The Smith Families of Otter Tail County, Minnesota

GEORGE W. SMITH.

George W. Smith was born in Holden, Massachusetts, December 27, 1831, a son of Jonas H. and Anna E. (Rogers) Smith, both of whom were natives of Holden, Massachusetts.

Jonas H. Smith lived in the state of Massachusetts until 1836, when he moved, with his family, to the state of Vermont, living there for the remainder of his days. Jonas H. and Anna E. Smith were the parents of six children, four daughters and two sons.

George W. Smith received his education in the common schools of Stratton, Vermont, after which lie became a farmer; working on the home farm until 1855, when, at twenty-four years of age, he moved to the state of Minnesota and located in Carver township. Carver county, where he lived as a farmer until September, 1861. At this time Mr. Smith enlisted for service in the Civil War with Company A, Fourth Regiment, Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served for three years. During that time he was stationed at Ft. Ridgely, among the Indians, for six months, later being transferred to Corinth, Mississippi, from which place he was moved as a part of the army fighting in the battles at Shiloh, Corinth and Yicksburg. During the last year of his military service George W. Smith was a part of the Veteran Reserve Corps stationed at Rock Island arsenal at Rock Island, Illinois.

After the close of the Civil War, Mr. Smith returned to Minnesota and made his home in Carver county, where he was active as a farmer and as a public official, until 1878, when he came to Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Dora township. On taking possession of his land George W. Smith cleared the place, added the necessary improvements and after some years as a pioneer farmer he improved his farm more substantially and has since made his home on this farm, now being accorded a place among the leading farmers of this com-

8j8 other tail county, Minnesota.

munity in which he has proved Mich a worthy and useful element of citizenship.

Some time after moving to Minnesota, Mr. Smith was married to Sarah DeMerse, who was a native of Minnesota. George W. and Sarah Smith became the parents of four children: Frank H., who was born on June 16, [860; Ida 1\ September i0. 1865; Lula E.. February 21, 1868, and Marion E.,.March 23, 1872. After the death of his wife, Sarah, George W. Smith was married, secondly, in 1875, to Hannah Nelson, who was born on November 19, 1851, in Sweden. George W. and Hannah Smith became the parents of six children: Artmas. born on February 6, 1878; Evaline T., December 4, 1880; Zelpha N., December 22, 188-'; Herbert W., July 18, 1885; Matilda. February 21, [888, and George L., August 5, 1890.

As a citizen who has been prominent in the public and official life of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and of other communities where he has made his home, George W. Smith is known as one who has made an enviable record and as one who has done no little in bringing about the present high development of the community life. While a resident of Carver county, Mr. Smith was known as a must trustworthy and faithful deputy sheriff and after moving to this county his ability was-non demonstrated in his successful efforts to establish and maintain a township organization with efficient schools and educational facilities. For many years Mr. Smith was a faithful and influential member of the school board in Dora township, this county, and during several terms of office he was chairman of the township board of supervisors, as well as having served in his usual able manner as township treasurer, for many years. Politically, Mr. Smith is an ardent Republican. In church circles George \Y. Smith is well known, his activity as a member and as an official of the Presbyterian church of this community being an important part in the religious life of Dora township.

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

WILLIS A. SMITH.

Willis A. Smith, general farmer and stock raiser, Parkers Prairie township. Otter Tail county, was born on May 3, 1881, in Steuben county. New York, a son of Azariah and Abbis (Burlingame) Smith. His early education was received at the public schools of his native state, and after coming with his parent to Otter Tail county, in 1809, continued his studies in the public school of Parkers Prairie township, this school having a sod roof and earthen floor. After leaving school, he assisted his father with the farm work, taking entire charge of the place at the age of eighteen years, in [878, and managing it from that time on, during the first year and a half of which time he worked out in order to obtain sufficient funds with which to keep things going during the famous grasshopper year. In 1893, Mr. Smith became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of his father's home- Mead, which he has owned and farmer ever since. In the fall of 1895, ne bought the farm where he now lives, consisting of eighty acres, adjoining the old homestead, and has lived here ever since. He has erected practically all the buildings, and follows general farming and stock raising, giving special attention to the breeding of purebred Shorthorn cattle, of the milking strain, blooded Poland China hogs and brown Leghorn chickens. His farm is known as the "Cedarvale Farm," which is splendidly equipped with guild buildings. Politically, Mr. Smith is a strong Republican, while in religion he is an earnest member of the Baptist church, in the work of which he takes an active interest, having long served as choir leader and trustee. Fraternally, he is allied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Parkers Prairie township.

Azariah Smith, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on January 16, 1829. at Deerfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Abbie (Burlingame) Smith, was born un March 17, 1833. and was a native of the same place. Mr. Smith was educated at the public schools of Deerfield, Pennsylvania, and as a young man went to Woodhull, Steuben county, New York, and settled on a timber farm, living there from 1857 to 1867, and while hauling lumber from a mill to the town, he and his team went through a bridge into the river, and he was so injured that he was unable to continue his farm work for two years. He had another misfortune in the loss of a flock of tine thoroughbred sheep, in which he had invested in 1867. caused li\ disease. This loss so crippled him financially that he left for the west, coming to Parkers Prairie, Otter Tail county, in 1869, spending the first winter here with his brother. Cyrus P. Smith. On this trip he brought with him his eldest son, the remainder of the family following in May of the next year. He took up a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on August 7. 1889. Azariah and Abbie 1 Burlingame) Smith were the parents of three children: Ellen, horn on November i_>, 1857; Sherman B., born on March 10. 1880, and died on December 23, 1908. and Willie A. His first wife died, and Mr. Smith was then married to Eliza M. Mariner, by whom he had one child, Herbert A., born on January jj, [866, ami died on January -' 1, [903. Mr. Smith's second wife died on December 6, 1898. Politically, he was a Republican, and in religion a member of the Baptist church, in the choir of which he was leader for many years in both New York state and Otter Tail township, during which time he also officiated as deacon of the church.

Willis A. Smith was united in marriage, August 30, 1893, w'tn Estella P. Bacon, by whom he has had the following children: Asa A., Beth, who died at the age of nine years; Fernie F., Rudy, Alten and Donna. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist church.

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

ELLSWORTH VV. SMITH.

One of the most prominent old families of Otter Tail county, Minnesota, is that of Ellsworth VV. Smith, a well-known lecturer on scientific farming in this state, who was born thirty miles east of Buffalo, in Bennington township, Wyoming county, New York, March 23, 1864. Mr. Smith is the son of Isaiah S. and Maria ( Foster) Smith.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Smith. Sardious and Isabel Smith, were natives of Vermont and, for many generations, were connected by blood ties with the oldest New England families. Sardious Smith was a pioneer in western New York, having immigrated to the "Holland Purchase," and settled in Bennington township in 1815. He died there at the age of ninety-six years. Although he carried a musket in the War of 1812, he was not an enlisted soldier. Ikwas the leading man in his community and was highly respected as a citizen. He and his wife were members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of eight children. Mr. Smith's maternal grandparents were farmers in New England, who, very early in the last century, immigrated to Bennington township, Wyoming county. New York.

Ellsworth Smith's mother, who before her marriage was Maria Foster, was born at Belfast, New York, about 1820. His father, Isaiah S. Smith, was born in Bennington township, Wyoming county in 1817. There they grew up and married. Isaiah S. Smith was a farmer, a contracting carpenter and a well-known builder of bridges, dams and mills. About 1866, he left New York state and made a trip to Nebraska, looking for a location. After remaining in Nebraska for six months, during which time he built a mill at what is now Decatur, he returned to New York and remained until the fall of 1876, when the family moved to Wisconsin. There they lived for four years, but in the spring of 1881, came to Woodside township, Otter Tail county, Minnesota, and purchased eighty acres of railroad land, which was then wild prairie. Here they built a frame house and began to cultivate the farm. Isaiah S. Smith died in 1893 and his wife in 1872. He was always active in local politics. There were four children in the Smith family, George D., who died in Whatcom county, Washington, where he was engaged in farming: Ann Augusta, who married William Van Dyke and died in the state of New York; Warren A., who died at the age of seventeen, and Ellsworth, the subject of this sketch.

Ellsworth W. Smith was educated in the public schools of New York state, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He was reared on the farm and. early in life, learned the carpenter trade. Having come into possession of his father's farm, he operated the place since coming here. In 1892 Mr. Smith built a barn, thirty by forty-two feet, and about iqos erected an addition, which makes the barn now, thirty-six by seventy-six feet. He also has other barns and outbuildings. In 1902 he erected a good house.

Mr. Smith calls himself an all-around farmer, but makes a specialty of raising clover seed, potatoes and pure-blood Duroc-Jersey hogs. He keeps a drove of from fifty to seventy-five head and also operates a small dairy. He also breeds pure-blood barred Plymouth Rock chickens and generally has from eighty to one hundred hens.

For the past eight years, Mr. Smith has been employed by the farmers institute department of agriculture of the state of Minnesota, to address institutes all over the state. He spends from four to six months of each year in this work. Mr. Smith is the kind of a farmer who "takes something to town to sell every time he goes" and this is the slogan of his lecture, and the principle which he practices and preaches throughout this state. Mr. Smith has often exhibited products raised on his farm at nearby fairs. I lis wife, who is an expert cheese maker, took a prize at the state fair at one time. In their early lives. Mr. and Mrs. Smith experienced many hard times, but, by pluck ami hard work, they have made a large success of farming. Mr. Smith is a director in the Farmers State Bank, at Bertha, Minnesota.

In 1887 Ellsworth W. Smith was married to Anna S. Streit, a native of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and the daughter of Benjamin Streit, who was born in Missouri, of German parentage. Benjamin Streit came to Otter Tail county about 1878, but is now living at Roseburg. in Douglas count) Oregon.

Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth W. Smith have six children, namely: Ralph, who lives on the farm in Woodside township and is a graduate of the agricultural school; Roy A., who also lives on the farm in Woodside township; Ina G., who lives at home and was educated in the Parkers Prairie high school and at the Agricultural and Teachers Training school of St. Anthony Park; Clifford, who is a student in the Alexandria high school; Zetty and Marjorie, both of whom are at home.

Mr. Smith has killed practically all of the township offices but has always been especially interested in school affairs. He is independent in politics and prefers to vote for men whom he considers best fitted for the office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

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

Eric Smith, a native of Sweden, was born on October 27, 1881. and came with his parents, Olaf and Mary Smith, to the United States in 1883 The family having landed at Castle Garden. New York, came direct to Otter bail county. Here the father, at first. purchased eighty acres of land and later forty acres more of railroad land. At the time of his retirement to Fergus Falls, in 1914. he owned five hundred and thirty acres of well-improved bind. Previous to his retirement he had turned the management of the farm over to his son, Eric.

Olaf Smith ami wife are the parents of six children: Andrew, Ole, Eric, Mary, Carrie and Anna. Andrew married Amanda Holmgren, who died some time ago. IK- is now living in Canada. < tie is still single and lues,-it home with his parents. The family are members of the Swedish Baptisl church and take an active interest in its work. Mr. Smith was for a time school treasurer and is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company, he also owns stock in the Creamery Company of Rothsay.

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

In 1910 Eric Smith bought two hundred acres of the home place, he already owning a one-half interest in forty acres that adjoined. The farm is well improved and the buildings, most of which were erected by his father, are kept in excellent repair.

.Mr. Smith is a most successful and progressive farmer, and is held in high esteem by the people of his home county. He is at present clerk of the school district.

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