John D. Smith

As printed in 1881

JOHN D. SMITH, book-binding and stationery, Springfield. John D. Smith was born seven miles from Chillicothe Dec. 6, 1821, hence is nearly three score years old, and does not look half a hundred; he had six brothers and five sisters. of whom only four brothers and two sisters survive; his parents moved to Millgrove, Warren Co., when he was only 2 years old; soon afterward. they came to Springfield, and Jan. 31, 1837, returned to Millgrove, coming back to Springfield in September, 1842. On Dec. 18, 1844, he married Rebecca Chrest, by whom he had five children, one son and four daughters, of whom they lost the son and one daughter. Of their daughters, Emma S. married E. T. Thomas, Mr. Smith's present partner in business; Alice B. married John Davidson in 1869, whom she lost March 1, 1877, and Carrie Lytle married Rodney F. Ludlow, in June, 1877. Having lost his wife in the fall of 1860, Mr. Smith, on Nov. 2, 1861, married his present wife, Miss Mary E. Woodrow, by whom he has no children. Mr. Smith has had little schooling, none after he was 11 years old. In about 1532 and 1833, he worked with Kills & Brichal, then with Morgan & Anthony; afterward worked on a farm, going to Lockport on rainy days to rule for John M. Seely. On coming to Springfield the second time, he worked with Mr. Baker about eighteen months, taking instructions in book-binding and blank-book making, after which, in September, 1844, he started on his own account, his business changes being many from that time to the present. He opened in what is known as “Trapper’s Corner,” there continuing sixteen years, having, part of the time his brother for partner; in 1850, he also conducted a boarding-house, merging it into a hotel, upon selling out his book-binding business in the fall of 1860; in 1862, he sold his hotel business to H. F. Willis; worked from March to September, 1862, for E. L. Barrett, then rented from Hastings, and again, with Barrett, on one-half division of profits, to July, 1865. Then he again worked with Hastings on the basis of au interest, until Jan. 20, 1979, since which time he has been doing business as at present, under the name of J. D. Smith & Co., the company being his sonic-law, E. T. Thomas. He did Hastings’ work, as of old, until the 15th of October. Mr. Smith now does the leading business in this line, and has all he and a full force of hands can do in new and enlarged quarters, corner of Main and Limestone streets. He is a member in good standing of Springtield Lodge,

As printed in The History of Clark County Ohio, (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.