Willis A. Smith

As printed in 1916

WILLIS A. SMITH.

Willis A. Smith, general farmer and stock raiser, Parkers Prairie township. Otter Tail county, was born on May 3, 1881, in Steuben county. New York, a son of Azariah and Abbis (Burlingame) Smith. His early education was received at the public schools of his native state, and after coming with his parent to Otter Tail county, in 1809, continued his studies in the public school of Parkers Prairie township, this school having a sod roof and earthen floor. After leaving school, he assisted his father with the farm work, taking entire charge of the place at the age of eighteen years, in [878, and managing it from that time on, during the first year and a half of which time he worked out in order to obtain sufficient funds with which to keep things going during the famous grasshopper year. In 1893, Mr. Smith became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of his father's home- Mead, which he has owned and farmer ever since. In the fall of 1895, ne bought the farm where he now lives, consisting of eighty acres, adjoining the old homestead, and has lived here ever since. He has erected practically all the buildings, and follows general farming and stock raising, giving special attention to the breeding of purebred Shorthorn cattle, of the milking strain, blooded Poland China hogs and brown Leghorn chickens. His farm is known as the "Cedarvale Farm," which is splendidly equipped with guild buildings. Politically, Mr. Smith is a strong Republican, while in religion he is an earnest member of the Baptist church, in the work of which he takes an active interest, having long served as choir leader and trustee. Fraternally, he is allied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has served as chairman of the board of supervisors of Parkers Prairie township.

Azariah Smith, father of the subject of this sketch, was born on January 16, 1829. at Deerfield, Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Abbie (Burlingame) Smith, was born un March 17, 1833. and was a native of the same place. Mr. Smith was educated at the public schools of Deerfield, Pennsylvania, and as a young man went to Woodhull, Steuben county, New York, and settled on a timber farm, living there from 1857 to 1867, and while hauling lumber from a mill to the town, he and his team went through a bridge into the river, and he was so injured that he was unable to continue his farm work for two years. He had another misfortune in the loss of a flock of tine thoroughbred sheep, in which he had invested in 1867. caused li\ disease. This loss so crippled him financially that he left for the west, coming to Parkers Prairie, Otter Tail county, in 1869, spending the first winter here with his brother. Cyrus P. Smith. On this trip he brought with him his eldest son, the remainder of the family following in May of the next year. He took up a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on August 7. 1889. Azariah and Abbie 1 Burlingame) Smith were the parents of three children: Ellen, horn on November i_>, 1857; Sherman B., born on March 10. 1880, and died on December 23, 1908. and Willie A. His first wife died, and Mr. Smith was then married to Eliza M. Mariner, by whom he had one child, Herbert A., born on January jj, [866, ami died on January -' 1, [903. Mr. Smith's second wife died on December 6, 1898. Politically, he was a Republican, and in religion a member of the Baptist church, in the choir of which he was leader for many years in both New York state and Otter Tail township, during which time he also officiated as deacon of the church.

Willis A. Smith was united in marriage, August 30, 1893, w'tn Estella P. Bacon, by whom he has had the following children: Asa A., Beth, who died at the age of nine years; Fernie F., Rudy, Alten and Donna. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Methodist church.

Mr. Snmh is one of the busy men of Parkers Prairie township, but always manager to rind time to be affable and agreeable to all with whom he comes in contact, and is a prominent citizen in the community honored by his residence.

As printed in History of Otter Tail County, Minnesota : its people, industries, and institutions : with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families (1916). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.