The Smith Families of Jasper County, Missouri

HENRY D. SMITH.

One of the first of the early settlers of Jasper county, Missouri, and one (jf its most substantial and esteemed citizens is Henry D. Smith, who was born in Chautauqua county. New York, on January 7, 183 1, and he was a son of Proctor and Ruth (Keeler) Smith. Proctor Smith was a native of New York and by occupation was a farmer. In 1836 he moved to Illinois and located in what was then known as the Yankee settlement in the vicinity of Joliet, and there he improved a farm and remained until about 1839, when he went west of Chicago and located in McHenry county, where fine farminglands were to be found. In 1854 he removed into Iowa and settled in Bremer county, atid remained engaged in agricultural pursuits for the succeeding twelve years, at the close (jf that period moving into Jasper county, Missouri. His death occurred in Alba, Missouri, in 1876. In politics he was always in accord widi the Democratic party.

The Viiother of our subject was formerly Ruth Keeler, and she was born and reared in the state of New York, her family being prominent in the vicinity of Rochester. Her death occurred in 1840, in Illinois. Nine children had come under her loving care, seven of whom grew to maturity, these being Philo, who died in California; Mary, who is the widow of F. M. Mead and lives in IlMnois; Philip, who resides in Granville, Ohio; Martha, who is the wife of F. M. Sponable. of Alba, Missouri; and Alonzo, deceased. Mr. Smith, of this biography, was the second son in the family and the third child. He was three years of age when he was taken into Illinois and remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he made the trip across the plains to California. This was in 1850, when the youth of the land was turning an expectant face toward the Golden state. Mr. Smith's first mining experience was at a camp then called Hangtown, which name was later changed to Placerville, as place mining was then the general industry in that locality. Mr. Smith spent six years in gold mining, with varying success, and returned Dy way ot the Panama route to New York city. One year of this time he spent in San Francisco, and he saw much of the state dviring his residence there; but lie was not enough impressed to cause him to make it his permanent home.

When our subject returned from the far west he first located in Bremer county Iowa, where he remained until 1866, at which time he came to Jas])er county, Missouri, and for about one and one-half years he lived in Allja, and then located on the fine farm which he now occupies. This land was formerly the property of Judge McMagrcgor and had never been improved, and was called swamp land, but Mr. Smith saw its possibilities and immediately began making substantial changes. A comfortable house was built, which still stands on an adjoining farm, and now this eighty-acre farm under cultivation and the twenty acres of timber bear small resemblance to the farm upon which our subject settled in those early days of the county. He has carried on general farming and successful stock-raising and has prospered. Mr. Smith has also engaged in mining, and owns stock in the Duenweg and the Chetwood Hollow and the Kansas City Bottom.

The marriage of Mr. Smith was to Catherine A. Etting, who was born in Ulster county, New York, where she was reared, and two children were born of this union: Minnie, who died at the age of eighteen months; and Leslie. Leslie Smith was born in Bremer county, Iowa, on May 8, 1865, and was five years of age when brought to Jasper county. His mining interests are in association with those of his father. He married Miss Marcia B. Allen, who was a daughter of D. W. Allen, of Carthage, Missouri, and they have one daughter, Pearl. Mr. Smith has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has long been known as one of the most ardent Republicans of Jasper county.

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

SANFORD M. SMITH, farmer and-stock dealer, section 29, post-office Carthage, is a native of the Empire State, born March 6, 1820. In 1826 his parents moved to Ontario, Canada, and from there they moved to Michigan in 1835, settling in Kalamazoo county, and engaged in farming, where our subject was married Feb. 16, 1844, to Miss Catharine Rowley, of Schoolcraft, Mich., a native of Ireland. Of this union there are two sons, Lewis W. and Richard R. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California, engaging in mining with good success, and returned via Panama next year. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company E, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, and served in the western department against hostile Indians. He was engaged in three fights, and promoted to first sergeant of the company, and was commissioned lieutenant in May, 1863, and mustered out in the fall of 1865, and returned to his home. Mr. Smith came to Jasper county in 1866, and the following year purchased the farm on which he now lives, very nicely situated on Center Creek, consisting of 240 acres, 200 of which are improved, and have good substantial farm buildings. Since Mr. Smith first came to the county he has been engaged in handling live stock and has been quite successful. In 1868 he introduced a flock of 400 sheep into Jasper county, driving them through from Kankakee, Ill., and always keeps more or less sheep for market. Mr. Smith has been honored by positions of public trust, and has inaugurated many progressive improvements in his locality in the schools and otherwise. He is well and favorably known in the county as an energetic and enterprising business man and a kind neighbor and friend.

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

RICHARD R. SMITH, M. D., physician and surgeon, Sarcoxie, was born in Kalamazoo county, Mich., Aug. 20, 1854. His parents, Sanford M. and Catharine Smith, are natives respectively of New York and the Emerald Isle. During infancy subject was taken with parents to iona county, same state, where they located on a farm. In 1864 the family came to Missouri, locating in this county near Carthage. Subject was raised principally on a farm and educated liberally in the common schools. In December, 1880, he entered the American Medical College, St. Louis, and graduated from that institution in June, 1882. Returned immediately to this county and engaged in the practice of his profession at Sarcoxie. Dr. Smith was married Dec. 26, 1873, to Miss Mollie A., daughter of Ferdinand and Rebecca Hollingsworth, of Jasper county. Mrs. Smith was born near Vincennes, Knox county, Ind., July 7, 1853. They have one child, Garrett Rowley, born Dec. 31, 1878. The Doctor, although a young man, has by his energy and assiduous study acquired a fund of knowledge pertaining to his profession which, coupled with his practical tendencies, can not fail to eventually gain him prominence as a practitioner. He is truly what may be termed a self-made man.

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

WILLIAM NATHAN SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, section 20, postoffice Knights. The subject of this sketch is a native of Jasper county. His father, James Smith, came from Putnam county, Ind., in 1840, and settled on Spring River, where our subject was born March 19, 1843. The following year the family moved to Newton county, where our subject spent his youth. As was usual with young men at that day, at the breaking out of the civil war, he was pronouncedly for the Union, and though not regularly mustered he did the state some service as scout to General Sanborn and in other useful and dangerous capacities. He was elected captain of an organized company of Enrolled Missouri Militia, but was never called into active service. He was appointed registering officer of the Neosho district at the reorganization of Newton county in 1866. Was married May 15, 1867, to Miss Martha Johnson, a native of Arkansas, daughter of B. F. Johnson, deceased, for many years a respected resident of Jasper county. Since his marriage Mr. Smith has been a resident of Union township, Jasper county. His family consists of three sons and four daughters. Their names are Lolman W., Forester T., Maud M., Mary M., Cora Y., Nathan O., and Stella. His farm consists of eighty acres, well improved, three-fourths of a mile from Knights Station and five miles from Carthage. Mr. Smith is well known and respected in the county, and is looked upon as an energetic, public spirited citizen, and enjoys the esteem of his fellows. He has been repeatedly honored by places of public trust, and has ever rendered a good account of his stewardship, and has had a varied and exciting experience during his short life. Daring the war times, owing to the part he took, his life was always in danger, and desperate and determined men had vowed to kill him at sight. He made two trips across the plains to New Mexico and Colorado in government employ, his first trip being made through the hostile Indian country of the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Kiowas, and Utes. Was a companion of William Haycock, " Wild Bill." The trip was very remarkable in its varied experience. They feasted and starved, roasted and nearly froze. Mr. Smith has been an active member of the Patrons of Husbandry since its introduction here, and is steward of the county grange.

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

CAMPBELL ALEXANDER SMITH.

During life C. A. Smith, of section 30, Marion township, was one of the leading farmers of Jasper county, Missouri. His birth, September 20, 1832, was in the state of Tennessee, where his father, Daniel Smith, had long been a farmer, but when he passed out of life the mother took her two little sons and moved to Jasper county, Missouri. Here C. A. Smith grew up. became a farmer and a very successful stock-raiser, and accumulated much land. At his death in 1881 he was able to leave to his family a fine farm of two hundred and fourteen acres, which is managed by his three sons. Mr. Smith was a life-long Democrat, was well known in this locality and was sincerely mourned when he passed out of life. His burial was in the West cemetery.

Mrs. Sarah A. (Thompson) Smith, who is the estimable widow of the late C. A. Smith, was born in Daviess county, Kentucky, on August 13, 1833. and she was a daughter of Thomas Thompson, who also was a native of Kentucky, and a granddaughter of Joseph Thompson, also a native of Kentucky. The latter was supposed to be of Irish ancestry and he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Thomas Thompson come to Jasper county in 1839 and located in the southeastern portion of the county. There he cleared up and improved a farm, but his last years were spent with his daughter, Mrs. Smith, where he died when about sixty-three years old.

The mother of Mrs. Smith was Lucinda Marks, who was born in Virginia, although she was reared in Kentucky. She lived to the age of fifty years and had been the mother of nine children, six of whom grew to maturity, Mrs. Smith being the fourth child of the family. She was about six years old when she came to Jasper county with her parents and she has remained in this county ever since. Her marriage to Mr. Smith was in 1858. and six children were born to them, five of whom still survive, the names being: William E., who married Fannie McClintick; Ida M., who married Charles Creamer and lives in Galena, Kansas; James, who married Lizzie Rice; Clara, who has passed away; Charles C, who married Agnes Leidv: and George W., who remains at home, unmarried.

Mrs. Smith is a survivor of the pioneer days and has witnessed with interest the wonderful progress that the county has made since she first came here. Her fine farm is managed by her sons and she is one of the most highly esteemed residents of the Locality, and is the only one of her family still residing in Jasper county. For many years she has been a consistent member of the Congregational church and is known far and wide for her kind neighborliness and many acts of kindness. Her memory is excellent and her tales of pioneer days in Missouri are very interesting.

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

THOMAS SMITH. His farm consists of 320 acres of fine land, having settled where he now resides in October, 1865, from Bourbon county, Kan., having gone there in the spring of 1860 from Wayne county. Mo., and in 1856 from Sevier county, Tenn. He was born in Tennessee, in 1828, being the son of Nicholas and Kaziah (Engham) Smith, her father a native of South Carolina, born in 1797, and died in 1867; her mother a native of England, coming to America with her parents when two years old, being born in 1798, and died in 1831. They were married in South Carolina, and settled in Tennessee, having a family of eight children. Our subject wab married May 23, 1850, to Miss Sarah Handley, a native of Sevier county, Tenn., born in 1828, being a daughter of James and Nancy (Richardson) Handley; her father was born in 1798, and died Nov. 3, 1871; her mother was born in 1799, and died June 12, 1854. There was a family of nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Smith's family are as follows: James P., William H., John H., Catharine C, Sarah C, Martha and Nettie (twins), AUie A., and T. Edmond; and have lost E. J., Andrew, and Mary A. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both members of the Baptist Church.

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

WILLIAM H. SMITH, druggist. Mr. Smith was born in 1812, in Champaign county, Ohio. His father, John J. Smith, was a native of Maryland. He died August 26, 1882, at the advanced age of one hundred years, and his mother, Hettie, nee Baird, was a native of Pennsylvania. John J. Smith is the father of nine children, all of whom are still living. William H. Smith was reared in Ohio. He was editor of a newspaper in Kentucky called the Kentucky Whig and during the campaign in 1836 advocated the election of Harrison. He afterward removed to Indiana where he farmer and taught school many years. In 1852 he came west to LaSalle county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1872, when he came to Carthage, Missouri. Here he invested in real estate, and bought the drug store where Crothers & Deal are now located, continuing in business here about five years. He sold to Crothers & Deal.

In November, 1881, he opened a drug store on the east side of the square where he is now located. Mr. Smith has served as a member of the schoolboard for nine and a half years. He has also been a member of the city council. He and his family are members of the Congregational Church, of which he is collector and deacon. His first wife, Esther, nee Gregory, died in about three years after their marriage, leaving one son, Wilesther, who is still living. His second wife, Elizabeth, nee Holeman, is still living. They have four children, two sons and two daughters. Mr. Smith is an old and highly respected citizen.

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

JSELSON M. SMITH. The acts of some men tell more than volumes of eulogy or biography. The subject of this sketch impresses us as one of those men whom Homer describes a strong and sturdy Ajax, able to cope with any foe or brave any danger. Born in Luzerne county, N. Y., in the town of Warren, Oct. 30, 1816, he spent his early life in his native state. His father, Horace Smith, was for many years a prosperous farmer in the Old Empire State, but spent the evening of life with his son, Nelson M. Smith, in Carthage, Mo., where he died in July, 1871. Nelson M. Smith was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, February 18, 1841, with Liza Lewis, who was born in Otsego county, N. Y., but married in Ohio. The children are Ulrick M., Lorinda G., and three not living. Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic order. Was one of the pioneers of three states, immigrating to Illinois in 1843, and soon to Iowa, and to Jasper county. Mo., in 1866. During the war he held the responsible position of provost marshal, it being attended with many dangers; was county sheriff of Bremer county Iowa, for a series of years, an office which he filled with great credit both to himself and the county. His farm, joining the corporation of Carthage, in sections 18 and 1, township 31, range 28, comprises a tract of 140 acres, and is therefore both desirable and profitable. Mr. Smith spent some four years in Texas, where he laid out a town, besides traveling extensively in Oregon, California, and other states. Mr. Smith has been a hard-working man in his younger days, and although upwards of seventy has the vigor and sine of forty years ago. He takes his annual hunting tour in the fall of the year, a sport in which he greatly delights. His genial, frank, and hale manner must render him a boon companion.

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

STEPHEN SMITH was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, June 19, 1839. When four years old he moved to Belmont and Morgan counties, and when fourteen, in 1851, removed to Warren county, Iowa. Coming from Warren county to Alba, Jasper county, Mo., in 1867, he returned after two years to Taylor county, Lowa; returning to Alba the second time in June, 1875. In the fall of 1861 he married Ruharaa Groom, of Warren county, where she was born in March, 1843. The names of the children are Charlie and Jerry. Mr. Smith twice enlisted in Warren county, Iowa, but was both times rejected, because of inability to pass the medical examinations, illustrating that the " spirit was indeed willing, but the flesh weak," poor in body but right loyally rich in good will. Mr. Smith is the present postmaster of Alba, a position he has acceptably filled for seven years. He, with others, laid out the town of Alba last year. He is a Mason, also an. Odd Fellow, and with his wife, members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Smith has been in the mercantile business for fourteen years, and is now interested in the mining company of Smith, Mateer, Sonnichson Haworth, & Smith, who are securing paying leid and silicate in the Alba mines.

MARTIN SONNICHSON". Scheeswig-Holstein, was the birthplace of the subject of this record, who was born Oct. 16, 1857, formerly a dependency of Denmark, but now of Austria. Bidding farewell to his fatherland, he embarked May 12, 1873, from Hamburg for free America, and landed at St. Louis in June, 1873. Spending a short time in Illinois, he took up his above in Jasper county in 1881, and has since been interested in the Alba Mines, operated by the company of Smith, Sonnichson, Mateer, S. A. Smith & Haworth. Three shafts of 95, 50, and 4:0 feet, respectively, have been sunk, with little return until December, 1882, when the company are beginning to be rewarded for not wearing in well-doing in good " shines," in miner phrase, of lead and silicate.

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

CAREY J. SMITH, born in Shelby county, Ind., July 22, 1850, but for the most part raised in Iowa. Was married in Iowa in Aug., 1875, to Sarah M. Irons, who was born in Ind., in 1856. The names of the children are Bettie, a beautiful child, not living; and one not named at the writing of this sketch. Mr. Smith came to Jasper county in 1875, and engaged in the mercantile business in the town of Smithfiled, and has been remarkably successful. He bought a half interest in his uncle's store for $250, paying $115 in cash and gave his note for the balance. Mr. William McQuiston bought out David Smith's interest, after five years, for $1,600. Mr. Smith continued the business with Mr. McQuiston for a year and then sold out to Mr. McQuiston for $1,500. In 1881 Mr. Smith began business for himself with a capital of $1,500, and in a recent invoice, without additional capital stock, his business showed that there had been a growth in two years to $5,000. Besides the mercantile business he has done a large business in agricultural implements, having sold the past season, including his mercantile business, about $23,000. He keeps a novel set of books, giving total cafh, total sales, total credits, and collections, enabling him at the end of the week, month, and year to strike a balance in his business. Mr. Smith is a young man and full of business energy, and a good manager and calculator. He is the present postmaster of Smithfield, sending out some 10,000 letters during the last year, besides being the proprietor of the city scales.

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

ALBERT B. SMITH, born in Tippecanoe county, Ind., March 17, 1849, where he was raised. He came to Jasper county in the fall of 1870, with his father Jeremiah, who is now a very old man and lives with him. Married August 11, 1872, Cornelia Corkins, who was born in Tippecanoe county, Ind., and raised there. The subject of this sketch has a farm of 91 acres, on Spring River, about 60 acres being under the plow; 30 acres the past season averaged 25 bushels of wheat; and 30 acres of corn, averaged 35 bushels; there is also a good orchard on the farm. Mr. Smith's farm comprises a good share of the tract of land where the recent big mines of lende and lead ore have been discovered. There are already five good shafts, turning out big quantities of ore. Great excitement exists and no doubt there is good reason for it, and which will probably continue to grow. Mr. Smith little thought that his farm was to produce ores as well as grain when he made his purchase or that he would reap so handsome a profit.

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

STEPHEN A. SMITH.

Iowa, a progressive state, has given to Missouri, another progressive state, some of its most progressive citizens. One Iowan who has achieved success in Missouri is Stephen A. Smith, of Joplin, Jasper county. Mr. Smith is a native of Mills county, Iowa, a son of Chauncey and Caroline (Hopper) Smith. His father, who was born in Massachusetts, came to Joplin from Iowa in 1876 and died in 1892, at the age of sixty-six years. His mother, who was a native of Pennsylvania, is living at Joplin, aged sixty-nine years.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

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

JAMES M. SMITH.

Many men well known in Missouri were born in Illinois and own to a son's regard for their mother state. One such is James M. Smith, of Carterviile, Jasper county, Missouri, who has been mining in the county for thirteen years, during ten years of which time he has been mining and prospecting on his own account.

James M. Smith was a son of Joel and Anna (Krutzinger) Smith. His father, a native of Virginia, eventually came to Newton county, Missouri, where he now owns a good farm. His wife was a native of Clay county, Illinois, but was descended from old Pennsylvania stock. Their son, William M. Smith, brother of the subject of this sketch, is connected with the latter's mining enterprises.

Mr. Smith came from his native town in Clay county, Illinois, at the age of seventeen, and soon afterward began mining. For three years he was superintendent for the Union Mining Company at Carterville. He opened up the R. R. mine on the Perry lease, and is now operating the Wonder mine on the Beckwith-PIall land at Prosperity. This mining property comprises ten acres and a one-hundred-ton mill, and four shafts are worked there. His knowledge of mining is comprehensive and his attention to business has been so strict as to be extraordinary, and, all in all, his success has been most marked.

Mr. Smith married Miss Laura Smith, daughter of Cornelius Smith, an earl)- settler and farmer of Newton county, Missouri, and they have had four children born to them: Otho, Ethel, Chalmers and an infant son. Mr. Smith is a Woodman of the World and a member of the Order of Pyramids, and is highly respected as a citizen of much patriotism and public spirit.

* w. w. Mcdowell.

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