Joseph Smith

As printed in 1914

JOSEPH SMITH.

Joseph Smith owns and occupies a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Homer township, which he has converted from a tract of wild prairie into richly productive fields. A native of New York, he was born September 21, 1857, his parents being Ferdinand and Magdelina (Graff) Smith, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born in Prussia, and the latter in Bavaria. Coming to America in 1852, the father settled in New York and after residing for a number of years in the Empire state, made his way westward to Benton county, Iowa, where he worked in a sawmill for some time. Finally he purchased land there which he cultivated and improved until 1897. He then retired and took up his above in Norway, Iowa, where he made his home until his death, which occurred on the 29th of December, 1908. It was almost five years later before his wife was called to her final rest, her death occurring on the 22d of September, 1913.

While born in the east, Joseph Smith has spent the greater part of his life in Iowa, having been reared in Benton county, where he acquired his education in the public schools. He remained with his parents until he reached the age of twenty-four years and worked for his father in the fields upon the old home place. He then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 27, Homer township, and afterward added thereto forty acres adjoining on section 34, Homer township. The tract was nothing but wild land when it came into his possession. He broke the sod, tilled the fields and cultivated his crops and today the land is rich and mellow, responding readily to the care he bestow upon it.

On the 13th of June, 1882, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Theresa Nolte, a daughter of George and Mary (Death) Nolte, natives of Prussia. The parents came to America and settled in New York in 1852, the father there securing employment at the blacksmith's trade. After three years, however, he removed westward to Indiana, and a year later came to Iowa, settling in Fayette county, where he purchased two hundred and twenty acres. This he developed and improved, and upon the farm spent his remaining days, dying on the ist of June, 1891, while his wife's death occurred ten years later, on the 15th of May, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of an only child, Mary M. They are Catholics in religious faith, and Mr. Smith is a democrat in his political views.

As printed in History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people (1914). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.