James M. Smith, born in Tennessee in 1827, came by way of Putnam County, Indiana, in 1855 and built up 530 acres in St. John's Township, and Mary Smith, whose parents are given as the same Andrew and Lucinda (Walker) Smith, married Joseph A. Deal of that township in 1859. Solomon J. Smith, born at Lockport, New York, in 1827, mined in California in 1849 and then settled on 425 acres in Little Sioux Township, where Smith's Lake lies on his farm; he died in 1887. William A. Smith, born in Union Township in 1859, was the son of J. W. Smith, an Ohio man who came about 1854, while Oscar L. Smith, a blacksmith born at Joliet, Illinois, came to Woodbine in 1881, and Samuel T. Smith, born in York County, Pennsylvania, in 1855, became a merchant at Dunlap. Every fact below is cited to the 1891 county history.
Earliest in the record
James M. Smithborn 1827Most recent in our records
William A. Smithborn 1859Each number matches a section below. Tap a name to jump to that person.
Farmer in Tennessee
Early settler, St. John's Township. His sketch is printed at the end of Martin Kibler's
Wife of Joseph A. Deal of St. John's Township.
Pioneer farmer; Smith's Lake is on his farm
SOLOMON J. SMITH, (deceased), came to Harrison County, in 1855, being a pioneer of the pioneers. He was born in Lockport, N. Y., June 7, 1827, and was the son of John and Nancy (Jennings) Smith, of Canada, where our subject spent his early life and received his early education. He followed farming throughout his days; went to California in 1849, followed mining when gold was first discovered there, returning to New York, and went from there to Dixon, Ill., and from there to Council Bluffs and located on section 30, of Little Sioux Township, where he owned four hundred and twenty-five acres of land. Smith’s Lake is on this farm.
He was married in 1855, to Miss Julia Pratt, the daughter of John Pratt. By this union three children were born — Alice, Charles and Emma. Mr. Smith died January 18, 1887: he was a Republican in politics, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a member of the Masonic lodge, at Little Sioux.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Farmer in Union and Washington townships
Of Persia; son of J. W. Smith
WILLIAM A. SMITH, a highly respectable citizen of Persia, was born in Union Township, Harrison County, Iowa, August 6, 1859, and hence is a genuine Harrisonian Hawkeye by birth. He remained under the paternal roof until 1872, when his parents bought a farm in Washington Township, he living at home most of the time until 1878, after which he worked summers and attended school winters until January 1, 1882, when he was ushered into a new era by his marriage to Miss Annetta Matocks, who is now the mother of two children — Cora I., and Roy F.
Mrs. Smith was born in the State of Michigan, her father dying when she was yet a small girl. She lived withher grand parents at Niles, Ill., until about 1876. Her mother married James Atkinson in Niles, Ill., and the family came to Harrison County and settled on a farm in Union Township, where our subject’s wife remained until the time of her marriage.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Blacksmith and farmer, section 31, Lincoln Township
OSCAR L. SMITH, whose pleasant farm-house may be found on section 31 of Lincoln Township, near the waters of the Willow River, will form the subject of this notice:
He was born in Joliet, Ill., in 1855, and is the son of Martin G. and Margaret E. (Johnston) Smith, natives of New York, who were the parents of four children — Albert S., Adelbert, Oscar L., and Frank M. The father was a machinist, and worked for the McCormack Reaper Company, and finally removed to Stearns County, Minu., and in fighting the In dians,he overworked in building a fortification, and caught cold which terminated in death.
Our subject worked on a farm until sixteen years of age in Delaware County, N. Y., then at blacksmithing in Broome, County, N. Y., from which State he came to Iowa, in 1881, and settled at Woodbine, where he wielded the sledge, and fanned the forge until he came to Liny coin Township.
He was united in marriage, October 24, 1880, to Miss Mary M. Owen, daughter of James K. and Mary M. Owen, natives of New. York. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of one child — Myrta R., horn February 24, 1889. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Woodbine while he pounded at the forge. They bought a lot, built a house and shop and paid for it, and continued to work at Woodbine for eight years, and then purchased eighty acres of land in Lincoln Township, upon which he now lives. He did considerable building, fenced his farm, set out one hundred and thirty fruit trees, and has followed farming and blacksmithing ever since. To one who succeeds through the role of industry, midst smoking forge and clark ing anvil, there must be ascribed much credit, and it will also be remembered, that this man’s companion, true to her marriage vows, has ever been a faithful helpmate.
As printed in the source1. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Merchant at Dunlap, junior member of Lyman & Smith. His sketch is printed at the end of Andrew D. Walker's
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