The Smith Families of Nodaway County, Missouri

JAMES W. SMITH.

Back to the early pioneer days is traced the interesting life record of James W. Smith, a well-known and highly-respected resident of Burlington Junction, whose long life has been spent in Nodaway county and a man who has played well his part in the development of his community. He has lived to see this part of our great country grow from a wilderness to one of the beautiful spots of the United States, and which is not yet developed to what it will be. He saw, when a boy, the Indian and the deer roaming these prairies, where now are fine houses and highly-cultivated farms, stocked with an excellent grade of cattle and horses, hogs and sheep. It is indeed interesting and instructive to hear him tell of the early days and of the subsequent development of the community. He is said to be the first white child born in Nodaway county, a distinction of which anyone might well be proud, his birth occurring near Guilford, January 9, 1842, and he is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Groom) Smith, the father a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky, each representing old and highly-honored Southern families. In an early day Samuel Smith moved from Tennessee to Clay county, Missouri, and to Nodaway county in 1841, being one of the earliest pioneers here. He was a sterling character and was never daunted by dangers or obstacles that stood in the way of his success. His death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His mother, Sarah Groom, married a nephew of Daniel Boone. Two daughters were born to this family, Sarah and Casander (the latter emigrated to Oregon in 1854), and there were two brothers, A. W. and G. W., who live in Wyoming, where they own large ranches.

James W. Smith grew up on the home farm, which he assisted in developing, learning the meaning of hard work when only a lad, attending the common school of those early days during the winter months. Although educational advantages were limited at that time, he made the most of his opportunities, and, later, by contact with the world and much reading, became a well-informed man. He has always devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and has met with very gratifying success. Starting with nothing in 1865 except his hands and a willingness to work, he has by perseverance, energy and good management accumulated nine hundred acres of valuable land, which ranks with the best in Nodaway county, his attractive place being widely known as “Riverside Farm,” one of the “show places” of the county. He placed the best of improvements of all kinds on his land and so skillfully rotated his crops and managed his fields that the soil has retained its original fertility. He has an excellent residence and large, substantial outbuildings on his place, but he has now retired from active life and is living at his beautiful and modern home in Burlington Junction. Considering the fact that he started without capital or influential friends to assist him, having forged his own way to the front, he is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished.

An interesting chapter in the life record of Mr. Smith is that relating to his experience in the great conflict between the states. He being of Southern blood on both sides of the house, it was quite natural for him to cast his lot with the Confederacy, enlisting as a private in Company B, Third Regiment Missouri Cavalry, Confederate States Army, he being nineteen years old at his enlistment. He served very faithfully through the war, never shirked duty or shrank from danger or hardship. He was wounded at the fierce conflict at Franklin, Tennessee, taken prisoner, and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he was released in June, 1865. Besides the engagement mentioned above, he took part in the battles of Blue Mills and Lexington, Missouri; Corinth, Baker’s Creek and Jackson, Mississippi; Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Altoona Pass, Georgia, and many other minor engagements.

Mr. Smith was married on May 5, 1870, to Adaline Johnston, daughter of Ephraim and Rebecca (Jones) Johnston, of Burlington Junction, Missouri, and this union has resulted in the birth of the following children: Eva C., born April 3, 1874, married Prof. P. W. Jenkins, of Ohio, but now they live in the state of Wyoming, where Mr. Jenkins is ranching; Annie B., born October 22, 1877, married W. H. Pitkin, of Ohio, whose residence is now Sioux City, Iowa, where he is engaged successfully in the practice of law; Edna P., the youngest child, born May 9, 1884, married L. O. Staples, son of R. R. Staples, of Atchison county, Missouri; the son owns a two-hundred-acre farm near Burlington Junction, Nodaway county.

Politically, Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and he belongs to the Christian church. He has always led a quiet, honest and well-regulated life, which has gained for him the respect of a host of admiring friends who regard him as one of the leading citizens of Nodaway county.

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

WILLIAM V. SMITH, farmer and stock raiser, section 3, is a native of Bedford County, Tennessee, and was born August 25, 1819. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of North Carolina. They were married in 1817, and then settled in Bedford County, Kentucky. William, with his parents, moved to Clinton County, Missouri, in 1828, and settled on a farm two miles west of Hainesville. His father was one of the first county judges, and represented the county in the legislature in 1833-4. The family moved to the Kickapoo Reservation in 1835, and in the spring of 1837 settled in the Platte Purchase on Sugar Creek. Here his parents died. William Smith was married on the 7th of February, 1839, to Miss Jane L. Holt, the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rainey) Holt She was a native of Orange County, North Carolina, and was born January 16, 1820. When she was two years old her mother died. In 1837 she went with a brother to Clay County, Missouri. Her father died in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Smith settled on the old homestead in Clinton County, Missouri, and lived there till 1842, when they moved to Andrew County, Missouri, locating seven miles west of Savannah. In 1847 he settled in Nodaway County. His farm contains 412 acres of good land. Their family consists of: Michael H., Louis B., John W., Sarah C, Willard P. and Sterling P., living, and the following deceased: William R., ari infant, James C, Shelby C. and Elizabeth. In October, 1854, Mr. Smith was elected county judge, and in 1860 was re-elected for four years. He is a Mason in good standing. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the M. E. Church, South.

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

JOHN WILLIAM SMITH.

Coming to us from the remote pioneer days, so unlike in every respect those of the present, John William Smith, one of Green township’s honored residents, should be given conspicuous mention in the history of Nodaway county for diverse reasons, partly because of his long record of unassailable relations with his fellow men and partly owing to the prominent part he has played in the development of local conditions. He was born in what was Green township, now part of Monroe township, this county, in 1849. His parents were William Vinson and Jane Lockhart (Holt) Smith, the former born in Tennessee, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, and the latter born in North Carolina. She was a sister of William R. Holt, whose sketch, which contains her ancestry and her early history, appears elsewhere in this work. John W. Smith was one of nine brothers and two sisters; two of the sons died in infancy; the others were: Elmer died when four years old; Redmond died when about three years old: Michael Holt married Betsy Nichols, and his death occurred on December 9, 1887, at the age of forty-seven years, leaving one daughter; Lewis Bowan died unmarried on April 1 2, 1904, when sixty-one years old; Willard Payton, who married Eva Nash, who has borne him five children, lives at Delta, Colorado; Sterling

Price lives at Broken Bow, Nebraska, is married to Maggie Young and has two sons, Floyd and Francis; John William, of this review; Elizabeth Ellen married John D. McDonald, a near neighbor of Mr. Smith; she is now deceased; Sarah Catherine Smith married John D. Hess, lives at Loveland, Colorado, has five children, three sons and two daughters, Emma, Carrie, Jesse, Willard and Charley; Mr. Hess died April 2, 1908.

The father of John W. Smith, of this review, came to Missouri about 1835 and located in Andrew county, where he lived until about 1846, then moved into what is now Monroe township, Nodaway county. He bought some land from another early settler there, but got most of his farm from the government. He was a Mason. His death occurred in Skidmore on January 24, 1892; his wife died March 25. 1892, and both are buried in the Masonic cemetery at Skidmore.

John W. Smith grew to maturity in Monroe township and lived there un til he was twenty-three years old. He was married in 1872 to Barbara Jane Bowman, a native of this county, born and reared north of Quitman; she was the daughter of Jonathan and Rebecca Bowman and was a sister of Henry Bowman, whose sketch appears herein. In 1871 John W. Smith purchased the farm where he still lives, five miles southeast of Quitman, where he now has one hundred and eighty acres of excellent and well-kept land. He has lived here ever since 1872.

Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith; Roy died when two years old; William Vincent married Clara Rebecca Owens and lives one-half mile west of the home place, has had two children, Ferris, who died in infancy, and Helen Barbara; Mary May married William Watson and lives in South Dakota; Rebecca J. L. married Riley Long and lives five miles west of the home place, has one son, Leslie Alvin: Lucretia (usually called Lulu) married Sam Clark McGinnis and lives two miles west of Skidmore, and has two children, Hazel Barbara and Edna May.

The mother of these children was called to her rest on September 22. 1896, and on February 28, 1907, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Rose (Abbey) Barker, widow of A. C. Barker. She was born in Black Hawk county, Iowa, and is the daughter of William Henry and Charlotte Abbey. Her father died in 1881, her mother having preceded him to the grave in 1880. William Henry Abbey was born in England in 1820, and when eight years old came to America with his parents. William Wallace Abbey and wife. Mrs. Smith's mother, Charlotte (Orton) Abbey, was reared near Painesville, Lake county, Ohio, in which state her parents settled upon coming from the state of New York, when young, and there, near Painesville, were married and lived several years, later coming to Page county, Iowa, where they lived until 1868. Subsequently, they came to Nodaway county, Missouri, the father, Silvil Orton, dying on May 8, 1881, and the mother on April 29,

Mrs. Smith is one of a family of six girls and one boy, namely: Sarah Jane, who married Franklin Carver, of this county, he being now deceased, leaving one daughter, Alwilda; Mary Minnie married C. W. Dwight, after whose death she married William Sanders, and they live in this county; Charles F. married Luella Veach, and after her death he married Etta Yates and has one son and one daughter, he being her second husband, and they are living on the parents' old home place in this county; Emma Ann, who lives in Elmo, is married to J. J. Snodderlev, has two sons living and one daughter deceased; Rose A., now Mrs. Smith, first married A. C. Barker, August 15, 1889, and to them were born two sons, Ray Edgar and Howard Lewis, both at home with their mother, their father having died December 16, 1903; Lillie M. married Victor Cain and lives near her father's old home in this county, and they are the parents of four daughters and two sons; Carrie Belle died when three months old.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JEREMIAH C. SMITH.

One of the sterling pioneer citizens of Nodaway county and a man who sought rather than shunned hardships and dangers — fearless alike of both — was Jeremiah C. Smith, who was born in Madison county, Kentucky, in 1814 and who has now joined the “innumerable caravan.” He remained in his native community until he was twenty-three years old, then came to Boone county, Missouri, and settled in Nashville where he turned his attention to merchandising, remaining there until 1848 and enjoying a good trade. In

1849 he took to steamboating on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and in those picturesque days became well known among rivermen. In 1851 he began merchandising in Claysville, Missouri. He came to Nodaway county in 1856 and soon located on a farm in the edge of Clearmont where he farmer until his death, February 15, 1901, having reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. He became well known in this community and was respected and honored by all for his many virtues, being a man whom his neighbors trusted explicitly and delighted to associate with. He was very successful as a farmer and trade, being a good manager and making few mistakes in his business life. He finally became the owner of twelve hundred and seventy acres, on which he carried on general farming and stock raising. When he first came here St. Joseph was the principal trading point and there Mr. Smith frequently drove his stock to market, the trip requiring seven days. It was interesting to hear him relate incidents of the early days here and in Boone county.

In 1841 Mr. Smith bought a slave woman, “Eliza,” paying nine hundred dollars for her, in Boone county, Missouri, of a Mr. Duncan, who hailed from the state of Kentucky. She accompanied the Smith family to Atchison township, Nodaway county, in 1855, and the family located just west of where Clearmont now stands, later moving to a place on the south edge of the town. “Eliza,” who is the only slave ever in Atchison township, still resides in Clearmont.

Mr. Smith joined the Masonic order at Quitman in 1865; later he transferred his membership to LeMar Station and later was charter member of Lodge No. 507 at Clearmont. He was always interested in church affairs. He owned the farm on which the town is located and he laid out the place. He was liberal to all charitable enterprises, giving freely of his means to all worthy causes. He donated a lot for the school building, and in many ways was helpful to the community in general,— in fact, the most influential man in the vicinity of Clearmont for years. Politically he was a Democrat and never lost an opportunity to further the interests of his party. He was at one time township collector.

Mr. Smith married Nancy F. Jones, of Boone county, Missouri, on January 22, 1856. and this union resulted in the birth of three children, Jeremiah M., born November 21, 1856; William F., born May 22, 1858, and Jerome T., born June 7 1860. A sketch of the latter appears on another page of this work. The mother of these children was called to her rest March 23, 1880, at the age of forty-five years, having been born April 8, 1835.

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

JEREMIAH M. SMITH, section 12, post office Clearmont. This gentleman was born in Nodaway County, Missouri, November 21, 1856, and was raised in the occupation which he now follows. He received the advantages of the schools of this district, and in 1880, he moved on the place where he now resides. He has a splendid farm of a 160 acres, much of which is under cultivation. Mr. Smith was united in marriage February 1, 1880, to Miss Mary E. Nevels, a most agreeable lady. She is a native of Sangamon County, Illinois. They have had one child, now deceased. Mrs. Smith is a member.of the M. E. Church of Clearmont.

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

JAMES C. SMITH, farmer and stock dealer, section 8, is a native of Hancock County, Ohio, and was born on the loth of March, 1838. He was a son of Harvey and Nancy (Carpenter) Smith, the former a native of Connecticut, born December 1, 1803, and the latter of Delaware County, Ohio, born April 28, 18 17. They were married June I, 1838, and then settled in Hancock County, Ohio, coming to Nodaway County, Missouri, in 1866. James passed his youth and received an excellent education in his native state. He devoted many years of his early life to teaching school, and with his parents moved to Nodaway County, and settled at Quitman on a farm. He was married the 3d of July, 1863, to Miss Maggie Wilson, a native of Franklin County, Ohio. She was the daughter of John M. and Eliza (Puffield) Wilson. Her father was born in Brown County, Ohio, July 4, 1807, and when a young man went to Licking County, Ohio. Her mother, a native of Licking County, Ohio, was born October 12, 1809. They were married in 1830, after which they settled in Licking County, and in 1847 moved to Fairfield County. They next located in Franklin County, Ohio, and settled on a farm some two and one-half miles west of Westerville, and twelve miles north of Columbus. Mrs. Eliza Smith died April 16, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Smith have a family of two boys: Charles, born August 2, 1865, and Frank, born January 8, 1868. They have lost two children: Harvey, born July 2, 1870, died January 21, 1871, and Dollie, born May 8, 1880, died July 6, 1881. Mr. Smith is a charter member of Cornet Lodge, No. 284. He is the owner of a valuable farm.

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

WILLIAM H. SMITH, druggist and notary public, Quitman, is a native of Hancock County, Ohio, born on the 21st of January, 1841. His parents were Harvey and Nancy (Carpenter) Smith. His father was a native of Connecticut, born December 1, 1803, and the mother of Delaware County, Ohio, born on the 28th of April, 18 17. They were married June I, 1838, and then became residents of Hancock County, Ohio, moving to Nodaway County, Missouri, in 1866. The elder Smith died March 24, 1874. William spent his boyhood days and received his education in his native county. After teaching one term in a district school he enlisted, in 1862, in company I, i62d regiment O. V. I., and went into the field as orderly sergeant. He was promoted to second lieutenant on the 24th of March, 1863, and first lieutenant on the 27th of June, 1864, and to captain December 14, 1864. He was brevet major April 2, 1865. Mr. Smith participated in the following battles: Petersburg, Martinsburg, Battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Gaines Mills, Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred, Winchester, Cedar Creek and capture of Petersburg April 2, 1865. He was mustered out at Washington D. C, on the 25th of June, 1865, and was discharged at Columbus, Ohio. Returning home, with his parents, he moved to Nodaway County, Missouri, in 1866, and settled in Quitman. He embarked in the drug business in 1871, and has continued the business since that time. He has filled the office of justice of the peace for fifteen years. August 6, 1866, Mr. S. married Miss Cassia Noffmger, a native of Nodaway County, Missouri, born 'he 15th of June, 1848. She died October 5, 1881, leaving the following children living: Orlander M., born January 8, 1870, and Bert, born June 7, 1877. They had lost Orion E., born August 2, 1867, died February 20, 1870; Maud, born Augusts, 1878, died August 22, 1880; Elmer E., born October 19, 1871, died March 23, 1872. Mr. Smith married the second time on the 2 ist of July, 1881, Mrs. Helen E. Stockhouse (maiden name Carter), a native of Wood County, Ohio. She was born January 1, 1845, being the daughter of J. and Polly Carter. Mr. Smith is a Mason and a charter member of Comet Lodge at Quitman. He was appointed notary public on the 16th of February 1877. He is the owner of the northwest quarter of section 8, township 64, range 37.

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

ELDER RUFUS SMITH was born September 21, 1821, in Deerfield, Oneida County, New York. His father, Rufus Smith, married Lucinda De Groat. His parents moved to Erie County, New York, when Rufus was five years of age. They then located in Jefferson County, New York, where they lived and died, leaving a family of six sons, Samuel, William, Rufus, Eladsit, Wayne and Warren, and two daughters, Helen and Harriet. Of these Samuel, Eladsit and Helen are now deceased. When in his seventeenth year Rufus was converted and called by God to preach the gospel at once. His mother being a Methodist, he joining the New School Lutherans, saw and felt deeply the effect of divisions in the church. He resolved, with the light which God gave him, to preach the pure gospel and let

Lutherism and all other isms take care of themselves. Being requested to hold meetings at Beech Ridge and Clayton, in Jefferson County, he earnestly commenced work for the Master, and was rewarded by having two revivals, one of which was the most wonderful of his life. During all this time he worked for his father on the farm and walked fifteen miles every Sabbath to his appointments. The Lutheran ministers hearing of his success selected a conference and gave him license, October 5, 1842. His mother having died soon after his conversion, his father, who was not a Christian, desired him to remain at home and work on the farm.and have the homestead of 200 acres, or, if he left home, to have his time but never a dollar. Thanking his father for his time, Rufus, believing all God's promises, including Mark x. chapter, 29-30 verses, resolved to follow the Lord fully, hence he worked by the month, day and hour, and paid his way to secure a limited education. Many years after this, Elder Smith's father sent for him, though a thousand miles away, to confess to him that he had done wrong in trying to hinder him in his work, and said: "Rufus, I am glad you obeyed God, and did not listen to me. Be faithful. I will try and meet you in Heaven." Young Smith's first charge as a pastor of a congregation was at Morristown, St. Lawrence County, New York. Here he was united in holy wedlock with Eliza C. Reese, on the 5th day of July, 1843. He remained there for two years, and was licensed in full by the Franckean Synod, June 8, 1844. In these two years there were over two hundred who professed religion. Mr. Smith's next field was at Starkville, Herkimer County, New York, where he remained for six years, having abundant success in that locality. In January, 185 1, he left there for Raymertown, Rensselaer County, New York, there continuing for five years, preaching regularly every Sabbath, and at other places in the county had many revivals; Bryan's Corners had an extended revival, organized a Lutheran Society and erected a meeting house, etc. During this time he buried his only daughter, Eveline Lucinda, who died September 23, 1853. In October, 1856, he moved from Raymertown to Sharon, Wisconsin. On moving west he became acquainted with Julius Movius, General Agent of the Great Western Railroad. Learning his mission west, Mr. Movius always passed Mr. Smith and his family, free., from Buffalo to Chicago and return. Feeling that he could not do more for him, Mr. Smith named his youngest son after him. Upon learning the fact, Mr. Movius replied with the following letter:

Buffalo, N. Y., March 17, 1865.

REV. R. Smith, Jr., — My Dear Sir: Absence from home has prevented earlier acknowledgement of your kind favor of the third instant, but contents are noted with much satisfaction. Let me congratulate you upon the accession to your family circle, and I pray that Julius Movius Smith may live and grow up a good man — a Christian — and be the comfort and support of his worthy parents in their declining years-, and a pride to him whose name he bears. I shall always feel a deepinterest in him, and hope to have it in my power to aid and encourage him in the journey of life, and to secure him such a position as the development of his moral, religious, commercial and scholastic attainments may indicate. This is a period somewhat remote, and if in themeantime I can serve you, it will give me pleasure so to do.

I am, very truly yours, JULIUS MOVIUS.

Julius Movius Smith died March 14, 1865, at Mt. Morris, Illinois. Mr. Smith was in Sharon and Janesville, Wisconsin, preaching in the States of Illinois and Wisconsin for five years, having an outpouring of God's spirit in many places in both states. From the beginning of the war he was for a number of years engaged in preaching as an evangelist, both north and south, showing that if the church of America had been one,, and the pure gospel had been expounded, there could have been no war. During this time he held a meeting at Jackson, Will County, Illinois,, where he had another revival, and built a meeting house, but lacked a few hundred dollars of paying for it. To raise this amount, Mr. S. chartered a train, and took his friends from Jackson and Will County, to visit the southern prisoners confined at Camp Douglas, in Chicago, for the purpose of preaching the gospel to them. The proceeds obtained were sufficient to pay for the train and the meetinghouse. In 1865, he located in Mt. Morris, Illinois, and at that time it was publicly announced that he would not receive one dime from any one only as a free will offering,, consequently the word money was not mentioned during his stay there of two years. His wants were not only fully supplied, but he had hundreds of dollars to give away for benevolent purposes. Mr. Smith would as soon baptize for any other denomination as for the Lutheran, always teaching the people that by the Holy Ghost they were baptized into Christ's Church. That the denominations were only societies, all of which were out of God's order. While teaching this bible truth, he received members into the Lutheran Society only when requested, never asking any one to join, he feeling that all isms were a " stumbling block, which should be removed out of the way of God's people." — Isaiah 57, 14. From some cause, he hardly knew why, he felt impressed to ask for a letter from the Lutheran denomination, which was granted July 7, 1866. We herewith print the letter:

This is to certify that by a vote of Synod, an honorable letter of dismission from our ecclesiastic body was granted to Rev. Rufus Smith on the 7th instant, at our late session, held at Albion, Marshall County, Iowa. Brother Smith has belonged to the Franckean Evangelic Lutheran Synod of New York, for the last twenty-five years, and for the last six years to our Western Conference. He is an eminent, zealous and very active embassador of Jesus. He has for the last six years acted as an.

-efficient and successful Evangelist in various portions of this western country and elsewhere.

We, therefore, recommend him without the least hesitation, with love and confidence, to any ecclesiastic body of the Evangelic Lutheran Church of North America, wherever he may see fit by the direction of Providence to join. May the divine blessings of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ richly rest upon him, on his beloved family and upon all true Israel of God, near and far. Amen.

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

FAYETTE SMITH, of the firm of Eddy & Smith, is a native of St. Lawrence County, New York, and was born April 11, 1845. His father's name is Rufus Smith, and his mother's maiden name was Eliza Reese. The former removed to Wisconsin when he was young, and he was principally reared in Janesville. During the late war he enlisted in the army in Company F, Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry, and after serving two years he was discharged on account of disability. After his return from the army he was for some years engaged in the real estate business and farming. He is at the present time, in company with his partner, Mr. Eddy, purchasing grain at Blanchard, Bingham, Shenandoah, Imogene, Solomon, Strahan, Lawrence, Silver City and Miniola, with headquarters at Maryville. He ranks as one of the leading business men of the county. While it is true that some men inherit greatness, others have greatness thrust upon them, a large number are the " architects of their own fortunes." The man of this stamp, self-reliant and courageous, building on principle and not pedigree, starts out with the idea God helps those who help themselves. He who has faith in his own powers, who is diligent in his calling and has his heart in his work, is on the road to success. He was married in 1865, to Miss Emma Hill, of Ogle County, Illinois. Their family consists of seven children: Mary E., Martha E., Estella, Carrie E.( Bessie, Lucy Ethel and an infant son.

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

SAMUEL J. SMITH.

In the daily laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career, there is little to attract the casual reader in search of a sensational chapter; but to a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence there are noble and imperishable lessons in the career of an individual who, with clear head, strong arm and true heart, directed and controlled by correct principles and unerring judgment, conquers adversity, and, toiling on, finally wins, not only pecuniary independence, but, what is far greater and higher, the deserved respect and confidence of those with whom his active years have been spent.

Samuel Smith is a native of Nodaway county, Missouri, having first seen the light of day here on September 15, 1859. He is a son of Jackson and Marian (Brown) Smith, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Clinton county, Missouri. They are both now deceased, the father having died on January 30, 1888, and the mother in February, 1908. At the age of sixteen years Jackson Smith came to Clinton county, Missouri, and took employment as a farm hand. In 1865 he came to Nodaway county and bought eighty acres of farm land, for which he paid ten dollars an acre. There was a house on the land and some minor improvements otherwise, and he gave his attention to the tilling of the soil, in which he met with, a fair measure of success. He was a carpenter by trade and was employed at this work when not engaged in his farm work. Five years after coming here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land, at five dollars an acre, and six months later he sold half the land for ten dollars an acre. When he died he owned three hundred acres of fine land, with a comfortable home, the entire property being well improved. His widow remained on the home ten years after his death, and then moved to Barnard, where she spent the remainder of her days. At her death she was laid be side her husband in the cemetery at Graham. They were members of the Church of Christ and enjoyed the respect of all who knew them. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living, namely: Sarah, Samuel J., Benjamin F., Mary, John W., Selvina, Alice and James, both deceased.

Samuel J. Smith spent his boyhood days on the home farm and secured a good practical education in the common schools. On attaining mature years he farmer his father's farm for a short time, and then bought eighty acres of unimproved land, for which the consideration was fifteen hundred dollars. Mr. Smith had but fifty dollars to pay on the purchase price, but he was energetic and ambitious and he went to work with a will to improve the land and get it into cultivation. He built a small frame house, into which he moved, and such was his success and so well satisfied was he with the conditions and outlook that in less than a year he bought forty acres adjoining, and within three years he had discharged his entire indebtedness. This was a testimonial to the productiveness of Nodaway county soil, but it was more than that: It was evidence of the qualities that entered into the young man’s makeup and which gave promise of his future success. He carried on his operations with continued success and added to his possessions from time to time until he is now the owner of two splendid farms, one of one hundred and sixty and another of two hundred and forty acres, four hundred acres altogether, each of which contains a good residence and is otherwise thoroughly improved and productive. He is also the owner of some good farm land in Texas. He lives in a comfortable and attractive residence in the town of Barnard, going back and forth to his farms, and a number of men are employed in the operation of the same. Mr. Smith is one of the principal stockholders in the Barnard State Bank and has served as its president for many years, much of the success which has attended the institution being due to his good business judgment and favorable influence.

On December 25, 1879, Mr, Smith was united in marriage to Margaret Clare, the daughter of James and Sarah Clare, natives of Kentucky who were among the early settlers of Andrew county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have become the parents of six children, namely: Mariam Alice, born July 11, 1881, is the wife of Morgan Kling and they have one child, Jesse; George W., born in 1883; Thomas Jackson, born September 16, 1885, employed in the Commerce Trust Company, Kansas City, married Elizabeth Hilton; Jesse Oren, bom November 3, 1886, died January 10, 1887; Myrtle, born April 1, 1888, married George Adams, a farmer, and they are the parents of one child, Kenneth; Mary Florence, born September 1, 1890, is the wife of Leonard Mendenhall, a farmer.

Politically, Mr. Smith is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, though not an office seeker. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in the blue lodge at Barnard. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Church of Christ, of which her husband is an attendant and to which he contributes liberally. Mr. Smith is regarded as one of the enterprising and progressive business men of his township and because of his long residence here he is widely known, being regarded as one of the substantial men of the community.

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

JAMES R. SMITH.

There seems to have long been an attraction in Nodaway county. Missouri, for the people of Knox county, Illinois, for we find that they have been coming here for many decades — since the pioneer days, in fact — and their substantial, happy homes are dotted all over the prairies of this locality. Not many of them ever returned to their native county, finding here ample opportunities for the willing worker and every condition favorable to success and contentment.

Of this large number, James R. Smith, of Grant township, should be included, for, on July 4, 1856, he was born in Knox county, Illinois, and he is the son of John B. and Mary F. (Fisher) Smith. His father was born in 1825 in the state of New York and, now advanced in age, is living with his daughter, Mrs. Winger, in this county, being eighty-five years old. His wife was born in 1836 in Illinois, in which state they were married and from whence they came to Missouri in 1870, locating in Nodawav county. After a few years' residence here they moved to Atchison county, just over the line, and bought one hundred and sixty acres on which they made their home for twenty-five years. Selling out, they returned to Nodaway county and bought a farm near Skidmore; here Mrs. Smith died in 1898 and was buried at Bun- Oak Grove in this vicinity. Then Mr. Smith moved into Skidmore. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and followed this line of work most of his active life. Politically, he always supported the Republican ticket. He married a second time.

John B. Smith and his first wife became the parents of three children, Theodore, John and Aaron. The following ten children were born of the second union: James R., Ella, Lillie, Emma, William, Joseph, George, Lydia, Woodford and Elizabeth. The last six named are deceased.

James R. Smith, the immediate subject of this review, remained under the parental rooftree until he was twenty-three years of age, receiving a common school education. On September 21, 1879, he was married to Martha White, daughter of William and Mary White, who came to this county in 1875. He was a farmer and his family consisted of seven children.

Mr. Smith began his married life on his father's farm and after a few years bought land near Skidmore, and after residing there eight years sold out and bought other land in the county — one hundred and twenty acres — which he soon disposed of and bought a half section in Texas, which he still owns and which has increased in value since he purchased it, promising to be a good investment. For the past seven years he has leased land and he now operates a fine farm consisting of four hundred acres, adjoining Barnard on the north, this being the estate of the late Albert P. Morehouse, who was one of the past governors of Missouri. Mr. Smith is known to be one of the most enterprising farmers of this township, being practical in both farming and stock raising. He has one of the best constructed silos to be found, and he runs quite an extensive dairy business in connection with his general farming operations. He uses a modern separator and ships his cream to St. Joseph, where he finds a ready market for it.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Barnard, and Mr. Smith is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both are members of the Rebekahs. Politically he is a Republican. They are the parents of ten children, which he styles a Roosevelt family; their names are: Elmer F.. born August 2, 1880, married Annie Curnutt; Celia E., born December 19. 1881, married Herman Logan and they have two children. Ellen E. and Thelma F.; Edgar M.. who was born January 19. 1884. married Margaret Perkins and they are the parents of one child,

Florine E.; Elsworth was born July 9, 1886; Clarence D. was born April 12, 1888; May E. was born April 11, 1890; Ruth E. was born January 13, 1892; Guyles I), was born August 23, 1894; Esther E. was born August 13, 1897; Avon J. was born March 19, 1900.

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

GEORGE W. SMITH,.

of the firm of Vaughn & Smith, grocers, is a native of Pennsylvania, and was born in Lancaster County, December 2, 1833. He was reared and educated in the town of Holland, and when sixteen years of age he learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, which he followed for twelve years. In March, 1865, he moved to Whiteside County, Illinois, and located on a farm, and with the exception of one year was engaged in farming till March, 1879, when he came to Nodaway County. He settled on a farm one and a-half miles southeast of Maryville, where he was engaged in farming and conducting a dairy till the spring of 1881, when he and his son, J. J. Smith, started the creamery of Maryville, J. J. being the inventor of Smith's Portable Creamery. G. W. sold his interest in this in July, 188 1, and in October he began in his present business as one of the firm of Vaughn & Smith. He is a son of William and Mary (Shaffer) Smith, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. S. was married August 4, 1854, to Miss Mary A. Tyson. She was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, February 12,. 1832. They had eleven children, seven of whom are now living: William F., John J., Amos E., Augustus, Ida, Mary E. and Laura J. Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the M. E. Church.

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

CALEB P. SMITH, druggist and liquor dealer, Clyde, Missouri, is a native of West Virginia, and was born in Monroe County, February 16, 1845. In the spring of 1857, he moved to Andrew County, Missouri, with his parents, Anderson and Elizabeth (Lively) Smith, who were also natives of West Virginia. They resided in Andrew County for one year, and then moved to Nodaway County. C. P. was reared on a farm, but during life has been engaged in various occupations. He commenced in his present business in July, 1 88 1, and has since met with favorable results. He also has a well improved farm of 200 acres. During the late war, he was in the service of the home guards for about twelve months. He was married, April 19, 1868, to Miss L. Davis, who was born in Morgan County, Ohio, May 9, 1852. She resided in her native county until 1865, when she came to Nodaway County, Missouri. Her parents, Jacob and Rebecca (Rees) Davis, were both natives of Ohio. The family of Mr. and Mrs. S. consists of four children: John R., Mary A., Dora S. and Charles A.

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

REZIN SMITH, farmer and sheep raiser, section 14, post office Hopkins. The subject of this sketch is a native of Washington County, Pennsylvania, where he was born April 15, 1820. When at the age of six years he, with his father's family, emigrated to Indiana and settled in Floyd County, from whence, after a residence of four years, he removed to Arkansas. There he resided only a short time, and then he went to Illinois; but not liking the country, he soon came to Missouri and entered the employ of the American Fur Company. This state was then in its infancy. Mr. Smith remained with that company five years, when he returned to Illinois and settled, following the occupation of a cabinet-maker and carpenter for thirty years. Tiring of a settled life, he emigrated in 1869 to Iowa, where he resided only eighteen months, and from there came to this state and county. In 1878 he located where he now resides. He has over eighty-one acres of good average land, all of which is under cultivation. Mr. S. is one of the largest sheep raisers of this district, and to that industry alone he attributes his success in Missouri. He has been twice married; first, in 1845, to Miss Elizabeth Gilliand. There are from this union four children living: Adelaide, Angeline, Emeline, and Catherine. Mrs. Smith's death occurred in 1855. After a period of two years, or in 1857, Mr- S. was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Watson.

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