William H. Smith

As printed in 1889

JLLIAM H. SMITH was born in Chippewa Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, in April, 1830, and is a son of Joseph G. and Mary (Frank) Smith. His paternal grandfather was Andrew Smith, formerly of Centre County, Penn., who settled about 1829 in Chippewa Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, where he cleared and improved a farm, on which he lived and died. His children were three in number, viz.: James, Joseph G. and William, all now deceased. Joseph G., at his father's death, succeeded to the homestead, where he resided until his death, in 1872. His family consisted of six children, viz.: William H., Mettie (Mrs. John B. Zimmerman), Charles P., Arthur, Howard and Alice.

The maternal grandfather of William H. Smith was Henry Frank, a native of Germany, born October 30, 1787, and who immigrated to America in 1791 with his parents, who located in Washington County, Penu. In 1792 his parents died, and he was bound out to a farmer until twenty-one years of age, receiving for his services two suits of clothes and one pair of shoes per year. At seventeen years of age he ran away, and learned the potter's trade. In 1822 he came to Wayne County, Ohio, locating in Canaan Township, where he worked at his trade and cleared a farm. In 1840 he moved to Chippewa Township, settling on the farm now occupied by his children, which he also cleared and improved, and here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1861. His wife was Jane, daughter of Charles and Mary A. Provines, of Washington County, Penn., and by her he had five children, as follows: Margaret, Mary (Mrs. Joseph G. Smith), Elizabeth (Mrs. Almon Butler), James P.. and Maria J.

(Mrs. Newell Collins). Mr. Frank was a member of the Presbyterian Church; in politics he was a Eepublican.

The subject proper of this memoir was reared and educated in his native township. In early manhood he taught school, winters, working on the farm in summers. For four years he was a clerk in the hardware store at Doylestown of which he is now one of the proprietors, having purchased an interest in the business in 1885. December 27, 1870, he married Maria J., daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Crawford) Lucas, of Chippewa Township, Wayne County, and by her has two children: Ehoda and Lucy E. Mr. Smith is one of the representative citizens and business men of Doylestown, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Royal Arcanum; he is a Republican.

P,HILIP PFEIFFER is one of the representative farmers of Chester Township. His father, Philip Pfeiffer, was a native of Bavaria, Germany, born in 1793. He was married in his native country to Elizabeth Reinhammer, and in 1833 they left their native land and set sail for the United States. They came direct to Wayne County, Ohio, and located in Chester Township, where he bought 110 acres of haul, which together they improved, making it their home until death. They were prominent citizens of the township and esteemed members of the Lutheran Church. The father died in 1856, and the mother in 1872. They had a family of ten children, five born in Germany and five in Ohio: Elizabeth, Catherine, Jacob, Philomena, Caroline, Susan, Philip, George, Sarah and Louisa.

The second son, Philip, was born and reared on the homestead where he now lives. His interests have always been for the prosperity of his native county, and whatever promises to be of benefit finds in him a hearty supporter. He has never married, but makes his home with a sister on the old home farm. He has been industrious and frugal, and has made many improvements on the farm. In politics he is a Democrat.

As printed in Commemorative biographical record of Wayne County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families .. (1889). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.