James R. Smith

As printed in 1910

JAMES R. SMITH.

There seems to have long been an attraction in Nodaway county. Missouri, for the people of Knox county, Illinois, for we find that they have been coming here for many decades — since the pioneer days, in fact — and their substantial, happy homes are dotted all over the prairies of this locality. Not many of them ever returned to their native county, finding here ample opportunities for the willing worker and every condition favorable to success and contentment.

Of this large number, James R. Smith, of Grant township, should be included, for, on July 4, 1856, he was born in Knox county, Illinois, and he is the son of John B. and Mary F. (Fisher) Smith. His father was born in 1825 in the state of New York and, now advanced in age, is living with his daughter, Mrs. Winger, in this county, being eighty-five years old. His wife was born in 1836 in Illinois, in which state they were married and from whence they came to Missouri in 1870, locating in Nodawav county. After a few years' residence here they moved to Atchison county, just over the line, and bought one hundred and sixty acres on which they made their home for twenty-five years. Selling out, they returned to Nodaway county and bought a farm near Skidmore; here Mrs. Smith died in 1898 and was buried at Bun- Oak Grove in this vicinity. Then Mr. Smith moved into Skidmore. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and followed this line of work most of his active life. Politically, he always supported the Republican ticket. He married a second time.

John B. Smith and his first wife became the parents of three children, Theodore, John and Aaron. The following ten children were born of the second union: James R., Ella, Lillie, Emma, William, Joseph, George, Lydia, Woodford and Elizabeth. The last six named are deceased.

James R. Smith, the immediate subject of this review, remained under the parental rooftree until he was twenty-three years of age, receiving a common school education. On September 21, 1879, he was married to Martha White, daughter of William and Mary White, who came to this county in 1875. He was a farmer and his family consisted of seven children.

Mr. Smith began his married life on his father's farm and after a few years bought land near Skidmore, and after residing there eight years sold out and bought other land in the county — one hundred and twenty acres — which he soon disposed of and bought a half section in Texas, which he still owns and which has increased in value since he purchased it, promising to be a good investment. For the past seven years he has leased land and he now operates a fine farm consisting of four hundred acres, adjoining Barnard on the north, this being the estate of the late Albert P. Morehouse, who was one of the past governors of Missouri. Mr. Smith is known to be one of the most enterprising farmers of this township, being practical in both farming and stock raising. He has one of the best constructed silos to be found, and he runs quite an extensive dairy business in connection with his general farming operations. He uses a modern separator and ships his cream to St. Joseph, where he finds a ready market for it.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Barnard, and Mr. Smith is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and both are members of the Rebekahs. Politically he is a Republican. They are the parents of ten children, which he styles a Roosevelt family; their names are: Elmer F.. born August 2, 1880, married Annie Curnutt; Celia E., born December 19. 1881, married Herman Logan and they have two children. Ellen E. and Thelma F.; Edgar M.. who was born January 19. 1884. married Margaret Perkins and they are the parents of one child,

Florine E.; Elsworth was born July 9, 1886; Clarence D. was born April 12, 1888; May E. was born April 11, 1890; Ruth E. was born January 13, 1892; Guyles I), was born August 23, 1894; Esther E. was born August 13, 1897; Avon J. was born March 19, 1900.

As printed in Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.