The Smith Families of Fayette County, Ohio

JACOB C. SMITH.

The Smith family, now represented by Jacob C. Smith, one of the most substantial farmers of Paint township, this county, was probably the first family to locate in Fayette county on the present site of Washington C. H. Edward Smith, Sr., the grandfather of Jacob C. Smith, was born in Pennsylvania, married in that state and located in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1810, the same year the county was organized. He entered land along the waters of Paint creek, since called the East fork, and erected his rude wigwam in the midst of an unbroken forest. He commenced clearing and improving his land, but suddenly the War of 181 2 broke in on his arrangements and, with his neighbors, he volunteered and served in the defense of his county>\ At the close of this war he returned to his home in this county and took up the task of clearing and improving his farm. Upon returning home one night from the county seat he attempted to cross a creek and was thrown from his horse and drowned. Edward Smith, Sr., married Margaret Casselman, in Pennsylvania, and to this marriage ten children were born, all of whom grew to maturity, married and reared families of their own. These children in the order of their ages are as follows: Sarah, Casselman, Mary, Susan, Rachel, Eliza, Selina, Edward, July and Maggie.

Edward Smith, Jr., was born in Pennsylvania and came here with his parents in 1810. He grew to manhood in Fayette county and married Nancy Kukel, and to this union ten children were born: Mary, Jacob C, Richard, James Madison, Lewis, John R., Luther, Rachel, William and Noah. Of these ten children, Mary, Richard, John and Luther are deceased, while the others are married and have families of their own.

Jacob C. Smith, the grandson of the first member of the family to come to this county, was born in Union township, this county, July 20, 1835. He has been life-long farmer and it is his boast that for seventy years he has never lost a summer in the harvest field. He received a very meager education, since the schools of his day were limited in their instruction. He remained at home until twenty-five years of age and then began renting land

Google from his father. He moved upon his present farm, five miles north of Washington C. H., in 1873, " has now Hved upon it more than forty years. As he has prospered from year to year he has added to his land holdings and now owns three separate farms, aggregating three hundred and four acres. One farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres is the one on which he is now residing; another of one hundred acres is near his own home place in Union township, while the other farm of eighty acres is in the same township. He has always been a heavy stock raiser, giving particular attention to the raising of hogs, in which he has been very successful.

Mr. Smith was married January 6, 1859, to Every MacLean, the daughter of Joseph and Luanda (Bush) MacLean, and to this union were born seven children: Mrs. Luella Bitsen, who has one son, Willard; Mrs. Nancy Droce, who has two children, Emma and Howard deceased; Mrs. Ida Baughn; Joseph E., who married Miss Swinehart; Norman, deceased; Mrs. Mary Reed, who has two sons, Loren and Herbert; and William. The mother of these seven children died September 7, 1890. She was a faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Smith, while not taking an active part in politics, is interested in all matters of local interest, and always lends his influence to aid in promoting the good of the community in which he has resided so long.

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

Peter Smith, the grandfather of Woodson Smith, was a native of Germginy. He came to America near the close of the Revolution, settling for the first five years in Virginia. He then removed to Kentucky, and during his residence there, became personally acquainted with Daniel Boone of historic fame. Adam Smith, the father of Woodson, was born in Virginia, five ears previous to the removal of the family to Kentucky. His wife was Ann Woodson, daughter of Judge John Woodson, of Kentucky. The Woodsons are of French descent. To Adam and Ann Smith were born two sons and two daughters, Woodson, Maria, Wesley, and Betsey Ann. He came to Ohio in 1821, and settled on the "Woodson Snrvey," near where his descendants now reside. The land in that section was then valued at 1.50 to 2 per acre. Adam Smith died in Iowa in 1860; his wife died in 1832.

Our subject was born in Ohio, February 11, 1821, and was educated in the pioneer school-house, wdth luncheon benches for seats and greased paper for window-glass. He was married August 16, 1843, to Henrietta Limes, daughter of William and Athalia (Doster) Limes, who were settlers east of New Martinsburg as early as 1811. Mrs. Smith was born in 1823. To their union was born two sons, Harvey, born July 8, 1844, and Leander, born October 4, 1846. Harvey married Levina Irvin and is a resident of Fayette County. He is the father of one son, Tucker, and one daughter, Lulu. Leander married Mrs. Henrietta Cox, nee Bennett. She died April 2, 1876, aged 31. To Leander and his wnfe two daughters were born, Delia, born February 11, 1870; Ella, born May 3, 1875. Leander is a member of the I. O. O. F., and served with credit in the war as a member of Company " I," 168th O. V. I., under Captain Lewis Painter. Our subject was one of the throng of adventurousspirits who sought the gold fields of California when the precious ore was discovered there. He left Ohio in March 1852, spent more than five years in the trip from first to last, and returned to his home in August, 1857. He recounts many thrilling stories of his experience in te cities of Mexico, Acapulco, Vera Cruz, and other important places visited by him and his party. He is a member of the F. & A. M. at Greenfield. Mr. S. built his present brick residence in 1876, at a cost of $5,000. He is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and twenty-five acres of land on the Buena Vista pike, two miles east of New Martinsburg.

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

THOMAS J. SMITH.

Joseph P. Smith, the father of Thomas J. Smith, was born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 17,- 1797, and came to this state in the year 1812. He was by trade a shoemaker. He was married, in 1822, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Junk, one of the first settlers of Scioto Valley, where the city of Chillicothe now stands. Mr. Junk helped to raise the first house in Chillicothe. After his marriage, Mr. Smith a-nd his young wife moved to Delaware County, this state, where for seven years he carried on a small farm, during which time three children were born to them.

In the year 1829, they removed to Ross County, where he bought and improved one hundred acres of land, on which he lived eighteen years, during which time four children were born to them, three of whom died. The remainder of their children, one daughter and three sons, grew to mature years. Finally, he purchased a farm of one hundred and nineteen acres in Madison Township, this county, where they closed their days.

Thomas J., the subject of this sketch, was born in Delaware County, this state, February 27, 1825. He was married, October 18, 1849, to Angeline, daughter of Noah Cory, of Ross County.

Mr. Smith rented a small farm and remained a resident of Ross County till 1853, when he bought sixty-seven acres of Jand, in Madison Township, in this county, upon which the family located permanently. At this time the surrounding woods abounded with wild game, and wild turkeys in great numbers frequently came among the domestic fowls about their humble above. Vermin of various kinds prowled by night, and annoyed by day. Here Mr.

and Mrs. Smith fought life's battles and achieved its victories through many tribulations. The chills and fever vas a great affliction: wet seasons spoiled the fruits of their toil, and the frosts often swept off the labors of a season: but through all they triumphed, and now in the ripeness of their declining years, they enjoy a comfortable home of two hundred and thirty-six acres of well improved lauds. They had born to them nine children: Apphiah, born July 22, 1851; Lucretia EHzabeth, born August 6, 1852; Joseph Noah, born August 3, 1855; Mary Jane, born ITovember 22, 1857; John Ellsworth, born September 15, 1861; Ida Angeline Louisa, born July 27, 1866; Eddie Cory, and Eva Gary, (twins,) born July 14, 1868; Calvin Emery, born July 1, 1872.

]!than Cory, Mrs. Smith's grandfather, came to this state, in 1797, from Kentucky. Previous to this date he had resided in Virginia, and in emigrating to Kentucky, had descended the Ohio River in a pirogue sixty feet long. This was probably in 1790. Several families, twenty-seven persons in all, comprised the party. The men of the party traveled overland and suffered much for lack of food. They succeeded in killing a huge buffalo bull, from the flesh of which their hungry needs were supplied. His first location in this state, -vas near the site of Chillicothe. He afterwards located near Oldtown, where he passed the rest of his eventful life. When he reached his destination, in this state, his effects consisted of a wife and six children, a pony and a dollar in cash. The money was expended for a pack of salt. He was by trade a hair-sieve maker, but gave much of his time to other pursuits. He was for many years a deacon in the Baptist Church, and was afterwards ordained an elder. He was married three times; but his family of ten sons and two daughters were all children of the first wife.

The children of Noah and Lucretia (Shoots) Cory, were Sally, Ann, Hannah Jane, Solomon, Thompson, Joseph Benjamin, Angeline, John Nathan, Mary Ellen, Elizabeth,, Nancy Louisa, Julian Lucretia, William Noah, Landy Shoots, and Oliver Anson.

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

Oswell Smith, merchant tailor, Washington, was born in that city in 1850, and is a son of James J. and Hannah Smith. His father is a native of Virginia, and came to Fayette County in 1832, and immediately afterward married the mother of our subject, who was a native of this county. The result of this union was six children, five sons and one daughter.

Oswell was married to Laura E., daughter of Rev. Richard and Hannah Pitzer, of Washington. They are blessed with one son, Jesse, seven years of age, and one daughter, Chloe, eighteen months old.

Mr. Smith was sheriff of the county from January 1, 1877, to

January 1, 1881, inclusive. He is at present a member of the city council. Is also a member of the Odd-fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Royal Arcanum. His education was received in "Washington, where his life, with the exception of three years, has been passed. He is now engaged in the merchant tailoring business, with Mr. Howat, under the firm-name of Smith & Howat. They occupy the " white hall " on Court Street, Washington, and are meeting with the success they merit.

S. M. Steen, music dealer, Washington, was born in Adams County, Ohio, December 14, 1849. He is a son of Alexander B. and Nancy J. Steen — the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Ohio — who had a family of eight children, all living but two.

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

Franklin Smith, shoemaker, Milledgeville, a native of Virginia, was born August 5, 1827. On the 15th of March, 1848, he was married to Miss Elizabeth C. Swisher, of Virginia. Ten children are the result of this union: Emily J., Philip B., Jacob M., Martha A., Virginia, Alonzo O., Margaret A., Miranda, E. 0., Ida May, and one who died and the early age of four.

Mr. Smith came to this county in 1863, and engaged in the boot and shoe business, in which he has been successful. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church. Have been in the village of Milledgeville fourteen years, and are a couple of its most highly respected citizens.

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

Isaac Smith is a sturdy blacksmith of New Martinsburg, and plies his trade diligently, year after year. He was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, January 28, 1822; he is a son of Anthony Smith, a native of New Jersey, who came to Ohio soon after it was admitted into the Union. Our subject learned his trade with William Gold, of Tarlton, Ohio, and on the 19th of April, 1846, he was married to Mary Smith, daughter of S. Smith of New Jersey. The fruits. of this union were six children: Melissa J., Elizabeth Ellen, Ann Maria, Clara Adelia, Alice* and Orpha. Previous to his residence in New Martinsburg he spent a number of years in Pickaway County, and seven years in Ainton County. He located in New Martinsburg in 1862, and has since then given his trade his principal attention.

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