John L. Smith

As printed in 1909

JOHN L. SMITH.

.John L. Smith, who is a prosperous agriculturist of Tiverton township, was also a veteran in the Civil war, and the loyalty which he displayed in <defense of his country Is still manifest by the interest which he displays in the affairs of his community. Mr. Smith was born in Holmes county, September 9, 1847, a son of William and Elizabeth (Lepley) Smith. The former was a native of New.Jersey and in early life followed the shoemaker's trade in connection with farming. He came to Ohio at a very early day and as the state and township developed became a wealthy man. The mother was born in Pennsylvania and both she and the father are now deceased. Their family numbered ten children:.Jacob, a farmer of Adams county, Iowa: Adam, William, Margaret, Barbara, Laban and Simon, all of whom have departed this life: Peter, a gardener of Andrews. Indiana; Jasper, who makes his home in Tiverton township; and John L., of this review.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

When his services were no longer needed at the front, Mr. Smith returned to Coshocton county and after spending a brief period here started west in the hope of benefiting his health. He walked through Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, and after spending a year in various sections of the west he returned once more to Coshocton county and began farming in Tiverton township. He now owns seventy-five acres of well improved land and in addition to raising the various cereals adapted to soil and climate he follows carpentering. He erected a nice house on his farm and has built barns and sheds to protect his grain and stock and thus has made many needed improvements. He keeps Jersey cows and raises draft horses, and this branch of his business is proving a profitable undertaking.

Mr. Smith has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Mollie Workman, by whom he had a son, but both are now deceased. He later those as a companion and helpmate Delilah Parsons and this union was blessed with three children: Libbie, the wife of C. E. Day, a general merchant of Tiverton; Mollie, who is deceased; and OUie V., the wife of Perry A. Barnes, who is on the farm with Mr. Smith.

Politically, Mr. Smith is a democrat and for three years served as justice of the peace. He has served at various times as land appraiser, has twice been elected township assessor, and was recently elected county commissioner on the democratic ticket. Mr. Smith and his family hold membership in the Christian church, with which he has been affiliated for about forty-five years. His fraternal relations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Brinkhaven. Not only has the subject of this sketch seen Coshocton county grow from an unimproved region, with only a few scattered settlers, to a rich agricultural district, but he has been an active participant in the work of improvement and progress that has been carried forward and today rejoices in what has been accomplished. He is one of the substantial citizens of this part of the county and is held in high esteem by all with whom he is brought in contact.

As printed in Centennial history of Coshocton County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.