Jacob Smith

As printed in 1902

JACOB SMITH.

When old age approaches it is quite the usual thing for a person to look back over his life to find out whether the world is any better for his having lived. It must be a gloom v retrospect, indeed, when no good can be found upon, such an examination. On the contrary what a delightful satisfaction it must be to any one to know that his life has been an example of excellence for the guidance of youth and for the congratulation of age. How sweet it must be when death overtakes a person to be able to say. "I have lived an honest life and done my duty.” How many old persons who read these lines can truthfully hold up their heads and declare that the world is better for their having lived? It is a pleasure to chronicle the events in the career of a man who has the highest respect of all his acquaintances, such as the subject of this sketch. Jacob Smith, of Pitt township. He was born in Licking county. Ohio, near Linville, on the 8th of November, 1820. and is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Mackliny Smith, who were the parents of seven children. Of this family, three are dead. Two of the sons. John and Aaron, are residents of Pitt township. When Jacob was a small bnv Iris father moved from Licking county to Perrv county, and there the former grew to man's estate, working during the summers on the farm and attending the district school during the winters. I'pon attaining manhood he was married to Miss Phebe Touch t. December 25, 1843, "ho bore him the follow - ing family: Samuel, deceased: Sarah, the wife of Jacob Bender, of Pitt township: Elizabeth, the wife of John Swartz, of Antrim township: Amanda, the wife of Abraham Swartz, of Nevada; Fianna, now at home; Matilda, deceased; Eliza, deceased. Mrs. Smith was born April 22, 1821. in Perry county, Ohio, and remained in that county until attaining womanhood. Her grandparents were natives of Switzerland,

; and her parents were Jacob and Eve (Dashurn) Foucht. There were eleven children in this family, of whom Mrs. Smith and two brothers, Samuel and Isaac, are the only survivors. Mrs. Smith was educated in the common schools and can read and speak the German language. She has seen and killed many deer in this locality. When the subject of this notice was yet a young man he came from Perrv county to vandet county and purchased eighty acres of government land in Pitt township where he now lives. This tract was then covered with heavy timber, which had to be cleared away before crops could either be planted or grown. He erected a small log cabin, about eighteen by twenty feet in size, containing but one room, and in this rough structure he domiciled his family and began to make a clearing in the deep woods. Year by vear the circle of cleared land increased and the fields of grain and the lush meadows took the place where for centuries had waved the mighty oak or the towering hickory. The farm was eventually increased to one hundred and twenty acres, of which one hundred are cleared and under cultivation. But the acres now stretching out so clear and smiling represent manv years of the hardest toil. But the home secured and the lives reared thereon are w rib the labor n rtl, j wi they cost to the commonwealth. Mr. Smith has devoted his time and attention to the rearing of extra grades of stock. He is hearty and sound despite his many years, and it is yet a common thingto see him in the field, sowingthe grain, as he did sixty-five years ago. His life has been one of steady industry and straightforward conduct, and he has the respect and confidence of all who have the pleasure of calling him friend. He is a Democrat and a member of the Reformed church, having joined the latter at the age of seventeen years. He has been school director, and has occupied other positions requiring sound judgment and honest conduct. Our subject and wife are held in high regard by their many friends, and honestly merit their regard. They have in their possession, and hold as a sacred relic, an old parchment deed for eighty acres of land, dated November 5, 1846, and bearing the signature of. President James K. Polk.

As printed in Biographical memoirs of Wyandot County, Ohio : to which is appended a comprehensive compendium of national biography ... embellished with portraits of many national characters and well known residents (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.