The Smith Families of Buchanan County, Iowa

ALBERT A. SMITH.

Albert A. Smith operates four hundred acres of fine land located on sections 28, 29, 32 and 33, Madison township. He carries on general farming but pays special attention to the raising of cattle. He breeds high grade black Polled Angus, the heads of the herd being all registered animals. He was born in madison township on the 12th of April, 1859, a son of Lemuel Holly and Mary (Colby) Smith. The former was born in Rutledge, Vermont. July 29, 1823, and in 1839, when a youth of sixteen years, went to McHenry county, Illinois. He subsequently purchased land there and farmer in that state for a number of years. During this period, or in 1849, he took an overland trip to the gold fields of California, where he remained for less than one year. Returning to McHenry county, Illinois, he resumed his farming operations. His marriage occurred there, but in 1854 he brought his family to Madison township, Buchanan county, Iowa. He entered some land from the government and bought other tracts until he was the owner of one thousand four hundred acres, part of which was in Buffalo township. He supervised the operation of his land until his death, which occurred in September, 1902. His wife was also a native of Rutledge, Aermont, born May 22, 1826, and her death occurred in March, 1904. Eight children were born to them, namely: Montraville, who makes his home in Kansas; Nellie, now the wife of William Andrews, of North Dakota; Olive, who married R. M. Jenks and is now deceased; Herbert, who resides in tile state of AVashington; Carrie E.. who is the widow of C. E. Todd and resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Albert A.; Mary, who died in childhood; and Mary, the second of the name, who lives in Minneapolis. The four oldest children were born in Illinois and the younger ones in this state.

Albert A. Smith received his elementary education in the country schools and supplemented the knowledge thus acquired by two terms of study in Fayette College. He remained at home until he attained his majority. Early in life he began assisting his father with the work of the farm and when it became necessary for him to decide upon a life occupation he determined to devote his time and energy to agriculture. He now owns four hundred acres of land and is successfully carrying on mixed farming. He takes a great interest in the raising of high grade cattle and ships many head annually to Chicago. He breeds black Polled Angus cattle and, as the animals at the head of his herd are all registered, his stock is of high grade. He is considered one of the well-to-do and progressive agriculturists and stockmen of the county and his assets are steadily increasing.

On the 9th of September, 1883, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Amy A. Garland, a daughter of William and Elsie (Dykeman) Garland. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born two sons. Carroll G., whose birth occurred on the 3d of August, 1888, operates part of his father's farm. He is a graduate of the Lamont high school and married Miss Edith Hauser. Albert Putnam, who was born November 19, 1889, lives at home. The family are consistent members of the Metliodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Smith is a democrat and is one of the leaders in political circles of this county. He has often been a delegate to the county conventions of his party and is serving his fifth year as one of the board of trustees of Madison township. In his early manhood he held that office for twelve consecutive years. He has been vice president of the Lamont Savings Bank for the last four years and in that connection has manifested the same sound judgment that has characterized his management of his private affairs. He is a man of strict integrity in his dealings with his fellowmen.

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

MILTON A. SMITH.

Among the able members of the Independence bar and one of the native sons of the city is Milton A. Smith, who was born on the 19th of January, 1867, a son of Alexander and Electa (Young) Smith. The father was born at Langford, Berkshire, England, on the 20th of February, 1820, and the mother's birth occurred at Fort Ann, Washington county. New York, on the 25th of September, 1837. In early life the father engaged in business in connection with the overland stage freight and passenger line antedating the period of railroad building. He had come to America with his parents in the year 1830, the family home being established in New York, and later a removal was made to Michigan, where his father died. When sixteen years of age Alexander Smith left home and was residing in Chicago at the time he attained his majority. He removed from that city to Iowa, settling in Independence, and until the completion of the railroad to this point was connected with a stage line. Subsequently he turned his attention to farming, although he continued to reside in the city, where he made his home to the time of his death, which occurred on the ist of January, 1892. His widow resides in Independence in a house which he erected in 1857. They were indeed among the pioneer residents of the city, taking up their above here when Independence was a small town and when the county was but sparsely settled. With its development and growth Mr. Smith was actively identified and at all times cooperated heartily in movements for the general good.

Milton A. Smith is the only survivor in a family of four children, the other three having died in infancy. He attended the public schools of Independence until graduated from the high school and afterward entered the Northwestern University as a law student, completing his course in that institution with the class of 1899. His first step in the business world, however, was not in the path of his present profession, for when eighteen years of age he was employed in the engineering department of the railroad companies, spending three or four years in that way. He was with the Illinois Central for one season in western Iowa and for one year was with the Chicago, St. Lonis & Padueah Railroad, now the Southern Illinois & Kentucky. He afterward became associate editor of the American Trotter, a paper which was owned by Mr. Williams, and after three years spent in that connection he went to Chicago, where he attended law school for about three years or from 1896 until 1899. Following his graduation he returned to Independence and entered upon active practice in October of the latter year. On the ist of June, 1900, he entered into partnership with L. F. Springer for the general practice of law. That relationship was maintained for about twelve years or until physical disability caused Mr. Springer's retirement from the firm in 1912. Since that time Mr. Smith has practiced alone and is accorded a liberal clientage that connects him with much important litigation heard in the courts of the district. He is one of the directors of the First National Bank of Independence and is also one of the landowners of Buchanan county.

On the 16th of April, 1895, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Ida Cooper, who was born near Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Sylvanus Cooper, who was a farmer owing a tract of land in Pennsylvania that has been in possession of the family for one hundred and sixteen years, Mrs. Smith's grandfather having entered it from the government in 1798. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been born one child, Marion II., whose birth occurred September 15, 1900, and who is now attending school.

In his political views Mr. Smith is a stalwart republican and for four years filled the office of county attorney. He is now serving for the fifth year as a member of the school board and the cause of public education finds in him a stalwart champion. He belongs to the blue lodge of Masons, to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Golf and Country Clubs. His has been a well spent life and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability he has steadily worked his way upward until he now occupies an enviable position.

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

JOSEPH J. SMITH.

Joseph J. Smith, a highly respected and representative farmer of Washington township, owns three hundred and twenty-six acres of land and since 1874 has been identified with agricultural pursuits in Buchanan county. He was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1844, a son of J. D. and Sarah (White) Smith, who were also natives of County Derry. Coming to the United States in early life, they were married in New York and there the father, who was a blacksmith, followed his trade for seven years, after which he returned to Ireland, where he reared his family. He engaged in business as a grain merchant there until 1861, when he returned to the new world, settling at Chatham, Canada. After a year, however, he crossed the border into the United Staves and settled in Michigan, near Lake Superior, where he engaged in mining, remaining in that locality for six years.

J. D. Smith afterward came to Buchanan county and purchased land in Byron township, giving his attention here to general agricultural pursuits. At the time of his retirement he was one of the prosperous farmers of his locality, owning two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land. He also engaged successfully in the raising of Durham cattle. To him and his wife were born ten children, seven sons and three daughters, all of whom were born in Ireland. One son, Isaiah Smith, now occupies the old homestead farm in Byron township. Upon that place the father lived to the time of his death, which occurred in 1893 when he had reached the very advanced age of ninety-six years. His wife passed away ten years before, at the age of seventy. In religious faith they were Presbyterians and in political belief Mr. Smith was a republican, active and loyal in the support of the party. He was interested in all that tertained to public progress and cooperated in many movements which were directly beneficial to the community.

Joseph J. Smith attended school in Ireland until the time when the parents returned to the new world. He came with them to Iowa and when about thirty years of age began farming on his ovm account in Washington township. Previous to that time he had been employed in the copper mines near Lake Superior but since 1874 he has continuously engaged in general agricultural pur.suits in this county, covering a period of forty years. His holdings today emlirace three hundred and twenty-six acres of arable land and in addition to cultivating the crops best adapted to soil and climate he raises considerable stock, making a specialty of Poland China hogs. His farm presents a neat and thrifty appearance and everything about the place indicates his careful supervision and progressive methods.

In 1880 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Herrigan, who was born in New York in 1849 and passed away in this county in 1909 at the age of sixty years. Her parents were Jeremiah and Catharine (Devert) Herrigan, both natives of Ireland. Crossing the Atlantic, they landed at New York and afterward made their way to Buchanan county, where the father purchased a farm. He continued to make his home in this county to the time of his death. In politics he was an active democrat and his religious belief was that of the Catholic church. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born four children: J. J., thirty-three years of age, who is now with a dredge company in Missouri and is the owner of land in this county; J. D., thirty-two years of age, and Leo, thirty-one years of age, both at home; and Maude, the wife of William Fenner, a farmer of Washington township, by whom she has three children — [name withheld], who was born May 11, 1911; Harold, February 17, 1912; and Evelyn margaret. June 18, 1914. The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church, father and children all being members thereof.

Mr. Smith has no political aspirations but votes with the republican party and is a firm believe in its principles. He stands for progress and improvement in public affairs, just as he does in business life, and his cooperation can always be counted upon to further movements for the general good. The greater part of his attention, however, is given to his farming interests and he is today accounted one of the leading farmers of Wasliington township, where by careful management and practical methods he has won well deserved success.

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

Joseph Smith owns and occupies a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Homer township, which he has converted from a tract of wild prairie into richly productive fields. A native of New York, he was born September 21, 1857, his parents being Ferdinand and Magdelina (Graff) Smith, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born in Prussia, and the latter in Bavaria. Coming to America in 1852, the father settled in New York and after residing for a number of years in the Empire state, made his way westward to Benton county, Iowa, where he worked in a sawmill for some time. Finally he purchased land there which he cultivated and improved until 1897. He then retired and took up his above in Norway, Iowa, where he made his home until his death, which occurred on the 29th of December, 1908. It was almost five years later before his wife was called to her final rest, her death occurring on the 22d of September, 1913.

While born in the east, Joseph Smith has spent the greater part of his life in Iowa, having been reared in Benton county, where he acquired his education in the public schools. He remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-four years and worked for his father in the fields upon the old home place. He then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 27, Homer township, and afterward added thereto forty acres adjoining on section 34, Homer township. The tract was nothing but wild land when it came into his possession. He broke the sod, tilled the fields and cultivated his crops and today the land is rich and mellow, responding readily to the care he bestow upon it.

On the 13th of June, 1882, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Theresa Nolte, a daughter of George and Mary (Death) Nolte, natives of Prussia. The parents came to America and settled in New York in 1852, the father there securing employment at the blacksmith's trade. After three years, however, he removed westward to Indiana, and a year later came to Iowa, settling in Fayette county, where he purchased two hundred and twenty acres. This he developed and improved, and upon the farm spent his remaining days, dying on the ist of June, 1891, while his wife's death occurred ten years later, on the 15th of May, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of an only child, Mary M. They are Catholics in religious faith, and Mr. Smith is a democrat in his political views.

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

JOHN N. SMITH.

John N. Smith, cashier of the Iowa State Bank at Hazleton, has in his business career made steady advancement through the utilization of opportunity, through fidelity to duty and through the employment of the qualities of enterprise, diligence and determination. He was born in Guthrie county, Iowa, November 1, 1880. His father, Frank Smith, was a native of Luxemburg, Germany, born in 1834, and was only ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on the voyage across the Atlantic to the new world, the family home being established near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits until 1870. In that year Frank Smith removed to Guthrie county, Iowa, settling on a farm, on which he continued to reside until called to his final rest. He was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land and successfully carried on general farming and stock-raising.

In early manhood Frank Smith wedded Margaret IMeyer, whose birth occurred near Luxemburg, Germany, in 1838. They became the parents of five children, of whom John N. is the youngest. The father has now passed away, dying in 1898, at the age of sixty-four years, but the mother is living in Guthrie county with a daughter at the age of seventy-six years. In politics he was a democrat but never aspired to hold office. One of his brothers, who came to the United States at the same time he crossed the Atlantic, was killed in the battle of Gettysburg, while serving as a member of a Wisconsin regiment during the Civil war.

John N. Smith was reared under the parental roof and pursued his education in the schools of Yale, Iowa, and in a ])business college at Des Moines. Througli his youthful days he renuiined upon the home farm and early became familiar with the l)est methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He was twenty years of age when he entered upon his business course at Des Moines and after his graduation went to California, where he spent a year and a half for the benefit of his health. He then returned to Iowa, making his way to Independence, where in 1902 he became associated with the Palmer Hubbard Produce Company in the capacity of bookkeeper. He thus served for three years, after which he was appointed deputy county clerk under J. T. Stevenson. Later he was with the First National Bank of Independence as bookkeeper and in 1910 he was elected by the republican party to the office of county clerk, in which he made so excellent a record during his term that he was reelected in 1912. However, he was solicited to become cashier of the Iowa State Bank at Hazleton, in which he is also a stockholder and director, and acci)ted the position. He likewise owns farm lands in this county and is conducting a growing and profitable insurance business.

In 1904 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Bertha A. Triiax, a native of Guthrie county, Iowa, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Truax, who are still living in that county, representatives of early families there. John W. Truax has land which his father, James Truax, entered from the government. The grandfather was one of the first to become identified with the work of general improvement and development in that section of the state and for many years carried on general farming and stock-raising. He died at the very venerable age of ninety-eight years. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Truax were five children, of whom Bertha A. is the eldest. She has spent her entire life in this state and was a teacher of music and also a school teacher in the Yale schools. By her marriage she has become the mother of five children, Alton L., J. Vernon, Wilma Pauline, Frances Alella and Kathryn.

Mr. Smith is an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity and a past master of Independence Lodge. He regards it as the duty as well as the privilege of every American citizen to exercise his right of franchise in support of the measures which he believes to be factors in good government. Accordingly he has been an active worker in the republican party and has done much to further its interests, nor is he neglectful of the higher duties of life. He belongs to the ]Methodist church and is interested in its welfare and generous in its support. He has made a creditable record in every relation and at all times has been actuated by principles of truth and honor.

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