Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 144

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2 > Part 144

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The marriage of Mr. Smith occurred in Logan County, June 14, 1882, to Sarah M. Glose, born near Sandusky, Ohio, July 22, 1861, daughter of Martin Glose. Mr. Glose was born in Ger- many, but his wife, who was Nancy Fall, was a native of Pennsylvania, her father having come to America at an early day, eventually settling in Ohio, where he was engaged in farm- ing until his demise. Mr. Glose moved to In- diana and then to Sangamon County, where he

was a farmer until he died, in February, 1907. His wife preceded him, dying in October, 1893. There were seven sons and four daughters in their family, all of whom survive except the eldest, they being: Mary married Joseph Mar- tin, who died, and she resides in Springfield; Daniei, of Springfield; Henry, living In the vi- cinity of Mt. Puiaski on a farm; Chauncy, of Decatur; David, living on a farm near Topeka, Kan .; Grant, of Mt. Pulaski; James, of Spring- field; Amy married Albert Sievers, of Kanka- kee; and Mrs. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Leslie, of Clinton, Ill., who mar- ried Gertrude Miian, born in Illinois. They have three children : Vernon, Kenneth and Elouisa.

Mr. Smith has long been a member of the Methodist Church and is earnest in his devo- tion to its good work. He Is a man who has aiways done what he believed to be his duty, no matter what the cost, and his reward has been not only a materlal one, but also the ap- proval of his conscience.

SMITH, George W. (Vol. I, p. 485.)

SMITH, Gustavus Adolphus. (Vol. I, p. 486.)

SMITH, J. Emii .- Among the newspaper men of Springfield may be numbered J. Emil Smith. He Is one of the live, energetic young men of the day, and his ability to judge quickly and correctly with regard to news items makes him a valuable acquisition to any paper. He was born in Springfield September 1, 1880, a son of John S. and Charlotte A. (Johnson) Smith. His father was a native of Sweden and came to Illinols in 1859.

J. Emil Smith secured an education in the Springfield schools, and upon leaving them en- tered at once upon his journalistic career. Having always been a Republican, he took an active part in party affairs and was the logical candidate for City Clerk in 1907, being elected by a large majority. So efficient did he prove that he was reelected on the same ticket in 1909.

On July 9, 1900, occurred the marriage of Mr. Smith to Lydia P. Mackber, born in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had two children : Mayme Jeanette, born July 28, 1901, and Griffith, now deceased, born March 21, 1908. Mr. Smith Is a member of the Elks and he and his family are Presbyterians.

SMITH, John .- Sangamon County farmers are not only noted for their skill in agricultural work, but for their abounding hospitality. They welcome their guests with a cordiality that savors of the Southern States before the war. One of the older farmers, who have passed through many phases of life there: is John Smith, of Section 12, Williams Township. He was born in Sangamon County, March 14, 1837, a son of Philip Smith and his excellent wife, Rebecca (Hendricks) Smith, the former

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born May 13, 1813, in Montgomery County, N. C., and the latter in Kentucky.

Philip Smith was a farmer and came to Iiii- nois with his father, who bore the same name, in 1822. They located in what is now Cooper Townshlp, Sangamon County, but later settied in Williams Township. In the latter home the younger Philip Smith spent the remainder of his life and there his ten children were born. Four of them still survive: John; Henry, of Kansas; Laura, wife of George Ash, of Wii- liams Township, and Mrs. Mary Dolan, of Wii- liamsvllie. Philip Smith, Jr., was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and was ever ready to prove his devotlon to his country and has fam- ily. Both he and his wife died at an advanced age.

John Smith grew up in Williams Township, learning to farm and studying in the little log school-house of his neighborhood. While he was assisting his father, the war broke out. Whlle he felt he was needed at home, at last - he could not longer resist the cali of his coun- try, enlisting in Company C, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as did a brother, William, and a brother-in-law, Mr. Tuttle. The latter lost his life at the Siege of Vicksburg, in which Mr. Smith also partici- påted, but with less fatal results. Mr. Smith was also in a number of other engagements, in- cluding that at Jackson, Miss. At the close of the war, he returned to Sangamon County and resumed his farming, which he has since con- tinued. He now resldes on the old farm place of seventy-nine acres, which he owns.

In 1864 Mr. Smith was married to Martha Williams, born in Indiana, October 3, 1841, and a son and daughter were born to them: Ida Beile, who later died, and Ulysses F., who is a resident of Springfield. Mrs. Smith died at Quincy, Iil. On October S, 1874, Mr. Smith mar- ried Amanda Yocom, born near Williamsvilie, in Sangamon County, October 18, 1842. She is a daughter.of George Yocom, born in Ken- tucky, who at an early day came to Sangamon County, and there continued to farm up to his death. She was one of nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom three sons and two daughters survive. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Alice, wife of Taylor Mathias, of Dawson; Maggie, wife of Frank Brest, a farmer, of Buffalo Hart; Le- Roy, at home, and Lorin, a farmer of Iliiopo- iis. There are eighteen grandchildren in the family. In addition to his homestead of seven- ty-nine acres, Mr. Smith owns forty acres of land in Logan County.

Having served his country so bravely in its time of need, Mr. Smith is now enjoying pleas- ant associations as a member of the G. A. R. He and his wife are charming, pleasant people, who have friends all over the county. They have reared a family of whom any parents might well be proud, and enjoy their society and that of the grandchildren who are growing up to carry on the name. Both in war and in peace Mr. Smith has proven himself a loyal,

brave citizen, and one who never shrunk from the duty that iay before him.

SMITH, John Corson. (Vol. I, pp. 486-487.)

SMITH, John Taylor (deceased) .- The services rendered to any community by safe, sound, con- servative bankers cannot be overestimated. They establish and maintain the financlai standing of the city and its business men, and heavy responsibilities rest upon their shoulders. The iate John Taylor Smith, who at the time of his death was Vice-President of the Ridgely National Bank, of Springfield, was one of the best examples of this class of men the city ever knew, having been well fitted by natural ability and business experience for the position of trust which he so weil filled. Mr. Smith was born in Frankfort, Ky., March 6, 1825, a son of Joseph and Sallie (Taylor) Smith. Joseph Smith was a merchant in Frankfort, and later became one of the early settlers of Sangamon County, Ill., where he bought and developed a large amount of land and carried on a mercantile business In Springfield. He was a successful business man, and was prominently Identified with the prog- ress and improvement of the community. He spent the closing years of his life on his farm, where he passed away, January 26, 1854, and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery. He was well known and highiy esteemed, being a rep- resentative of the enterprising pioneers who have done so much for the State of Iliinols.

When his parents located in Illinois John Tay- lor Smith was a boy nine years old. He received hls education in the schools of that day. His early youth was spent on his father's farm and, upon attaining his majority, be came to Spring- field, wbere he engaged in partnership with Ninian Edwards. He continued in business un- til the year 1874, when, having attained a com- fortable fortune, he retired and became Vice- President of the Ridgely National Bank. The men at the head of this financial concern man- aged Its affairs with such wisdom and judg- ment that it became one of the best known in- stitutions in that part of the State of Iiilnois. Mr. Smith was connected with the bank many years and continued with it untli his death, Jan- uary 26, 1892.

Mr. Smith was in politics a Democrat and his services in behalf of his party received recogni- tion in his appointment to the office of Post- master of Springfield, but aslde from this he never held public office. Though not as a rule interested in fraternal affairs, he enjoyed his connection with the Sangamo Club, of Spring- field, of which he was one of the organizers, and of the Iroquois Club of Chicago. Mr. Smith was liberai in religious views and hls family were Episcopalians.

On March 27. 1850, Mr. Smith was married in Springfield. to Sophia Niies Ridgely, who was born in Baltimore, Md., October 29. 1829, a daughter of Nicholas Henry and Jane (Vincent) Ridgley. Five children were born of this' union,

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namely : Julia Vincent, died August 6, 1871; Frederick, died Jauuary 26, 1904; a son and daughter who died iu childhood; Jessie Taylor, widow of Johu Howe Browu. Frederick Smith, a young mau of whom his parents aud the en- tire community were proud, entered West Point Military Academy and iu 1876 graduated from that institution, afterward serving at vari- ous military posts. On account of failiug health he was forced to resign from the serv- ice. He studied law at Columbia University, from which he was graduated in 1881, and practiced his profession several years in his na- tive city, but his health again failing he went to Canon City, Colo., where his death occurred. He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Mabel (Old- ams) Smith, and one son, Vincent. The four deceased children are buried with their father in Oak Ridge Cemetery. Mrs. Johu Howe Brown was married January 8, 1891. She is the comfort and compauion of her mother's de- clining years and delights to minister to hier every need with a loving daughter's care. She and her mother have a delightful home at No. 611 South Fourth Street. Mrs. Smith has al- ways been a most devoted wife and inother, and has the esteem and affection of a host of warm personal friends. She is a woman of great in- telligence and refinement and has been the cen- tral figure of the home ilfe of the family sluce her marriage. It is a real pleasure to meet such a type of the true woman, and be favored with her views upou auy topic.

Mr. Smith was a useful and representative citizen of his community, never sparing himself or stopping to think of the energy and hard work he expended. In business upright, honor- able and farseeing, his good judgment was val- uable to all with whom he associated. He ad- vocated many movements which then appeared to be in advance of the times, but which later have been successfully carried out. In charlt- able work, he was most helpful, giving away much money of which no one knew except him- self and those benefitted. His home iife was especially happy and his loss was keenly feit. Although many years have elapsed since he was called from his busy life. he is still remembered and his memory cherished by those who knew and loved him. He was the central figure in many circles and his loss was felt in many gatherings.

SMITH, Richard B., retired, living in his com- fortable home at 1221 North Eighteenth Street, Springfield, Ill., was born at Bedford, L. I., February 3, 1837, son of William aud Margaret A. (Rhodes) Smith, both also natives of Bed- ford. The father worked for a transfer com- pany and both he and the mother died on Long Island. They were parents of three daughters and only one son, and all are deceased except the latter. The grandfather of Richard B. Smith was a soldler in the Revolution.

Mr. Smith received his education in a coun- try school at Bedford, six miles from Brooklyn,

and after leaving school worked for a time in a store in Brooklyn. He also became employed ou a boat ou the Hudson River, and later ou one running from New York to Baltimore. In 1861 he moved to St. Louis, Mo., and a year later took a position with the Government as driver of a supply wagon, and held this position six months, theu drove a wagon through Ala- bama and Tennessee about a year, after which he returned to New. York and worked another year on a Hudson River boat. He agaiu weut to St. Louis aud eutered the employ of the Gov- ernmeut, and after the assassination of Presi- deut Lincoln again returned to New York. After spending a short time in New York he came West agaiu and located at Athens, Me- uard County, Ill., and was engaged in farming there for thirty years. He was a successful farmer and in 1906 was able to retire from act- ive life, at which time he came to Springfield. He owns his home in Springfield. He is much respected and has made many friends. He is actively interested in public affairs and is a stanch Democrat. He has seen much of his na- tive country and is a weli-read, Intelligent man, ready to do hls duty as a citizen and promote the welfare of his community.

Mr. Smith was married, in 1874, four miles from Springfield, Ili., to Miss Caroline Weese, who was born in Tennessee and died in 1898. Her parents were early settlers of Sangamou County, where they secured a farm and lived on it until their deaths. One child was born. to Mr. Smith aud hls wife, Ruth, wife of John C. Roth, of Springfield, who has three children, two sons aud oue daughter.

SMITH, Richard C .- Prosperity has attended the efforts of many of the farmers of Illinois, rendering them independent and affording theru leisure during their iatter years. A well-to-do retired farmer of Springfield is Richard C. Smith, residing at No. 616 South English Ave- nue. He was born February 12, 1833, on the old Smith farm, situated on Lick Creek, in Cur- ran Township. He is a son of John and Jane (Drennan) Smith, the latter being a daughter of Joseph Dreuuau, an old pioneer of Sangamon County, who came from Kentucky. She died when Richard C. was an Infant, having borne her husband the following children: William C., deceased; Thomas died on his farm; Re- becca, the first wife of Wliliam Barbre, is de- ceased; Elizabeth Caroline, Mrs. Willlam Poor, deceased; Lucy, the second wife of William Barbre; and Richard C. The second wife of John Smith was Rebecca Enochs, daughter of William Enochs, who came to this county from Tennessee. They had two children: Mahala J., Mrs. David Miller, of Curran Township, and Martha H., Mrs. A. J. Dreunau, of Curran Towuship.

Richard C. Smith attended a subscription school held in a log house, his first teacher be- ing Luther Taibot, and later ones belng: Mr. Pearson, Mr. Smiley, Mr. Eatou, and Mr. S. B.

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Smith. During this time he attended only dur- ing the winter, and when he was nineteen his educational advantages ceased. When only nine years oid he began plowing, and continued to work for his father until he attained hls majority. After his marriage, he began farm- . ing on a portion of the homestead, thus con- tinuing in Curran Township until 1874, when he moved to a farm in Champaign County, re- turning to the old homestead in 18S1. The lat- ter continued to be his home until 1899, when he retired to Springfield, and has made this city hls home ever since.

On April 7, 1853, Mr. Smith was married in Curran Township, by the Rev. Arthur Brad- shaw, to Amarine Shelton, born in the town- ship, September 2, 1835. She is a daughter of William and Prudence (Neal) Shelton, and granddaughter of Stephen Shelton, who was born in 1777, and came to Sangamon County May 26, 1826, from Virginia. Stephen Shel- ton's first wife was Lydia Heath, of Virginia, whom he married in North Carolina, then moved to Ohio, where two children were born. They moved to Cabell County, W. Va., where seven children were born, and two were born in Sangamon County. His second wife was Ju- dith Neal, and by this union there were six children. During the War of 1812, he served as a brave soldler. His father, Robert Shelton, was an Englishman by birth, who settled in Virginia.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had the following children : William Thomas, living in Spring- field; John R., deceased; Maria Elizabeth, Mrs. Joseph F. Smith of Auburn; James A., of To- lono, Ill .; Richard E., of Springfield; Charles E. at home; Flora, Mrs. Everett Baugh of Springfield; and Frederick H., on a farm in Sangamou County. One died in infancy, Pru- dence Jane.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were members of the Mt. Zion Methodist Church in Curran Township, in which Mr. Smith was Trustee and Steward, as well as class leader and Sunday school Su- perintendent, but when they came to Springfield they transferred their membership to Douglas Avenue Methodist Church, of which he has been Steward. He is a life long Republican, and had been Justice of the Peace and Road Comu- missioner of Curran Townshlp. Fraternally he is a Mason. He is one of the sound men of the community, who deserved the success which attended his painstaking efforts. Mrs. Smith was a splendid seamstress and tailor and for many years made all her boys' and girls' cloth- ing and wove her own carpets.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Old Settiers Association and were the oldest mar- ried couple in attendance at the meeting in 1910, and it was said they were the best preserved physically. Both are as jolly and pleasant as young folks half their age.

SMITH, Samuel A. (deceased) .- Some of the bravest of the soldiers who fought for the pres- ervation of their country and the spotless honor

of their fiag, have answered to the last roll cali, and all that is left for their grateful fellow countrymen to do in their honor is to pay trib- ute to their memories on Decoration Day. A veteran of Logan County, who is no longer in our midst, is the late Samuel A. Smith, whose widow now lives at Williamsville, Sangamon County. Mr. Smith rightfully belongs to San- gamon County, for he was born there, June 19, 1835, a son of Roland and Ellzabeth (Gold- smith) Smith, natives of North Carolina and Indiana, who were farming people. The par- ents came to Sangamon County at an early day, going thence to Logan County, where they spent the remainder of their useful lives.

The education of Samuel A. Smith was se- cured in the Sangamon County schools, as well as those of Logan County, and even in boyhood he evinced a taste for work, spending his leis- ure moments in the saw-mill of his locality. When he commenced to earn his own Ilving he farmed in the summer and worked in the saw- mill in the winter. Just prior to the war he went to Logan County, but his loyal spirit couid not rest content with giving the cause he loved so dearly hls moral support, so he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain . Shockey, participating in the battle of Little Rock, as well as severai skirmishes. He was taken sick at Little Rock, came home and died in three days.

Mr. Smith was marrled in Logan County, Ili., September 9, 1858, to' Sarah A. Miller, born in Indiana, April 27, 1836, daughter of John J. and Martha J. (Jenkins) Miller, the former born in Pennsylvania, May 5, 1813, and the latter born In Kentucky, September 10, 1817. The family came to Indiana, thence to Sangamon County, in 1850, and eventually to Logan County. By trade the father was a cooper. His wife passed away in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of two children, both de- ceased. Grace E., born July 10, 1859, married W. P. Sparrow, eight children, all deceased, and Zeno E., born March 16, 1862, died in in- fancy.

When the Republican party was formed Mr. Smith espoused its principles, and had he lived would have been one of its heartlest supporters, The Methodist Church held his membership, and he died firm In its faith. He was a man of great strength, both of body and character, and was in the very prime of life when taken from his loved ones. He was weli thought of in his community, having already accomplished much through his industrious and thrifty hablts. In 1863, Mrs. Smith moved to Williamsville, where she bought a pleasant home on Pine Street, and there she now resldes, devoted to the memory of her gallant soldier husband who died so many years ago, just when life held so much for him. but whose patriotle spirit could not rest in peace when his country had need of his services. Mrs. Smith has been left a beautiful heritage that cheers her lonely years, and that Is the realization that in everything her husband

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proved himself a true man, a real Christian and one of whom she can ever be proud.

SMITH, Sherman T., was born in Champaign, Ill., September 12, 1874, a son of Levi and Eme- line (Patterson) Smith, and grandson of John Smith. The latter was a tanner, born in Penn- sylvania, who moved to Ohio in an early day, making the trip overland in an old prairie schooner drawn by an ox team.' Following this he went for a short time to Iowa, then moved back to Ohio, dying at Attica, that State. His wife was Barbara Jackson, who was born in Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Polly (Tracy) Jackson, farming people of prominence. Jacob Jackson served in the War of 1812. John Smith and Polly Jackson were married in Ohio. There were children as follows in the family of John Smith : Levi; John, married, and had five children-Arol, George, Harry, Cora

and Monte, all living; Fred, married and had six children-Maud, Lettie, James, Bernie, and two who died in infancy; Hattle, married, and had one child, Edward; Francis was never heard from after he enlisted in the Civil War; Marissa, and two who died in infancy.

Burnham Patterson, the maternal grand- father of Sherman T. Smith, was born in New York State. October 3, 1805, and. married Ma- riah Purdy, born September 21, 1807. She was reared by her grandparents, remaining with them until her marriage. Her great grand- father died on the ocean and was buried at sea. Both her parents died when she was a child and but little is known of them. By this mar- riage there were children as follows, all born in Attica, Ohio: Mary, born April 12, 1830, married Dr. T. W. Davis, now deceased, and lives at Wapella, Ill., issue-Hypocrates, Ar- zilla, Burzy, deceased, and Bose, living at Wa- pella, Ill., where he is practicing medicine ; Levi, born June 2, 1832, died at Cleveland, O., married Rebecca Shade, issue-Jennie, Nellie, Roscoe and Frank; S. A. died in infancy, De- cember 10, 1835; William H., born March 2, 1836, was killed by falling down an elevator shaft in a Chicago building about 1889; Newell, born October 7, 1838, a druggist of Mansfield, Ill., married Lida Igum, issue-Edith and Wil- liam, the latter being a druggist also; Emeline, mother of Mr. Smith, and Emily, twins, born June 1, 1845, the latter marrying Joseph Scott, deceased, issue Rose, Gussie, Carry, Fred and Cora ; Alfaretta Belle, born April 7, 1857, mar- ried Rufus Razy, a farmer of DeWitt County, Ill., deceased, issue-Nate, she now living in Oklahoma; Arthur, and two who died in in- fancy. Henry and Newell Patterson were in the Civil War. Burnham Patterson was a cooper by trade. He died in Ohio in 1858, and his wife in Wapella, Ill., about 1882. Both fam- ilies were prominent in eastern States, and some- of the best citizens today are descendants of the Patterson and Purdy families.

Levi Smith was born in Ashland, Ohio, De- cember 24, 1840, while his wife was born in Attica, Ohio, June 1, 1843. Mr. Smith came

from Ohio to Illinois in 1854, locating at Gen- eseo, where he spent six years. At the expi- ration of that period he returned to Ohio, whence he went to Dixon, Ill. From there he went to Cincinnati, and there enlisted in the navy, in June, 1863, serving under Admiral Porter. He was mustered out in 1865, at Cairo, Ill. He then went to Mansfield, Ohio, and thence to Attica, where he married. In 1866 the young couple moved to Galion, Ohio, and thence to Mansfield, where they remained until 1869, when they went to Wapella, Ill. In 1873 they went to Champaign, and thence to Fulton, where they lived until 1882, when removal was made to Springfield, which has since been their

home. The various changes were made neces- sary by the father's employment, he being con- nected with several railroads. The parents had nine children, six now living in Springfield : Laura Bell, born February 4, 1866, married Ben Berriman, now deceased; Arol, born September 14, 1869, married Blanch Foster, issue-Lulu, married Sidney Eckhart of Peoria, Ill., where they now live; Jennie, Arthur, Roy, Violet, Clara, Blanch, Rolla and Benjamin, living, and Otis and Edith, who died in infancy; Elmer, born January 27, 1872, married Lucy Le Grand, issue-Irene, deceased, and Ernest and Lester at home; Sherman T., born September 12, 1874; Effie May, born February 16, 1878, married Bernhardt Theilken, issue-Ella and Leonora, deceased, and Gradle and Emma at home; Ray- mond, born November 16, 1880, married Anna Keys, issue four children who died in in- fancy; and Inez, Dorence and Fred, who died young.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume II, part 2, Part 144

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 774

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 774