Samuel Smith

As printed in 1910

SAMUEL J. SMITH.

In the daily laborious struggle for an honorable competence and a solid career, there is little to attract the casual reader in search of a sensational chapter; but to a mind thoroughly awake to the reality and meaning of human existence there are noble and imperishable lessons in the career of an individual who, with clear head, strong arm and true heart, directed and controlled by correct principles and unerring judgment, conquers adversity, and, toiling on, finally wins, not only pecuniary independence, but, what is far greater and higher, the deserved respect and confidence of those with whom his active years have been spent.

Samuel Smith is a native of Nodaway county, Missouri, having first seen the light of day here on September 15, 1859. He is a son of Jackson and Marian (Brown) Smith, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Clinton county, Missouri. They are both now deceased, the father having died on January 30, 1888, and the mother in February, 1908. At the age of sixteen years Jackson Smith came to Clinton county, Missouri, and took employment as a farm hand. In 1865 he came to Nodaway county and bought eighty acres of farm land, for which he paid ten dollars an acre. There was a house on the land and some minor improvements otherwise, and he gave his attention to the tilling of the soil, in which he met with, a fair measure of success. He was a carpenter by trade and was employed at this work when not engaged in his farm work. Five years after coming here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land, at five dollars an acre, and six months later he sold half the land for ten dollars an acre. When he died he owned three hundred acres of fine land, with a comfortable home, the entire property being well improved. His widow remained on the home ten years after his death, and then moved to Barnard, where she spent the remainder of her days. At her death she was laid be side her husband in the cemetery at Graham. They were members of the Church of Christ and enjoyed the respect of all who knew them. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six are living, namely: Sarah, Samuel J., Benjamin F., Mary, John W., Selvina, Alice and James, both deceased.

Samuel J. Smith spent his boyhood days on the home farm and secured a good practical education in the common schools. On attaining mature years he farmer his father's farm for a short time, and then bought eighty acres of unimproved land, for which the consideration was fifteen hundred dollars. Mr. Smith had but fifty dollars to pay on the purchase price, but he was energetic and ambitious and he went to work with a will to improve the land and get it into cultivation. He built a small frame house, into which he moved, and such was his success and so well satisfied was he with the conditions and outlook that in less than a year he bought forty acres adjoining, and within three years he had discharged his entire indebtedness. This was a testimonial to the productiveness of Nodaway county soil, but it was more than that: It was evidence of the qualities that entered into the young man’s makeup and which gave promise of his future success. He carried on his operations with continued success and added to his possessions from time to time until he is now the owner of two splendid farms, one of one hundred and sixty and another of two hundred and forty acres, four hundred acres altogether, each of which contains a good residence and is otherwise thoroughly improved and productive. He is also the owner of some good farm land in Texas. He lives in a comfortable and attractive residence in the town of Barnard, going back and forth to his farms, and a number of men are employed in the operation of the same. Mr. Smith is one of the principal stockholders in the Barnard State Bank and has served as its president for many years, much of the success which has attended the institution being due to his good business judgment and favorable influence.

On December 25, 1879, Mr, Smith was united in marriage to Margaret Clare, the daughter of James and Sarah Clare, natives of Kentucky who were among the early settlers of Andrew county, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have become the parents of six children, namely: Mariam Alice, born July 11, 1881, is the wife of Morgan Kling and they have one child, Jesse; George W., born in 1883; Thomas Jackson, born September 16, 1885, employed in the Commerce Trust Company, Kansas City, married Elizabeth Hilton; Jesse Oren, bom November 3, 1886, died January 10, 1887; Myrtle, born April 1, 1888, married George Adams, a farmer, and they are the parents of one child, Kenneth; Mary Florence, born September 1, 1890, is the wife of Leonard Mendenhall, a farmer.

Politically, Mr. Smith is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, though not an office seeker. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, holding membership in the blue lodge at Barnard. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Church of Christ, of which her husband is an attendant and to which he contributes liberally. Mr. Smith is regarded as one of the enterprising and progressive business men of his township and because of his long residence here he is widely known, being regarded as one of the substantial men of the community.

As printed in Past and present of Nodaway County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.