The Smith Families of Allen County, Ohio

FRANK C. SMITH, who is the senior member of the large contracting firm of Smith & Sherrick, of Lima, has been a resident of this city for the past 17 years. He was born at Westminster, Allen County, Ohio, in 1867, and is a son of Isaac N. Smith and a grandson of

Abner Smith was born in Pennsylvania and removed to Athens County, Ohio, about

1822. Later he moved to Champaign County and in 1829 to Allen County, where he entered land near the present site of the town of Westminster. In 1830 he moved his family here and during the remainder of his life he was engaged in clearing and cultivating his property. He was one of the first trustees of Auglaize township and took an active part in its public affairs. Politically he was a Whig.

Isaac N. Smith, father of our subject, now lives retired in his pleasant home at No. 708 East Kibby street, Lima. He was born in 1839 in Auglaize township. When 14 years of age he started to learn the carpenter’s trade and continued work at the same until 1864, when he enlisted in Company B. 151st Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., for 100 days, but his real service covered four months. He was detailed to the quartermaster’s department and was stationed during the greater part of the time at Fort Reno. At the close of the war he returned home and resumed carpenter work until 1868, when he engaged in wagon and carriage manufacturing at Westminster. Mr. Smith continued in business for 10 years and had a large establishment, where he also did repair work and dealt in agricultural implements. Some of the wagons built by him 40 years ago are still in commission in and about Westminster.

In June, 1888, Mr. Smith located in Lima, where he carried on contracting until failing eyesight caused him to retire from business. During his residence in Auglaize township, he was active in public affairs and was elected to many of the township offices. He served four years as assessor of that township, for years was school director and was a man whose advice was asked and judgment consulted by his fellow-citizens.

Frank C. Smith of this sketch was reared and educated at Westminster, and learned the carpenter’s trade with his father. He entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company and remained with that corporation for six years, during four of which he was in charge of the taking department at different points. He built the first pump station in the Ohio oil field. Then for some four years he followed his trade by himself; but in 1898 he formed his present partnership with S. S. Sherrick. This ee eee ee Ee ee firm is engaged in a general contracting business and is the leading firm in this line in Lima. Their large planing mill and _ sash, door and blind factory is located at Nos. 330- 332 South Union street.

In 1899 Frank C. Smith was married to Ella Biederman, of Auglaize County. They have one son, Walter Stanley, aged five years. Both Mr. Smith and his wife are members of Grace Methodist Episcopal Church at Lima.

In politics Mr. Smith is a zealous Republican and is a member of the Republican Central Committee. He belongs also to the Lima Board of Health, and is interested in all movements tending to promote the welfare of the city. His fraternal connections are with the Odd Fellows and Red Men.

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

O. W. SMITH, attorney at law, Lima, was born March 7, 1834, in Marion County, Ohio: son of John H. and Elizabeth (McNeal) Smith, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch and English descent, respectively. John H. Smith came to Ohio in 1831, and settled in Marion County as a farmer and stock dealer, and raised a family of fifteen children, thirteen of whom are now living; of those deceased, John H. was accidentally killed by the kick of a horse, when a man grown, and Edward was scalded to death accidentally. Our subject was educated in the common schools of Marion County, Ohio, afterward taking a six years’ term, and commenced reading law about the time of his leaving school, in June,

1864. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1867, under the supreme court, and came to Lima, November 28, 1868.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

MILLIAM H. SMITH, an _ expert =6stationary engineer of Allen County, residing in section 22, German township, was born in this township, December 4, 1856. His par- William B. and Barbara (Conrad)

ents, Smith, came here from Fairfield County, later they returned to that county, where they lived five years until the death of the father. The widow and children returned to Allen County after the death of the father in 1863 and she is still a resident of German township. There were eleven children, viz: Taylor, Harrison, George W., Martin A., Jacob H., Richard E., William H., Isabelle, wife of David Reed; Mary C., wife of Jackson Kellar of Michigan; Barbara E., wife of John Baumgartner, and Sarah E., wife of Gilbert Snook.

William H. Smith began life as a wage earner in the sawmill of Isaac East in German township. Later he _ learned to run a threshing machine engine and now has a license as a stationary engineer and is one of the most competent engineers in the county. He is at present traveling for the International Harvester Company, as an expert operator.

Mr. Smith was married in 1877 to Margaret Remegan, daughter of Peter Remegan, of German township. They have one son, Delvert, born September 22, 1879, who is now in the employ of the Fort Wayne, Van Wert & Lima Traction Company, as motorman. Mr. Smith is a member of the United Brethren Church, of Elida. Ohio. In politics he is a Republican and was assessor of German township during 1904. He has served a number of years on the School Board and also as road supervisor.

3) L.ARMSTRONG, well-known among 4 the attorneys of Lima, is a native of Mercer County, having been born in Celina, where he reached manhood. His father, Judge Stephen A. Armstrong, is a leading member of the legal profession in Mercer County, and for more than a quarter of a century, an honored and esteemed citizen of Celina. Judge Armstrong is a native of Canada, but has resided in Mercer County for the past 40 years. He has practiced his profession in Celina for more than 25 years and was, for a time, associated with ex-Senator J. D. Johnson, Judge Armstrong was prosecuting attorney of Mercer County several years, and is now serving his second term as judge of the Court of Common Pleas.

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

JABEZ SMITH, blacksmith, P. O. West Cairo, was born September 23, 1849; son of Henry and Rebecca (Crites) Smith, who are now living in Pickaway County, Ohio, former a son of John Smith, latter a daughter of Samuel Crites. They were parents of ten children; Sophia, wife of Francis Ward; Jacob; Perlina (deceased), wife of Josiah Ward; Jabez; Caroline, wife of Henry Ward; Jerome; Samuel, in Fairfield County, Ohio; John; Samantha (deceased), wife of Edward Atkinson; Frank (deceased at age of twenty years); those now living being residents, with their families, of Pickaway County, Ohio; all the sons learning blacksmithing in their father’s manufacturing establishment. The subject of this sketch was married, April 26, 1868, to Catharine, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Ward) Moyers, and born in Sugar Creek Township, this county, July 11, 1848. They have had eight children, three of whom died in childhood. Those now living are Jennie F.. Drusilla E., William F., John H., Sarah A. V. L. Mr. Smith came to Cairo, this county, in 1870, where he plied his trade, entering into partnership with O. H. Waltz, in 1879, in manufacturing and repair work. In the spring of 1881, F. W. Snyder was taken into the firm, and the following fall Mr. Waltz retired. In the spring of 1883 Mr. Smith retired from the firm and worked at Buckland, Ohio, until 1885, when he again entered into partnership with F. W. Snyder, in general shop work and the manufacturing of a combined roller, harrow and cultivator of the Hines patent. Mr. Smith is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Columbus Grove, Ohio; has been a member of the village council several years, being one of the first members of that body. In politics he is a Republican.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.