Joseph Smith

As printed in 1912

JOSEPH GILBERT SMITH, a retired farmer and well known citizen, residing in Galion, O., was born in Jefferson township, Crawford county, O., Dec. ik,, 1839, a son of Joseph and Mary (Kirkpatrick) Smith. His paternal grandfather, John Jacob Smith, was a native of Germany, who married in his native land and came to America, settUng in Perry county, Pa., about 1798, he and his wife dying in that state at an advented age. They were farmers by occupation, Mrs. Smith being a Presbyterian in region.

The parents of our subject were both born in Perry county. Pa. Joseph Smith (the father) was brought up to farming and married his first wife, Mary Kirkpatrick, in Perry county. After the birth of their first two children— Leonard and Mary E. — they removed, in 1837, to Ohio, making the journey with teams, and stopping here and there by the wayside. Ayhen they reached Crawford county, Joseph Smith selected and entered 150 acres of solid timber land, in Jefferson township, and, being a practical carpenter, he cut out timber and built himself quite a comfortable home. There were no roads in the locality at that time, so for some years the family liver a real pioneer existence in the wilderness. His first wife Mary, who had accompanied him to this section, did not long survive, dying on the day that her last child, the subject of this sketch, was born, Dec. 17, 1839. She was only 23 years old. Joseph later married in this county a cousin of hers, Nancy Kirkpatrick, who was born in Pennsylvania, and she died on the homestead at the age of 58, leaving two children, Alvin and Matilda, the former of whom now resides on the homestead, is married and has a family. Matilda married William Michaels, who is now deceased, and died herself when over 69 years old, leaving two children. Joseph Smith, after the death of his second wife, contracted a third marriage, this time to Sarah Welsh, nee Kirkpatrick, who was a sister of his second wife. She died without issue, and her husband Joseph, died April 26, 1870.

Joseph Gilbert Smith grew up on his father's farm and was trained to agricultural pursuits. He conducted a farm for his father until 1870, when he came to Gallon, where he remained five years. He then purchased a farm near No. Robinson, in Whetstone township, this county, which was his home until October, 191 1. He then sold 64 of the 84 acres he owned there and took up his residence again in Gallon, purchasing his fine home at No. 225 No. Union street, where he is enjoying a well earned respite from hard labor.

He was married in Jefferson township, this county, Nov. 8, 1863, to Miss Amanda Van Voorhis, who was born at Olentazie, this county, April 20, 1843, a daughter of William R. and Almeda (Johnson) Van Voorhis. Her paternal grandparents were Samuel N. and Sarah (Meyers) Van Voorhis, who came to this section in the second decade of the 19th century, locating at the early settlement known as Olentazie, south of Bucyrus, and on the plains. Samuel N. Van Voorhis assisted in laying out the city of Bucyrus, the site of which lay partly on his early farm. He helped to organize the first Christian (or Campbellite) church in this county, and was a member of that faith at the time of his death, which took place when he had attained an advanced age. His wife died several years before him.

William R. Van Voorhis was born near Schuylkill, N. Y., May 25, 1802, the early Dutch ancestors of the family having settled on the Hudson and Mohawk rivers several generations before. After coming to Ohio with his parents he grew up on the homestead in Bucyrus township, where he remained until after his marriage. He then purchased a new timber farm in Whetstone township, where he lived for several years. He then went to Michigan and while living there, not far from St. Joseph, he lost his wife, who was in maidenhood Miss Hannah Jones. She left him with five children. He returned with them to Crawford county, O., where later he married his second wife, Almeda Johnson. Here they spent the rest of their lives, Mr. Van Voorhis dying Aug. 4, 1893, and his wife at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Smith, on July 7, 1910. She was over 92 years old, having been born March 19, 1818. They were lifelong members of the Christian church and he was a strong Democrat in politics. They had a family of twelve children, of whom five are still living and one is yet unmarried.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been the parents of eleven children, as follows: ( i ) Lora A., born Aug. 11, 1864, is the wife of Henry S. Evert, of Galion and has three children: Beatrice, Stewart and Arthur. (2) Alice E., born Oct, 2, 1867, is the wife of Newton Evert, a farmer of Whetstone township and has two children — Marion A. and Paul G. (3) Bertha, who has been a public school teacher in Galion for some years and who resides at home. (4) Jessie E., born 1872, July 12, who is the wife of Charles A. Throckmorton and lives in Columbus, O. Her children are Warren S. and Maxwell H. (5) Eva E., born Nov. 5, 1875, who is the wife of Michael Eusey and lives in Galion. She has three children— Cora, Fred and Gordon. (6) Charles B., a farmer in Chatfield township, who is unmarried. (7) Lettie E., a school teacher, unmarried, who resides at home. (8) Helen M., who married Orvin Braden, resides in Wooster, O., and has a son Donald. (9) Ethel T., who died at the age of eleven years. (10) Edna L., unmarried, who is a stenographer and resides in Cleveland, O. (11) Josephine, born in September, 1878, who is the wife of Dorsey Littler and resides in Galion, has no children. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the English Lutheran church. They are well known and have a wide circle of friends. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics.

As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.