Seth Smith

As printed in 1908

SETH W. SMITH. Among the men who have helped lay broad and deep the prosperity of the community in which he lives is the subject of this review, who was born on the farm where he now lives, January 24, 184.3. His parents were

Seth and Deborah (Wildman) Smith. His father was born in Eastern Tennessee, where they were temporary sojourners, as the grandfather, Seth Smith, was born in Pennsylvania, and had gone thence to Virginia. Having lived fourteen years in Tennessee, they removed in 1800 to Highland County, Ohio, and in 1811 settled upon the farm where Seth W. Smith now resides. At this early day the grandparents were among the first pioneer settlers of this part of Ohio, and the country was in an undeveloped state. The experiences which they encountered were varied and interesting. Indians were plentiful, but were peaceably inclined.

The grandfather purchased the Fitzhugh survey, which was supposed to comprise 1,000 acres, but proved to contain 1,120 acres. On the land was a primeval log house, which they occupied until 1817, when they manufactured brick on the farm and constructed a substantial two-story brick house, which stood for many years, or until 1899, when the subject of this record had it torn down and erected his present commodious and modern residence. The grandfather resided in his home in Clark County, until he was an old man, honored and respected by all who knew him. He had come to Ohio when it was but a territory, landing at Paint Falls, Ross County, to which his elder brother, Jacob, had come in 1796. Of the brothers left in Tennessee, some of their descendants removed to Vermilion County, Illinois, whence some members of the family removed to Oregon. In the pioneer spirit which caused the grandfather to seek a home amid the wild scenes of Ohio, may be traced with interest those sturdy qualities inherited from his ancestor, the great-great-father of the subject of this review, who was born in England about 1680 and was one of those who, actuated by their Christian faith, became a followed of WUliam Penu, and with him, accompanied by two other brothers, came to America. One of the brothers settled in New York, or one of the New England states, and one in the Carolinas. There has been no reliable account of the descendants. One son, the great-grandfather, Joseph Smith, was born about 1720. He was educated and reared in the Quaker faith, as was also his wife, who in her maidenhood was Rachel Bales. After his marriage he settled in Maryland, near Bladensburg, and rented a farm and conducted a mill on Permugen Creek. He finally removed to a farm five miles from Winchester, Maryland, where they remained for a number of years on rented land. After a few years they decided to make a change and accordingly drove across the mountains to where Brownsville, Pennsylvauia, now stands, but not liking the location they returned without unloading their goods. While crossing the mountains they were attacked by robbers, but drove them off. They returned to the farm they had occupied near Winchester, and there spent their remaining days.

Among their many children was Seth, the grandfather of Mr. Smith, the name being thus handed down to the third generation— the subject of this review. In the grandfather's family were the following children — Jacob and Samuel, who died in early childhood; Mary, who mar- 7'ied David Littler; Rachel, who married Nathan Linton; Ruth, who married

Jeptha John sou; and Seth, the youngest child.

Seth grew to manhood in Clark County, receiving a good education for the period. The country was still new at that time and the educational advantages enjoyed were not those of the present time, but the brave and energetic spirit inherited from his forefathers and cultivated by his own efforts was his, and he did much toward promoting the growth and development of his community. He inherited about two hundred and sixty acres of land from his father, which he cultivated and improved, adding to it until he became the owner of considerable land and in time gave each of his children a good farm. In his remembrance Indians were very thickly settled around the locality in which the family lived, but they were friendly inclined and made very little trouble. While the family lived in Highland County one evening they had been away from home and on returning found the house lighted up, and on looking in they found the floor covered with Indians, who had come in and built a fire in the wide, open fireplace, desiring to warm and rest themselves. On receiving their supper they departed in peace. On one occasion a young Indian became enamored of his sister, the aunt of the subject, and desired to make her, as he termed it, his "pretty squaw." As the recipient of this adoration did not favor his suit, he showed his disfavor by taking a lump of charcoal, chewing it, spitting it in his hands and rubbing it over his face. Seth Smith, the father, was born July n, 1798. He was an anti-slavery man. a great temperance man and earnestly did he advocate the principles in which he believed. He was a birth-right Friend, being a direct descendant on both sides of the family of members of that sect.

He was married February 25, 1824, to Deborah Wildman, daughter of John and Elizabeth Wildman. To them were born seven children, three of which died in early childhood. The eldest son, Samuel, married Esther Cook, who died in September, 1885, leaving three children. He died in February, 1901. Ruth married Samuel Hadley, of Wilmington, Clinton County, Ohio. Oliver married Margaret Negus and to them were born.six children. After living for several years in Clark County, they moved to Kansas and thence to California, where he died in 1896. The mother, Deborah W. Smith, departed this life January 2, 1858. In 1860 Seth Smith, the father, married Anne Hollingsworth, with whom he lived until his death in 1876, being buried at Selma, Ohio.

The boyhood days of Seth W. Smith were spent on the home farm. He received a good common school education and after teaching a few years attended Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, for two years and one year in the Agricultural College, at Lansing, Michigan, thus being well fitted for the practical duties of business life in after years. In 1872 he married Marion Griffith, of Alliance, Ohio, and they took up their residence on the home farm, this union being broken by her death in just one year. In 1878 he married Hannah Lewis of New Vienna, Ohio, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Hoskins) Lewis. They were blessed with five children, namely: Oscar L., Lewis H. and Mary Emma D., while two died in infancy.

Oscar L. Smith was born August 23, 1879. In 190.3 he married Jean Blanche

Ervin, of Cedarville, Ohio, where he is now engaged as Cashier of the Exchange Bank. Lewis H. Smith was born January 30, 1880. In 1905 he married Eula Elder of Selma, Ohio. They wow reside on the old home farm. In 1906 there was born to them a son, Lewis Elden.

Mr. Smith has been identified with agricultural interests here and with banking interests in Cedarville, Ohio, and his individual interests have been blended with the welfare and improvement of his county and township.

As printed in 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.