In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1880) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1799
From History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio (1879), Pioneer and General History of Geauga County, with Sketches of Some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men (1880)
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
. Marsh Smith was one of eight children, — seven boys and one girl,— only two of whom are still living, viz., Sandford Smith, of Parkman, and Franklin Smith, of Nelson, Portage county. When a boy Marsh Smith removed with his parents to Georgetown, Madison county. New York, and thence preceded them a year to Ohio, in, 1818, settling in the woods of Parkman. He feared off a farm, worked at farming and carpentering, and October 28, 1823, was married to Miss Eliza Colton, of Nelson, a descendant of the Connecticut Coltons, — a family known for their thrift,, intellect, and puritanic virtues.
'Marsh Smith held various positions of honor and trust in the township of Parkman. For twenty years he was justice of the peace, which office he resigned to take that of county auditor, to which he was elected in 1850, and which he held six years, removing to Chardon in the mean time. He was afterwards county commissioner for one term, and in 1 860 was assessor of real estate. Of late years he has resided mostly with his children.
Mr. Smith is a man of superior understanding, widely known, and few men have in a higher degree enjoyed the confidence and esteem of their fellow-citizens.
Platt Canfield, wa$ the oldt of the four sons of Aaron Canfield, who, with hia family, removed frqm: Tyciiigham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, and settled in Chardon in 1814. Aaron was a grandson of Colonel Samuel Canfield, of New Milford,- Connecticut.' The mother of D.: W. Canfield was a daughter of Nr thaniel Read, of Berkshire county, Massachusetts. The subject of this sketch received his education principally in the schools of Professors Alfred. Holbrook and.T. W. Harvey. He was engaged in teaching three terms, and in 1849 was married, to Sophrona R. Allen, daughter of Ira Allen, Esq., formerly from Danby, Vermont. He remained for several years after his marriage on the farm originally occupied by his father in Chardon, during which time he prepared himself for the practice of his profession. In 1858 he graduated at the Union, Law College, and was admitted to the bar the same year. During that year he ase formed a copartnership with John French, which was terminated by the death of Mr. French in October, 18&1. The same fall ' he was elected prosecuting attorney of Gleauga County, and held that office four years.
In 1861 he formed a copartnership with Hon. H. K. Smith, which terminated in 1866 by the election of H. K. Smith to the office of probate judge of Geauga County. Upon the retirement of Mr. Smith, another copartnership was formed with Judge M. C. Canfield, which continued for five years, and was dissolved by the election of M. C. Canfield to the office of Common Pleas judge..During the time he was a partner of Mr. Canfield he served two years as representative of the county in the State Legislature. Shortly after this he held the office of mayor of the incorporated village of Chardon.
In 1871 he formed a copartnership with Hon. I. N. Hathaway, which lasted until the fall of 1875, when he was elected Common Pleas judge, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge M. C. Canfield, and served in that capacity until the expiration of his term, at which time he again resumed the practice of his profession.
The Canfields were among the earliest, as they have always been among the most substantial, rcspeeted, and influential families of Chardon. The subject of this sketch may be style emphatically a self-made man, owing more to his fortunate parentage, especially to a most excellent, intelligent, and devoted mother, and to his own native energy and will, than to any outward advantages for his success in life. He received only a common education. As a lawyer he early took a prominent position at the bar of his county, which he has ever since maintained, the experience acquired in a long and successful practice having in later years added greatly to his professional resources. Possessing very considerable natural force and fluence as a speaker, combined with quick discernment, ready tact, and an earnest, pleasing manner, he has the essentials of a good advocate, and, in the presentation to a jury of a case in which his sympathies are enlisted, is not often excelled. The duties of the several honorable and responsible positions to which he has been called have been discharged with ability and fidelity. In the House he served with credit on the judiciary and other important committees, and was recognized, even by his political opponents, as a most useful member; and it is believed that no judge with so short a term of service ever left the bench with a better record. He has always been active and efficient in the promotion of the interests of his town and county, every enterprise having this end in view meeting with his cordial support.; He is also a strong advocate of the temperance and other reform movements. Though by early education and associations a Democrat, he became identified with the Republican party from its organization, and has long been one of its acknowledged leaders in Geauga County. A man of clear intellect, ardent temperament, and strong attachments, few have more decided elements of popularity or success.
Mr. Canfield’s life has been blessed with that greatest of benefactions, a wife in whom those qualities that grace and ennoble womanhood are united in a marked degree. To him she has always proved a real helper and a loving companion. Active in the affairs of the church and society, and faithful to the duties of the home-life she so fondly loves, she has ever proven herself to be the true woman, wife, and mother.
He has three children living, — one son, Ira W. Canfield, and two daughters: Eva C. Metcalf, wife of Thomas Metcalf, Jr., of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Lizzie L. Canfield, of Chardon. He has lost one daughter, — Della W., who died August 23, 1877, aged eleven years and eleven months, — which bereavement was the greatest of all the sorrows of his life. In religion he has been a member of the Christian church for more than thirty years.
As printed in History of Geauga and Lake Counties, Ohio (1879). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
MARSH SMITH, the sixth auditor of Geauga county, was born in Manchester, Vermont, August 18, 1799. Both his father and mother were of English descent. His great-grandfather on the paternal side, who settled in the colony of Connecticut in 17 —, belonged to an old English family of rare intelligence and sterling virtues. His mother, whose maiden name was Polly Marsh, was of the Marsh family of which Hon. George P. Marsh, of Vermont, is the most distinguished representative.
The subject of this sketch was one of eight children, viz: Ransom, Newell R., Orrin, Norman, Sanford, Franklin, Marrilla, and Marsh. Two besides himself are now living, viz: Sanford, who resides in Parkman, and Franklin, who resides in Nelson, Portage county.
When a boy, Marsh removed with his parents to Georgetown, Madison county New York, and thence, in 1818, preceding them one year to Ohio, settling in Parkman. He there purchased and cleared up a farm, working as a carpenter a portion of the time.
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Mr. Smith held many positions of honor and trust in the township of Parkman. For twenty years he was justice of the peace, during which time he became familiar with the laws of Ohio. His large experience, thus acquired, combined with a high sense of honor and right, for which he has always been distinguished, gave special value to his opinions, causing them to be much sought after by his neighbors and friends, as well as by justices of less experience. In 1850 he was elected county auditor, which office he held for three consecutive terms, discharging its duties faithfully, efficiently, and to the acceptance of all.
He was subsequently county commissioner and, in 1860, was an assessor of real estate.
In politics he was a Whig until the organization of the Free-soil party, with which he at once identified himself, continuing to act with that party until it was merged into the Republican party, to which he has ever since belonged. He was one of the earliest and most active of anti-slavery workers, and it is not too much to say of him, that by nature he could be nothing less than an earnest and consistent friend of freedom, and an uncompromising enemy of every form of injustice and wrong.
In religion he is a firm believe in the authenticity of the Scriptures, which, to his mind, teach the final salvation of all men. After a residence in Geauga county of over sixty years, it may be truly said of him, that no man ever enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens more fully, or proved himself more worthy of it, by the singular purity and uprightness of his character. Possessing a life partner of a most pure and amiable character, peculiarly adapted to his own, and sons and daughters who exemplify their virtues truly, his long and eventful life in its calm and peaceful evening is crowned with blessings.
The living children are seven in number, viz: Mrs. Hannah Bates, of Iowra. Mrs. Elizabeth Durfee, of Troy; Judge H. K. Smith; T. C. Smith (cashier of’ the Geauga savings and loan association); Marsh H. Smith and Mrs. Eliza Brooks, of Chardon, and Newell R. Smith, of Nelson, Portage county, Ohio.
Mr. Smith, who is now over eighty years of age, resides among his children, most of the time in Chardon.
As printed in Pioneer and General History of Geauga County, with Sketches of Some of the Pioneers and Prominent Men (1880). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: I. N. Hathaway (b. 1827) Thomas Metcalf (b. 1798)
Their biographies name Marsh Smith: Henry K. Smith
The printed record stops around 1879. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.