In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1837, Rockingham county
From The Biographical record of Clinton County, Iowa .. (1901)
ABRAHAM SMITH.
For almost half a century this gentleman was prominently identified with the affairs of Orange township, his home being on section 29, and in his death the community realized that it had lost a valued and useful citizen. He was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, on the nth of August, 1837, and was a son of William Smith, a native of the same county, where he continued to make his home until after the birth of all his children. In 1851 he brought his family to Iowa and located in Orange township, Clinton county, where he and his sons all purchased land, making this their permanent home.
Our subject was fourteen years of age when he came with his father to this county, and during his minority he gave his father the benefit of his labors upon the farm. His education was obtained in the local schools. After arriving at mature years he worked for his father by the month for a few years. He was first married in 1861 to Miss Clementine Carr, and for some time they lived on the old home place, which he operated.
As printed in The Biographical record of Clinton County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1901. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.