs. Smith, the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Ira E. Smith have four children, as follows: Lester D., whose natal day was December 18, 1897; Pearl R., whose birth occurred February 28, 190 1; Clinton E., born June 20, 1905; and Ethelyn L., who was born on the lath of March, 1909.

Mr. Smith is a republican in his political views and held the office of trustee for one term but declined to serve longer. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Brethren church at Bethel, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Brotherhood and the Woodmen. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have an extensive acquaintance in the county where they have always resided, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present this record of their lives to our readers.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CASSIUS P. SMITH.

A spirit of enterprise and progress actuates Cassius P. Smith in all that he does. He has worked diligently and persistently to develop and improve his farm, which is today an excellent property, lying partly in Allamakee and partly in Clayton counties. He was born in Clayton county, near National, on the lath of January, 1866, and is a son of Benjamin and Abigail (Wilkins) Smith, natives of Essex county, New York. The father came to Iowa in the early '50s and settled in Clayton county, where he entered government land, upon which he continued to reside for a number of years. His marriage occurred here and he and his family afterward removed to Post township, Allamakee county, where his death occurred in 1887. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1907.

The public schools of Clayton county and the Postville high school afforded Cassius P. Smith his educational oi)i3ortunities and when he was not occupied with his books he aided his father with the work of the homestead. After he had attained his majority he rented land in Post township and two years later purchased the farm upon which he now resides. His holdings comprise sixty acres in Post township, Allamakee county, and seventy-seven acres just across the line in Clayton county. However, his son operates the Clayton county farm in connection with his own property. Mr. Smith has made substantial improvements upon his land and engaged in general farming and stock-raising, keeping cattle, hogs and horses. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Store and the canning factory in Postville. and his business interests are carefully controlled, so that he has now reached a plane of affluence, being numbered among the substantial citizens of this community. '

On the 17th of January, 1888. Mr. Smith was limited in marriage to Miss Lticy A. Webb, who was born in Post township, a daughter of Henry Webb, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of two children. The eldest. Leighton, was born in i88g and is now engaged in farming in Clayton county. His wife was, in her maidenhood, Miss Carrie Swenson. Esther was born in 1895 and is now attending school.

Fraternally Mr. Smith is a member of Brotherly Love Lodge. A. F. & A. M., of Postville, and is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is independent in his political views, voting always in favor of progressive and constructive public measures. His entire life has been characterized by devotion to many purposes and honorable principles and in business dealings he is straightforward and reliable, enjoying to the fullest extent the confidence and good-will of those who know him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A splendid farm of four hundred acres represents the life work of Peter Smith, who proudly can look back upon his achievements, which were attained by his own efforts and no outside help. A native of the state of New York, he was born March 12, 1853, and is a son of Peter Schmitt, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who was born in that state. May 22, 1822. The lather employed the German spelling "Schmitt," but when Peter and his brother grew to maturity they decided to Americanize the name, changing it to its present form. When a young man the father emigrated to the United States and engaged in farming and also did work in a smelter in New York. Later he removed to Ohio and in 18(12 came to Allamakee county, where he bought eighty acres of unimproved land in French Creek township near where his son now lives. Diligent and industrious, he settled down to hard work, breaking the land and placing his acres under cultivation, and as he obtained results he increased his holdings until he at one time owned four hundred acres. He died on the old home farm on March 8, 1879. His marriage to Catherine Schift'hauer occurred in New York state on April 25, 1852. The mother, who was a native of Saxony, Germany, was born October

I, 1829, and lias also passed away, her death occurring on the home farm on June 20, 1890. They were the parents of six children: Peter, our subject; Charles J., deceased: Mary L, who resides in Waukon; Catherine, the wife of John Enders, of Picrrien county, Wisconsin; Sophia, deceased, who was the wife of Patrick Donohue; and John, of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The parents were devout communicants of the Catholic church.

Peter Smith came with his parents from New York, via Ohio, to Allamakee county, and received his education largely in the district schools near his father's farm. In the spring of 1876 he set out upon his independent career, engaging as a farm hand for neighbors. He married in 1876 and subsequently rented land for a number of years. In 1885 he acquired by purchase one hundred and sixty acres, yet in a wild state, and there he has since resided, increasing his holdings as occasion offered and his means permitted, until he now owns four hundred acres, which are all put to profitable use. Much of his land is under high cultivation and good improvements can be found upon his farm. His buildings are suitably equipped and substantial and his residence is commodious and comfortable. He engaged in general farming, dividing his time between grain culture and stock-raising.

Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Melinda Hoffman, a native of Cascade township, Dubuque county, Iowa, where she was born on September 7, 1854, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Haas) Hoffman, later residents of French Creek township. Mr. Smith lost his wife on August 27, 1912, when her death ensued on account of a fatal automobile accident. He and his wife had the following children: Melinda, who married C. P. Nierling, a well known agriculturist of this county: Mary J., the wife of F. A.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.