Robert Smith

As printed in 1901

ROBERT SMITH.

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

Robert Smith was reared in touch the usual manner of farmer boys of his days, though lie was probably given better educational advantages, attending first the district schools of Indiana, and later the high school at Sturgis, Michigan. He was nineteen years of age when iiis father died and he then took charge of the farm, remaining on the old homestead until the fall of 1854, when he came to Iowa in a covered wagon, commonly called a prairie schooner, and traveled over forty counties in this ' state. In company with his brother he purchased one hundred and sixty-four acres of land in Will county, Iowa, which property is now owned by his brother's widow, and he spent one summer at that place. He then returned to Indiana, and later went to Floyd county, Iiiwa. where in partnership with his l)other he liought four hundred and eighty acres of land, but has since disposed of the same. Mr. Smith remained a resident of Indiana, however, until the fall of 1858, when he came to Linn county, Iowa, and purchased two hundred acres of land on sections 25, 35 and 36, Linn township, which he still owns. He also has forty acres of timber land in that township, and one hundred and nineteen acres on section 9, Franklin township, which is just outside the corporate 1 mits of Mt. Vernon and only a half mile from the center of the town. He removed tc Franklin township in 1863, and in 1899 he built upon his place an elegant residence, which is supplied with all modem improvements, and furnished in a most approved manner. Mr. Smith has engaged in buying, feeding and selling stock, but is now practically living retired, while his son, James 1\ manager the farm.

.\t Lima. Indiana. August 7. 1855. Mr. Sm'th was united in marriage with Miss Maria L. Hamilton, who was born in that place September 16, 1832, her parents being Robert and Alice (Caldwell) Hamilton, who were born, reared and married in county Donegal, Ireland. The Caklwells were of Scotch-Irish descent, and her maternal grandfather was a clergyman of the Church of England. On their emigration to America in 1825 Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton located in Pennsylvania, but later removed to Lima, La Grange county, Indiana, where the former died in the spring of 1855. His wife made her home with our subject in Iowa for twelve years, but in July, 1873, went to New York state to visit her son, and while there was taken ill and died. She was buried at Lima, Indiana.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born five children: Alice C. is the wife of S. H. Harmon, a retired farmer of San Diego, California; Mary E. is a teacher of languages at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon; Helen M. is the wife of L. E. Imlay, chief engineer in the electric light plant of the 'estinghouse Manufacturing Company at Niagara Falls. New York 'william H. died in 1894; and James R. Mrs. Smith died in 18S4.

Mr. Smith has always taken a deep and commendable interest in educational affairs, and has most efficiently served as school director in Franklin township for twentyTone years, and in Linn township for three years. He was also county supcrvis(ir for three years, and filled the office of road supervisor for a number of years. Being a strong temperance man, he is an ardent advocate and supporter of the Prohibition party, and he is a member of the Methodist church, of which he has been a trustee and steward for a number of years. His life has been an upright, honorable and useful one, in which he has gained the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens in a marked degree, and lie is held in high regard by all whi) know him.

As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.