Chauncey Smith

As printed in 1906

CHAUNCEY SMITH, who is located on section 19, Wesaw township, has devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits and although he has now passed the age of four score years he still gives personal supervision to his place. He was born in Oswego county. New York, March 21, 1824, his parents being David and Martha (Cable) Smith, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. In their family were seven children, of whom Chauncey Smith was the youngest and the only one now living. His boyhood and youth were uneventfully passed and when about twenty years of age he went to Steuben county. New York, settling near Dansville. He lived in that vicinity until 1855, when he came direct to this township, setting upon his present farm in 1859. In 1892, however, he sold the place and removed to Allegany county, New York, but after nine years he returned to Berrien county, Michigan, and again purchased the old homestead. His entire life has been devoted to general farming and he now has forty acres of well improved land on section 19, Wesaw township. He has led a busy, useful and active life and whatever he has undertaken he has accomplished owing to his perseverance and industry. At all times, too, he has been thoroughly reliable in his business affairs, so that he has commanded the trust of his fellowmen.

In 1848 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Abigail Carroll, who was born in Allegany county. New York, October 17, 1830, a daughter of Richard and Dorcas (Hoskins) Carroll, natives of Pennsylvania and New York respectively. This marriage has been blessed with the following named: Jay Willet, who is Hving in Hornell, New York, and travels for a publishing house. Ambrose Everett, a physician, who is practicing in Olean, New York, where he is making a specialty of the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat; J. Hoskins of Chicago, who for eighteen years has been a teacher in the Eugene Fields school of that city; Amy, the wife of John A. Thursby, a traveling man residing in Madison, Wisconsin; and Wilbur R. C, of Atlanta, Georgia, who is at the head of the Trades Journal, in which all of the brothers are interested. All of the members of this family have been teachers and were reared here upon the home farm. The Doctor, J. H. and W. R. C. Smith, were all students in the State Agricultural College, the first two being graduates of that institution while the last mentioned spent two years as a student there. Dr. Smith is also a graduate of Rush Medical College and spent two years in special work in the line of his profession in New York city. The mother was also a successful school teacher in early life and was determined that her children should be provided with excellent educational privileges. This plan was carried out and by liberal mental training they were well prepared for life's practical and responsible duties.

Mr. Smith is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Troy, New York and has shaped his life in accordance with his religious belief and the teachings of the church. In his political views he is a prohibitionist, supporting the party which embodies his ideas upon the temperance question. He has lived a temperate, honorable and upright life, endorsing those principles and rules of conduct which work for upright manhood and for the development of character and his life may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others.

As printed in A twentieth century history of Berrien County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.