In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1829, Erie county
From A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan (1906), History of Cass county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (1882)
AMOS SMITH. The present County Surveyor and ex- Representative of Cass County in the Legislature, was born in Erie County, Penn., August 7, 1829, and was the son of Charles F. and Emily (Leach) Smith. One of his ancestors, his mother's father, James Leach, was a brave soldier in the war of 1812, and was killed at the battle of Niagara Falls, which occurred July 25, 1814. The subject of our sketch obtained an academical education in Erie County, and in the year 1848 came to Michigan with his uncle, Joshua Leach, who was one of the pioneers of Penn Township. The first employment of the young man was teaching school. He taught two terms on Young's Prairie or more properly at the locality known as Geneva, and there worked for Joseph Harper and Daniel Mcintosh, who had the contract for building a road across the marsh in Penn Township. In 1849, he went back to Pennsylvania, and from there journeyed to Yazoo County, Miss., in the same year. He there taught school until June, 1850, when he returned to his old home. He had gained many ideas in regard to the Southern country and people, and it was his intention to revisit the Yazoo region, but obtaining a good offer to resume teaching in his old school in Michigan, he again journeyed here, in 1852. He taught occasionally for a considerable time, but having, in 1853, commenced surveying, he made that his principal work, and, for the next twelve years, was continuously in occupation of the office, either as County Surveyor or Deputy Surveyor. In 1855, Mr. Smith bought forty acres of land, the beginning of his present fine farm of nearly two hundred and fifty acres. Cass County sent Amos Smith as its Representative to the State Legislature, in 1868. He was elected upon the ticket of the Republican party, to which he has been attached since its organization. In 1875, he was appointed County Surveyor, to fill a vacancy caused by death, and has since occupied the office, by virtue of successive elections. He has been Supervisor of Penn Township three times, and held other positions of honor and trust. A man of much public spirit, he has endeavored to advance all of the best local interests, and perhaps has labored for no other cause more efficiently than for the public schools of Vandalia. He taught in them for two years subsequent to the time when they were graded, and has been, for nine years, a School Director. Mr. Smith was married, in 1855, to Martha J. East, daughter of James and Anna East, an old family of the county. Their children are Charles F., born September 29, 1856; Frederick E., born August 7, 1858; and George D., born June 24, 1864.
iam, Stephen, Mary, Elizabeth, George, Charles, Anna M., Joseph, Lydia and Keziah; by the latter there were two, Merrill and Lodema. He died in 1832, ''in a good old age, full of days, riches and honor." William was a member of his father's family until he attained his twenty-second year, at which time he was married to Miss Lydia, daughter of Henry Jones. After their marriage, the young couple commenced life for themselves on the old homestead, where he has since resided. In 1845, Mrs. Jones died, and in 1857 he was again married to Miss Maria, daughter of Benjamin Parish, of Kalamazoo County. She was born in Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y., March 29, 1824, and came to Michigan with her parents in 1841. By the first marriage there were six children, three of whom — Anna, Hannah and Elizabeth — are living, by the second, one child, William L., is living; three are deceased. In 1856, Mr. Jones purchased the old homestead, a view of which we present in this chapter. Mr. Jones is one of the largest and most successful farmers in the county, and his farm now consists of 970 acres, 500 of which is under cultivation. His life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, and few men have applied themselves more assiduously than he, or have been more successful, not only in the accumulation of property, but in the perfection of an honorable record. Politically, he aflSliates with the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are worthy members of the Friends' Meeting.
As printed in History of Cass county, Michigan. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
AMOS SMITH.
Amos Smith, now deceased, was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1829, and died in Battle Creek, Michigan, at seven o'clock in the evening of September 18, 1900, at the age of seventy-one years, one month and eleven days. He was a son of Charles F. and Emily (Leach) Smith, the latter a daughter of James Leach, one of the brave soldiers of the war of 1812, who was killed at the battle of Niagara Falls on the 26th of July, 1814.
Amos Smith acquired an academic education in the county of his r-vyi
7>i!<5 nativity and in the year 1848 came to Michigan, where his first work was teaching in the Geneva district school in Penn township, being then about nineteen years of age. The following winter was devoted to teaching in Yazoo, Mississippi, and upon his return to his native state he taught writing and bookkeeping for a time and completed his own education in Clinton, New York. He had received instruction in writing from P. R. Spencer, the originator of the famous Spencerian system. In the fall of 1852 he returned to Cass county and was once more engaged in teaching. He likewise extended his efforts to surveying, for he had made a study of that profession in the meantime, and he became assistant to the county surveyor. Later he was made deputy county surveyor, and in 1854 was elected to the office of comity surveyor, discharging the duties incumbent upon him in a very satisfactory manner. During the next fourteen years his time was largely given to teaching and surveying, and so well did he discharge the duties of the different offices entrusted to him, and so greatly were his services appreciated by the public that he was recognized as well qualified for further political honors, and in 1868 was chosen by popular suffrage to the responsible position of state senator, being elected by the Republican party, to the principles of which he was devotedly attached. He was also supervisor of his township and he was frequently appointed guardian and administrator of states, performing the duties of those positions in connection with other official service. Ever alive to matters of public importance, he was one of the most influential and prominent men of his county, and his efforts proved of far reaching value.
On the 22nd of November, 1855, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Martha Jane East, who was born in Wayne county, Indiana, and died at their home in Cass county in 1882, leaving a family of three sons: C. F., Fred E. and George D. Smith. On the 4th of October, 1883, Mr. Smith was again married, his second union being with Miss Sue Bogue, who, with the sons, mourn the loss of a devoted husband, loving father and wise counselor. In the year of his first marriage he purchased forty acres of land, which he continued to make his home up to the time of his death, although he steadily increased the boundaries of his farm by additional purchase until he owned over three hundred acres of rich, productive and valuable land. In connection with the tilling of the soil and the production of the cereals best adapted to the climate he made a specialty of fruit raising, and some of the best fruit of Michigan was produced upon his place. He was ever a over of the beautiful, especially as manifest in flowers, and he had around him many superb specimens of floriculture. He took great delight and pleasure in working with his flowers and his study of conditions and needs of plants led to splendid results.
Mr. Smith was a member of the Masonic fraternity and several times served as worshipful master. At the time of his demise he was also a member of the Royal Arch chapter at Cassopolis. The first master of his lodge, he was chosen on various occasions to act as its representative to the grand lodge, and at all times he was deeply interested in Masonry and in the work of the order, which finds the exemplification of its principles in the honorable manhood and stalwart devotion of its representatives. A man of much public spirit, Mr. Smith ever endeavored to advance the best local interests and perhaps labored for no other cause more efficiently than for the public schools of Vandalia, the upbuilding of which is due more to him than to any other man. His life was indeed of value to his fellow townsmen because of his reliability in business, his faithfulness in office, his devotion to the work of general progress and his strict regard for all the obligations and privileges, of friendship. He was highly esteemed wherever known, and most of all where best known, and while he ever displayed commendable characteristics, his best traits were reserved for his family and his immediate fireside.
As printed in A twentieth century history of Cass County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Henry Jones Joseph Harper
Their biographies name Amos Smith: Silas H. Thomas William E. Bogue (b. 1841)
The printed record stops around 1906. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.