David L. Smith

As printed in 1894

AVID L. SMITH, a farmer of Reiley Township, comes from a somewhat illustrious family, his ancestors having been prominently identified with the early history of Butler County. He was born on the farm a portion of which he now owns, October 22, 1852, and is the sixth child of John W. and Catharine (Warfield) Smith. The father was also a native of this township, born April 9, 1817, and was a son of Charles G. and Phoebe (Bartlow) Smith. The land where he was born was originally entered by his grandfather, who gave it to Charles, who was married in 1816 in Indiana. The father of our subject, always a farmer, received his education in the common schools of the country, and was a man of correct habits, who accumulated a considerable fund of information by observation. A more extended history of this family appears in the biography of Joseph B. Smith, published elsewhere in this volume.

Our subject grew up on his father’s farm, and attended the public schools of the township, obtaining a fair education for his opportunities.

At the age of twenty-four years he commenced farming on his own account, having donated the three previous years of his time to the interests of the home place. When twenty-nine years old he was united in marriage with Anna J., daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah A. (Salisbury) Henry. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1816; and the mother, a native of Butler County, Ohio, was born in 1824. The latter is now living near St. Charles, in Reiley Township, with her son Halsey. The father died on the farm in 1881. There are but two of their three children living, of whom Halsey is the eldest. He married Lizzie Clark, a native of this county, and they have four children, Flora, Sadie, Chester and Haley. Mrs. Smith was born March 25, 1862. Her father was a minister in the Presbyterian Church for many years, but failing health compelled his retirement to the farm, where he died. He was a man specially fitted by7 education and early training for his chosen profession, and his spiritual life was like a well of water within him,“ springing up into everlasting life.” He was so moved by this powerful higher life within that he was able to preach the Word with power, and his removal from his field of labor is among the mysterious dispensations of Providence, unintelligible to the finite mind. Verily, we see through a glass darkly, but the assurance is that after a while we shall “see face to face.”

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have a family of three children: Effie May, born April 3, 1882; Grade Marie, born June 10, 1884; and Omar, born March 22, 1887, all of whom are now attending school from the parental roof. Mr. Smith inherited the old homestead by bequest in the will of his father, his mother having a life lease. It is a very valuable farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty-six acres, upon which are two splendid residences, one occupied by the mother and the other by the family of our subject. Commodious barns and other buildings adorn the premises and greatly enhance the value of the property. Mr. Smith unfortunately met with quite a serious accident on Christmas, 1893, which has made him an invalid since. An epidemic of hog cholera prevailed in the community and in the effort to save some valuable swine lie inhaled the fumes of white corrosive sublimate and was poisoned. However, under skillful treatment he hopes to regain his old-time vigor. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has a fairly good understanding of political economy, always exercises the right of suffrage with intelligence, and desires that legislation that will secure the greatest good to the greatest number. He is opposed to class legislation, and insists that every man should have a chance to rise untrammelled by vicious laws, and unintimidated by the threats of those in power. Religiously he and his wife are Christian people, having connection with the Presbyterian Church. They have a delightful home, from the portals of which they dispense with liberal hand a generous hospitality.

As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.