J. Quincy Smith

As printed in 1908

J. QUINCY SMITH, one of Clark County's most substantial citizens, resides on his valuable farm of 287 acres, which is situated in Bethel Township, west of New Carlisle. Mr. Smith was born on this farm, April 5, 1843, and is a son of David Johnson and Sallie (Cory) Smith.

David Johnson Smith was born in Scotland and was brought to America by his parents when he was a child one year old. He resided in New York until he was seventeen years of age, when he came to Clark County, Ohio. Prior to 1834, when he settled down to farming and stock-raising, he had done various kinds of work, always being a man of great industry. In 1827-28 he was engaged by the Government on a stone and brick work contract at Sault St. Marie. Later he had a blacksmith shop at New Carlisle, which he conducted for two years. He was married in Clark County in 1827 to Sallie Cory, whose father, Elnathan Cory, came to Ohio from New Jersey in 1793-4 and to Bethel Township in 1803. At that time the present farm of Mr. Smith, which was the old Cory place, was a wild plum ticket. Mr. Cory had to grub out the roots of these trees in order to find space on which to build his log cabin, in which he lived for many years. A few Indians still remained in this section, and there was plenty of game, but few white settlers. He died in 1842 at the age of sixty-four years. Elnathan Cory married Hannah Jennings, who died of cholera in 1834. Mrs. Smith was born in the log cabin on this farm, which stood until after her marriage, when David Johnson Smith erected the present commodious brick house. She died in March, 1903, at the age of ninety-three years. David Johnson Smith died in 1878, aged eighty-four years. They had ten children, two of whom died young. The others were: Nana, Henry C, David H., Hannah, Elnathan, John Quincy, Lydia and Fannie.

John Quincy Smith was reared on the farm he now owns and the clearing of which he helped to complete. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War. becoming a member of the SLsteeuth Battery, Independent Light Artillery. During his thirty-seven months of service Mr. Smith participated in many of the most important battles of the war, including Cham]iion Hill, where Captain Mitchell was killed, the Vieksburg campaign, and many others, and when he was mustered out in September, 1864, he was with his battery on the Gulf of Mexico. Although he was exposed to almost constant danger during all this time, Mr. Smith returned home practically unharmed.

In February, 1879, he was married to Maggie Johnson, who is a daughter of John F. and Lydia (Shuman) Johnson, and who was reared on a farm adjoining the present one. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had nine children, namely: David J., Charles E., Ra:iTnond F., John H., George B., Harry B., Ralph Q., Lydia and one that died in infancy. David, the eldest son, died at the age of twenty-three years.

Mr. Smith purchased his present farm from his mother's estate. He devotes considerable attention to raising draft horses, Shropshire sheep and Poland China hogs. He is a stockholder in the American Stock Breeders' Association. He is vice president of the New Carlisle Bank, of which he has been a stockholder since its organization. Mr. Smith is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of New Carlisle Lodge No. 100, Chapter No. 57, Council No. 30, Coleman Commandery of Troy No. 17 and A. & A.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.