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 1804, Ben nington County
From History of Portage County, Ohio (1885)
FRANKLIN SMITH, retired farmer, P. O. Garrettsville, was born in Ben ington County, Vt., October 26, 1804. He was married to Alvira White, a native of Connecticut, who bore him two sons and two daughters: Harriet (deceased), Warren, Albert J. and Eleanor, wife of George Combs. Mr. Smith immigrated to Geauga County, Ohio, in.1818, and is one of the oldest pioneers now living of that county. In 1825 he removed to Michigan for four years, and then returned to (jeauga County, Ohio, purchased a large f arm upon which he resided for seventeen years, and then came to this county. His wife died, in September, 1880, and be has disposed of his farm and retired from the labors of an active life. He has been an energetic, enterprising man, and was ever considered one of the substantial, practical farmers of Nelson Township. At an early day Mr. Smith became a F. & A. M.
As printed in History of Portage County, Ohio (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.