John T. Smith

As printed in 1907

JOHN T. SMITH.

The business interests of Casey find a worthy representative in John T. Smith, who is known as a wide-awake general merchant, alert and enterprising. He was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, on the 15th of September, 1854, and is one of the five children of Charles and Spicy (Thompson) Smith, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, born in 1821 and in 1824 respectively. They were married in the state of their nativity and three of their children were born there. The father was a farmer by occupation and continued to engage in the tilling of the soil in the old North state until 1851, when he removed with his family to Indiana. There he lived for four years and in the autumn of 1855 journeyed westward to Iowa, becoming one of the early settlers of Adair county, living just across the line from Guthrie county and owning land in both counties. This portion of the state was still largely an unimproved and undeveloped region, but the seeds of civilization were being planted by progressive men who were making their way into Iowa from the older settled portions of the east and south. Mr. Smith entered one hundred and twenty acres of land on the county line, part of which lay in Guthrie and part in Adair county. The farm adjoins what is now the town of Casey, although the village had not been laid out at that time. As the years passed Mr. Smith carried on general agricultural pursuits and resided upon the old homestead until 1902, passing away in his eighty-first year. His was an upright, honorable life and he was one of the esteemed citizens of this section of the state. In early years his political allegiance was given to the whig party, but on its dissolution he joined the ranks of the new republican party, which he continued to support until 1864. In that year he voted the democratic ticket and was ever afterward one of the stalwart champions of democracy. He was never an aspirant for office but held several minor township positions and the trust reposed in him was-never betrayed in the slightest degree. He is still survived by his widow, who yet resides on the old homestead near Casey. She has long been an active and devoted member of the Baptist church and in her family has been a most loving and caretaking mother. Four of her children are yet living: Amanda, the wife of Moses P. Stockwell, of Adair county; Taylor, of the same county; John T., of this review; and Joseph, who is engaged in the butchering business in Casey.

During his infancy John T. Smith was brought to Adair county, where he lived until 1891, when he moved across the line to Casey, Iowa. His mind bears the impress of the early historic annals of this section of the state and of the events which shaped its course and marked its growth. He was reared upon the old home farm and assisted in the arduous task of developing the fields and cultivating the crops. His education was acquired in the public schools of Casey, and on reaching his majority he was given forty acres of land in Adair county by his father. He then entered actively upon the work of farming and for fourteen years continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits, during which time he added eighty acres to his original tract, thus making a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he still owns. In the spring of 1890, however, he put aside the work of the fields and purchased a half interest in the mercantile business of T. S. M. Gwin, at Casey, where he moved his family in 1 89 1. In the fall of 1891, however, they sold that business and in the summer of 1903 Mr. Smith embarked in business on his own account, since which time he has continuously been identified with general merchandising in Casey. He has a well appointed store, in which he carries a carefully selected line of goods, and his patronage is now large and gratifying.

In the year 1882 Mr. Smith was joined in wedlock to Aliss Mary A. Moore, of Casey, Iowa, and unto them have been born two children: Evelyn, who is a teacher in the grammar room of the Casey high school, of which she is a graduate; and Cleveland, a painter and paper-hanger of Casey. The wife and mother died in 1884 and in 1891 Mr. Smith w'as again married, his second union he'mg with Estelle Harden, of Adair county, a daughter of Abraham and Anna

(Boies) Harden. Unto this marriage have been bom six children: Charles, Ruby, Margaret. Thomas, Hilda and Susan.

Mr. Smith fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias lodge and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he is meeting with signal success. In business life he knows no such word as fail, but on the contrary possesses the energy and determination which enable him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path and advance steadily on the highroad to prosperity.

As printed in Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.