In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1850, Oxford township
From Centennial history of Coshocton County, Ohio; (1909)
JOSEPH E. SMITH.
Joseph E. Smith was born on the farm on which he still resides, in Oxford township, Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 16th of March, 1850, his parents being George and Elizabeth (Tudor) Smith, natives of England. The father was born in 1810, and after attaining mature years followed the machinist's trade in England until 1844, when he emigrated to the United States, landing in New York. There he boarded a steamboat for Albany, thence went by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo, New York, across Lake Erie to Cleveland and down the Ohio canal to Evansburg, Coshocton county, Ohio. He purchased a large tract of land in Oxford township, in the cultivation of which he "was successfully engaged until called to his final rest in 1873. His wife, whose birth had occurred in 1806, passed away in 1880. Unto this worthy couple were born seven children, namely: Thomas T., of Oxford township, who is mentioned on another page of this volume; William, likewise a resident of Oxford township; Elizabeth, decreed; George, residing in Illinois; Harriet, who has also passed away; Hannah, the wife of David Wood, of Beach City, Ohio; and Joseph E., of this review.
The last named was reared on the home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. At the time of his marriage he began operating the farm which he now owns, comprising one hundred and sixty-eight acres of rich and productive land in Oxford township. Here he has a beautiful and commodious residence and his place is equipped with all the modern accessories and conveniences of a model farming property of the twentieth century. All of the improvements stand as monuments to his own labor and enterprise, and he is widely recognized as one of the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of the community. He is now renting the farm to his son-in-law, with whom he makes his home.
On the 2d of February, 1875, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mis.s Eliza J. Fenton, a native of Ireland, who passed away on the 12th of December, 1907, when sixty-two years of age. Her parents, Samuel and Jane Fenton, emigrated to the United States in 1848, and after spending five years in Washington county, Pennsylvmiia, located in Adams township, Coshocton county, Ohio, where they passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born two children: Nora, whose birth occurred April 29, 1876, gave her hand in marriage to Guy Powell on the 29th of September, 1898, and they have a daughter, Vera Dale. Mr. Powell is a native of White Eyes township, Coshocton county, his natal day being March 6, 1876. Archie V. Smith is deceased.
Mr. Smith is a stalwart democrat in his political views, and is a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, with which his wife was also identified. A native son of this county, the period of his residence here now covers fifty-eight years, and throughout the entire time he has so lived as to win the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been associated.
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.
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.