Joseph W. Smith

JOSEPH W. SMITH, deceased, was born in

I Cazenovia, Madison County, N. Y., April

(2/ 30, 1812, and was a son of Spencer and Sarah

(Williams) Smith. The father was a native of New York, and of Scotch and Welsh descent. His birth occurred September 28, 1781, and throughout his business career he followed farming in the Empire State. He died near Rochester, N. Y., when in the prime of life. His wife survived him many years. She was a native of Vermont, and was of English lineage. Born July 4, 1780, she passed away April 26, 1863, at the age of eighty-two years and ten months. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith were members of the Congregational Church. The maternal grandfather, Joseph Williams, was a hero of the Revolution and died in Cazenovia, when almost one hundred years of age.

The subject of this sketch was quite young when his father died, and he was reared by his grandfather Williams. His education was acquired in the public schools, and when a young man he learned the cooper's trade, and afterward that of blacksmithing. On the 22d of October, 1833, he married Miss Eliza Ann, a daughter of Moses and Hannah (Kinney) Lewis, natives of New York. When her grandfather was a boy, his people removed to Galloway, where his parents died when he was quite young. He was then taken by a neighbor and put to work, but, being mistreated, he ran away and commenced working for a man who built a very large house and owned an extensive farm. Of this property Mr. Lewis, as the result of his industry, eventually became owner. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Spencer D. married Sarah Battles, who died about 1874, leaving two children: Sadie L. and Pearl V. Frances is the wife of D. C. Stanley, of Downer's Grove, and they have four daughters: Cora Lillian, Bertha Irene, Allie Adele and Del Capron. Maria H. and Lewis M. are both deceased. Allie A., who complete the family, is the wife of W. W. Gokey, of Turner, who is a passenger con-. ductor on the Galena Division of the Northwestern Railroad. Three children have been born unto them: Josie S., Spencer and Theresa C.

From New York Mr. Smith removed to Marengo, where he made his home for two years, going then to Albion, Mich., where he spent a number of years. During that time he served as Sheriff of the county for one term. His next place of residence was in Jackson, Mich., where he spent about a year and a-half, when he returned to Albion. After a short time, however, he went to Michigan City, where he had charge of the railroad shops. The year 1858 witnessed his arrival in Turner. He worked in the shops of this place until the breaking out of the war, when, in 1804, he enlisted in the one hundred days' service, but continued with the boys in blue for eight months.

After the war Mr. Smith worked in the railroad shops at Belvidere for a year, his family, however, remaining in Turner, where he then joined them. For a short time he was employed in a rolling-mill. In 1872 he was appointed Postmaster, and served for about thirteen years. While in that position he went to Ft. Atkinson on a visit, and when there died from apoplexy, September 9, 1884, at the age of seventy-two. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics was a stanch Republican. He was always found true to every trust reposed in him, and wherever he went he gained the high regard of all with whom business or social relations brought him in contact. His death was deeply regretted by many friends outside of his immedi- ' ate family. Mrs. Smith was born June 19, 1812, and is still living at the age of eighty-one. She makes her home in Turner, where she has a good residence, and where she is surrounded by many friends and acquaintances. Her father, Moses Lewis, was for many years a member of the Masonic fraternity, and attained the Royal Arch degree. Mrs. Smith still has in her possession the apron of that degree which was worn by her father, and it is now upward of one hundred years old.

(p\ LBERT H. WIANT is the Circuit Clerk of DuPage County, is popular as a politician, and is a resident of Turner. His father, one of the earliest pioneers of the county, served in the Union cause during the Civil War, and has been actively connected with the upbuilding of Turner Junction. The birth of our subject occurred in Wayne, DuPage County, Ill., December 2, 1841.

Joel and Rhoda Wiant, the parents of our subject, were both natives of Pennsylvania, and were numbered among the early settlers of this county, to which they came at an early day. The father is still living in Wayne Township, and is now more than eighty years of age. His wife died many years ago, leaving two sons and two daughters, namely: Albert H; Thomas; Julia, now Mrs. Chandler, of Turner; and Alice, wife of Edgar Stephens, also a resident of the same place.

Albert H. Wiant grew to manhood on his father's pioneer farm in Wayne Township, where he was born. He had the advantages of the common schools, in addition to which he was for a while enrolled as a student of Wheaton College. His studies, however, were interrupted by the war, and he responded to the call for volunteers, in July, 1862, going to the defense of the Old Flag, and being mustered into Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry, on the 2d of September of that year, at Dixon. This companywas raised in DuPage County, and was enlisted for a period of three years, or until the close of the war. After being drilled at Dixon, they were sent to Camp Douglas, and thence to the front of battle. After participating in the engagement at Resaca, they were sent on the Atlanta campaign with Sherman, and then to the sea. Our subject was present at the grand Military Review in Washington, and was mustered out in the Capitol City on the 7th of June, 1865.

On his return from southern battle-fields to his home in Turner, Mr. Wiant, in company with his brother, engaged in general merchandising in that place, and continued successfully employed for thirteen years. For a short time before the war, he had been in the same business with his father in Turner, and it was then that he acquired a practical knowledge of business methods. Under Gen. Grant's first administration, he was appointed Postmaster of Turner, but his time being fully occupied with his business affairs, he resigned in favor of one of his comrades in the war, Joseph Smith. President Hayes also bestowed honor upon him by appointing him to the position of United States Gauger. He has held other important positions of honor and trust, and has always proved a thoroughly responsible and satisfactory officer. In 1888 he was elected to the office of Circuit Clerk, in which capacity he has efficiently served ever since, being re-elected in

In 1871 Mr. Wiant married Miss Ella Haffey, of Turner, and by their union has been born one child, Dester A-, who is his father's assistant in the office of Circuit Clerk. Fraternally, our subject is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and helped to organize the first post in DuPage County, it being known as Turner Post No. 301, and the charter being granted by John M. Palmer. Our subject belongs to Turner Chapter, and to Bethel Commandery, of Elgin. He is the owner of a small subdivision of

Turner, and resides on a piece of that property. He is well and favorably known in Masonic and Grand Army circles, and is very popular in the various walks of life. He is recognized as a man of unbiased integrity and honor, and has always had deeply at heart the prosperity of his city.

As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Cook and Dupage counties, Illinois, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with biographies and portraits (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.