Oscar L. Smith

As printed in 1891

SCAR L. SMITH, whose pleasant farm-house may be found on section 31 of Lincoln Township, near the waters of the Willow River, will form the subject of this notice:

He was born in Joliet, Ill., in 1855, and is the son of Martin G. and Margaret E. (Johnston) Smith, natives of New York, who were the parents of four children — Albert S., Adelbert, Oscar L., and Frank M. The father was a machinist, and worked for the McCormack Reaper Company, and finally removed to Stearns County, Minu., and in fighting the In dians,he overworked in building a fortification, and caught cold which terminated in death.

Our subject worked on a farm until sixteen years of age in Delaware County, N. Y., then at blacksmithing in Broome, County, N. Y., from which State he came to Iowa, in 1881, and settled at Woodbine, where he wielded the sledge, and fanned the forge until he came to Liny coin Township.

He was united in marriage, October 24, 1880, to Miss Mary M. Owen, daughter of James K. and Mary M. Owen, natives of New. York. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of one child — Myrta R., horn February 24, 1889. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Woodbine while he pounded at the forge. They bought a lot, built a house and shop and paid for it, and continued to work at Woodbine for eight years, and then purchased eighty acres of land in Lincoln Township, upon which he now lives. He did considerable building, fenced his farm, set out one hundred and thirty fruit trees, and has followed farming and blacksmithing ever since. To one who succeeds through the role of industry, midst smoking forge and clark ing anvil, there must be ascribed much credit, and it will also be remembered, that this man’s companion, true to her marriage vows, has ever been a faithful helpmate.

ifiAMES COULTHARD, a farmer living on section 1, of Cincinnati Township, came to Harrison County in the spring of 1866, and rented land for two years, boarding with his brother, George. In the spring of 1866 he bought the farm he now owns, which at that time consisted of eighty acres of unimproved land upon which he made improvements. In the spring of 1871, he went to California, where he engaged in mining and teaming until the autumn of 1878, at which time he came back to Harrison County, and that winter built a house on his place, 18x24 feet, a story and a half high; and later on provided a good barn, together with other improvements, at the same time kept adding to his land, until he now has three hundred and twenty acres; one hundred and twenty acres of land besides this tract he owns in Taylor Township, which he uses for pasture.

Oar subject was married in Harrison County, October 14, 1880, to Miss Emarine Granger, the daughter of Orvill F. and Eliza A. (Smith) Granger. By this marriage union three children were born — Robert 0., born August 6, 1882; Lydia A., August 4, 1884; Mabel E., April 6, 1887.

Emarine (Granger) Coulthard was born in Calhoun Township, Harrison County, February 9, 1859. Her parents moved into Cincinnati Township about 1860. Mr. Coulthard is well known in Western Harrison County, but it may be well to refer to his earlier career.

He was born in Middlesex County, Canada, July 4, 1848, and remained there with his parents until the spring of 1866. His education was received at the common schools, and his political belief is that of a Republican.

As printed in History of Harrison County, Iowa. Containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county. Together with portraits and biographies of all the go (1891). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.