A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana, Part 50

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

USA > Indiana > Boone County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Clinton County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 50
USA > Indiana > Hendricks County > A portrait and biographical record of Boone, Clinton and Hendricks Counties, Ind. : containing biographical sketches of many prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies and portraits of all of the presidents of the United States, and biographies of the governors of Indiana > Part 50

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James Smith, the subject proper of this biography, made his home on the home farm until twenty-three years of age, when he bought forty acres of land in Harrison township, which he cultivated and resided on until 1873. when he came to Perry township and bought the eighty acres on which he has his present home. The marriage of James Smith took

place in Harrison township, March 4, 1858, to Susanna McGowens, who was born in Ken- tucky, January 31, 1840, to James and Anna McGowens. To this union were born nine children, viz: Sanford W., Daniel J., Cather- ine (deceased), Robert H., Jackson, Isaac, Lewis, Perry and an infant that died unnamed. Mr. Smith and wife are Baptists in religion, and in politics he is a democrat.

IEUT. GEORGE W. SMITH, one of the soldiers of the Civil war and a respected citizen of Lebanon, de- scends from an old New York state family of English descent. William Smith, his grandfather, was a soldier in the war of the Revolution. He married in New York state Martha Johnson of a Revolutionary family, and they were parents of a large family of children. Mr. Smith first settled in Ken- tucky and then in Fayette county, Ind., among the pioneers. He lived to be eighty years of age, and died near Cumberland, Ind., a pros- perous larmer. Abner Smith, son of the above and father of our subject, was born De- cember 16, 1809, was a soldier in the Mexican war and was in the battles of Cerro Gordo, Monterey and Palo Alto-marching under Gen. Drake of Indianapolis. He married Maria, daughter of John DeMoss of Fayette county, Ind., who was a pioneer there and died an aged man. He was of French stock. Abner and Maria Smith were the parents of eleven children. The first four died young; the re- mainder lived to be grown. The latter were Abner W., Justin C., Newton, Erastus, George W., Maria E. and Martha R. Mr. Smith set- tled in Delaware county, Ind., when the Indi- ans were still there and would frequently visit the family. About 1834 Mr. Smith moved to Indianapolis, where he lived until 1854 follow- ing his trade, that of a painter and cabinet

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maker, then moved to Boone county and set- tled in Marion township, where he died at fifty-five years of age. He was a democrat and he and wife were members of the Mission- ary Baptist church. He was an industrious, respected man and had three sons in the Civil war: Lieut. Abner W., who served three years and was in the following battles-Rich Moun- tain, Mills Springs, Shiloh, Boonville, Stone River, Perrysville, Tullahoma, Chickamuga, Big Fork. Missionary Ridge, Lookout Moun- tain, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kingston. Ga., Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, three battles at the siege of Atlanta, and Jonesboro. He was in all the battles and skirmishes of his regiment and was on the staff of "Pap Thomas" as acting brigade inspector. He was also provost marshal of Chattanooga in 1863. Newton J. Smith was in company C, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth regiment Indiana volunteer infantry, and served as drum major in the one-hundred day service. The family were very loyal, and Justin C., being afflicted with a nervous disease which disabled him for ac- tive service, took the place of Oscar Shanklin in a grocery store in Washington township, that Mr. Shanklin might enlist. He received the pay of a soldier only, although earning much more, as he managed the store.

George W. Smith was born in Indianapolis, Ind., December 9, 1837, received a common education and came to Boone county with his father when a young man. He had been a fireman and engineer on the I. P. & C. R. R., for more than three years, beginning his work as a fireman when but fourteen years of age. He worked on the farm with his father and clerked in his store until he enlisted at .Leb- anon, August 12, 1862, for three years or dur- ing the war, and was immediately promoted to orderly sergeant, under Capt. Aaron Frazee and Col. O. S. Hamilton. He served until honorably discharge at Gallatin, Tenn., on ac-

count of sickness and disability. He was in the battles of Perryville, Crab Orchard, Ky., Wild Cat Mountain, Glasgow, Ky., Laurel Hill, Tenn., Levern and many skirmishes. After his return home he remained working on the farm until February 1, 1865, when he re- enlisted at Lebanon in company I. One Hun- dred and Fiftieth Indiana volunteer infantry, and was promoted on the organization of the company to orderly sergeant and served until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Luray Cove, Berryville, Opequon Creek, Win- chester and many skirmishes, all in Virginia. He served in Hancock's veteran reserve corps, army of the Potomac. On June 1, 1865, Ser- geant Smith was promoted to second lieuten- ant of company I. He was mustered out and honorably discharged at Stevenson Sta- tion, Va., August 12, 1865. Lieut. Smith was never sick, wounded nor in hospital, nor taken prisoner, and was in all the battles and skir- mishes of his regiment when he was with them. He was ruptured by an accident early in his enlistment, but it did not prevent him doing duty, yet his service and the exposure of army life completely disabled him, rendering him unable to work, for which he receives a pen- sion of thirty dollars per month. Lieut. Smith met his wife at Gallatin, Tenn., in 1862, while serving there as a soldier, and they were married at Lexington, August 30, 1865. She was Mary V., daughter of James W. and Georgie T. (Cooper) Cryer. Mr. Cryer was a prosperous and prominent farmer and slave owner in Sumner county, Tenn., and father of a large family of children-Mary E., Vir- ginia C., Spencer C., James R., Mary V., Sallie C., David B., Llewellyn S., Louisa C., Anna C. and Martha H. Mr. Cryer had two sons in the Confederate service-Spencer C., in the first Tennessee infantry regiment and in many battles; James R. was in a Tennessee infantry regiment also, and in many battles. Mr.

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

Cryer died July, 1866, at Silver Springs, Wil- son county, Tenn. He was an upright and honorable citizen and lost heavily during the war. He and wife were members of the Methodist church. After marriage, Lieut. Smith and wife settled in their present home. The children born to Lient. Smith and wife were named Maggie O. (deceased). Jasper W. (deceased), William and Jessie C. (both at home). Mr. Smith was in the railroad mail service seven years on the "Big Four " and i

other roads. Since that time he has been broken down from his army service and is re- tired from from active work. He was one of the original republicans of Boone county, is a member of the G. A. R., Rich Mountain post, was officer of the day four years and sergeant- major two years. Lieut. Smith comes from a patriotic family, descending from Revolutionary stock; his father fought in the Mexican war and three of his brothers in the Civil war. His mother was one of those" American women who instilled patriotism. When Col. O. S. Hamilton came to her home, for volunteers, he said "Mother Smith, how many boys have you that you can spare me to go to the army?" She replied, "I have five sons-one is already in the war and I wish I had twenty-five more to send."

In 1793 two brothers, John and Henry Johnson, brothers of the grandmother of our subject, were captured by the Indians and kept until night, when they succeeded in killing one of the Indians and wounding the other and making their escape to the fort. These boys were only eleven and thirteen years of age, and were afterwards known as very brave men and soldiers.

It will thus be seen that Lieut. George W. Smith descends from a family whose blood i was early impregnated with the germs of pa- triotism, and that he has proven to be no un- worthy scion of such a race.

A ARON HARTLEY SMITH, a prom- inent farmer and stock raiser of Marion township, Boone county, Ind., is a son of Solomon and Catherine Smith, and dates his birth from the 19th day of April, 1842. On his father's side Mr. Smith is of English lineage, and maternally is descended from lrish ancestry. His father's family was noted for longevity, his grand- mother, one of the earliest settlers of Logan county, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day, living to the advanced age of 104 years. Solomon Smith was a native of Virginia, but early emigrated to Logan county. Ohio, where he purchased 320 acres of government land, upon which one of the first settlements in that county was made. The maiden name of Solomon Smith's wife was Catherine Swan, who was born in 1796 near Harper's Ferry, Va., and who bore her husband the following children: Mary, Eliza- beth, Robert M., Charlotte, John, Margaret, Benjamin B .. Aaron H., Amos, Frank, Amanda and Jane, all of whom grew to years of maturity and became the heads of families. Of the above, six sons served in the late war and did valiant service in defense of the national Union. Solomon Smith was a soldier of the war of 1812, and departed this life at his home near Lewiston, Ohio, at the age of ninety-six; his widow has reached a green old age, and is the recipient of a pension for serv- ices rendered by her husband in the war above mentioned.

Aaron Hartley Smith was reared on a farm in his native state and assisted his father until seventeen years of age, at which time, think- ing that the west afforded better opportunities for a start in life, he came to Indiana, where for a period of six yeers he worked by the month as a farm laborer. He was thus en- gaged at different places until 1862, in October of which year he responded to the country's

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call for volunteers, joining company B, Fifty- fourth regiment Indiana infantry, under Col. Fielding Mansfield. On November 9, of the above year, he accompanied his command from the city of Indianapolis to Memphis, Tenn., where the regiment became a part of Gen. Sherman's division. Mr. Smith shared the vicissitudes of war in a number of cam- paigns and battles, among which may be enumerated Chickasaw Bluff, Arkansas Post, Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, and num- erous minor engagements, the mere mention of which would far transcend the scope of this sketch. He was honorably discharged from the service on the eleventh day of December, 1863, immediately after which he returned to Boone county, where he invested his savings of several years in a small tract of land, from which he cleared and developed a home. For some after leaving .the army Mr. Smith was principally engaged in clearing land for differ- ent parties, and he points with pride to the fact that he has removed the forest growth from, and fitted for cultivation, over 200 acres of land in Boone county. His first purchase of real estate consisted of twenty-two and one- half acres; to which he subsequently added thirty acres; this he cleared and sold, and, from, the proceeds, purchased 160 acres of timber and swamp land in 1883, since which time he has devoted his energies toward its development. Mr. Smith's life has been one of great activity, and he has worked almost constantly at clearing, ditching, and other hard labor neccessary to bring his place in a state of cultivation. At this time he is the possessor of 240 acres, containting good build- ings and other improvements, and he is now in a position to pass the remainder of his days in comparative ease and comfort. Mrs. Smith, whose maiden name was Indiana Abbot, daughter of John W. and America Abbot, was born July 26, 1848, and is the mother of the

following children : Amanda, Rhoda (died at the age of eleven), Ulysses, Norah and Wil- liam C. Mrs. Smith has been, in the true sense of the word, a helpmate, and to her wise council, untiring industry, and hearty co- operation, is her husband largely indebted for much of his success in life.

RESTON SMITH, ex-county treas- urer, was born in Perry township, Boone county, Ind., September 24. 1847, and here he still resides, engaged in farming, the vocation to which he was reared. His parents were John and Ziphora (Kincart) Smith, the former of whom was born in Kentucky, June 18, 1812. The family came to Indiana from Kentucky, and until 1840 lived in Ripley county, when they moved to Boone county and bought land in Center town- ship, but a year later moved to Perry township, and after living three years on the farm of their first choice bought a part of the larm on which Preston now lives, and here John Smith, the father, died in 1874. His wife, Ziphora, had borne him six children, and died in 1849; he next married Lucinda Green, to which union two children were born. He was successful in life, was upright, and a conscientious member of the United Brethren church. In politics, he was a democrat, and at the time of his death owned over a 100 acres of fine land.

Preston Smith remained on the old farm until nineteen years old, and then lived on rented land until 1868, when he bought forty acres of the farm on which he at present re- sides, and which, by industry and good man- agement, he has increased to 227 acres, and improved with a spacious brick dwelling. com- modious barn and all other necessary outbuild- ings. The marriage of Mr. Smith took place in Perry township, March 27, 1867, to Amanda J. Moore, who was born in Hendricks county,

WARREN J. SMITH.

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

Ind., January 21, 1849, the daughter of George and Jemima (Roy) Moore, natives of Kentucky, but residents of Hendricks county, Ind., at the time of the marriage. To this happy union have been born eight children, viz .: Stephen, deceased; Cora E., wife of F. Herdrick, a brick manufacturer of Lebanon, Ind ; Luza A., wife of Charles Ray, of Arcadia, Ind .; David and Estella, deceased; Roy C., Frank H. and Claude. The parents in religion are Baptists. In politics Mr. Smith is a sound democrat. He was elected trustee of Perry township in 1878, and held the office four years. In 1890 he was elected treasurer of Boone county by a majority of 186 democratic votes, and at the end of his term of two years retired to his farm, honored by all who knew him, to pass the re- mainder of his days in peaceful retirement, provided he can quell his insatiate desire for useful work.

ARREN J. SMITH, Sr, was born in. Perry township, Boone county, Ind., October 17, 1849, and is a son of William W. and Catherina (Weaver) Smith. William W. was born in Maryland, November 25, 1814, a son of John and Margaret (Hall) Smith, also natives of Maryland, who, in 1832, moved to what is now West Virginia, where they ended their days. In 1840 William W. Smith moved to Franklin county, Ohio, and January 17, mar- ried Catherine Weaver. This lady was born in Shenandoah county, Va . November 30, 1809, and was a daughter of David and Eliza- beth (Funkhauser) Weaver. David and Elizabeth were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, and in 1810 settled in Franklin county, Ohio. William W. and Catherine Smith had born to them seven chil- dren, viz: An infant, deceased; Margaret, de- ceased; David W., now of Perry township; 24

Basil H., deceased; Warren J., subject of this sketch; Rachel E., wife of George Low, of Hamilton county, Ind .; and Martha C., de- ceased. William W. Smith and wife remained in Franklin county, Ohio, until 1843, when they came to Boone county, Ind., and here William W. entered land in Perry township, and also secured forty acres across the line in Hamilton county, and most successfully carried on farming until his death in Perry township, which occurred January 31, 1884. His widow now makes her residence with their son Warren J. Mr. Smith was, as his widow still is, a member of the Baptist church; he was a democrat in politics, and for three years was a justice of the peace in Perry township. Besides being a successful farmer, he was noted as a breeder of fine stock, and a useful citizen, whose loss was much deplored.

Warren J. Smith has passed his entire life on the home farmn, where he was thoroughly educated in farming and stock breeding and early underwent the physical training which · has sustained him so well until the present day. His literary education was acquired in the common school, but was adequate for all the practical affairs of life-he being quick to learn his school lessons as well as his lessons in agriculture. February 14, 1872, he married Henrietta Smith, a native of Boone county, born October 31, 1851, and a daughter of Daniel and Leanner (Smith) Smith, who were old neighbors in Kentucky, but not connected by consanguinity. This happy union has re- sulted in the birth of eight children, viz: Albert A., Cora A., Thomas J., George O., Bertha E., Leanner, Artie N. and Allen. Mrs. Hen- rietta Smith was called to her last resting place October 11, 1892, a devout believer in the Baptist church, and her remains were interred by her mourning family and sorrowing friends in Mount Tabor cemetery, Perry township. . Her surviving husband is also a member of the

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Baptist church, and in politics is a democrat. He has a handsome farm of 100 acres, on which he still keeps his cherished home, honor- ed by all who know him. On August 12, 1894, he married Mrs. Laura F. (Smith) Pennington, widow of James Pennington, and an own cousin of our subject's deceased wife. She had four children by Mr. Pennington, viz: Roscoe, Aaron Scott, Willie and Flora, de- ceased. Mrs. Pennington Smith was born in Boone county, Perry township, September 19, 1855, and daughter of Eli and Martha N. (Kemper) Smith, and married James Penning- ton November 5, 1874, who was a prosperous farmer of Perry township, and accumulated some property. He died July 8, 1891. His widow remained on the farm until she married our subject. She is a member of the Baptist church Warren J. Smith, our subject, was nominated by the democracy for township trustee in the fall of 1894.

LFRED SRITE, a respected citizen of Marion township, Boone county, Ind., and a brave ex-soldier, was born February 2. 1827, at Abbing- don, Va., the son of Isaac and Susan (Car- mack) Srite. Isaac Srite was born in 1800 in Louisiana, moved from there to Virginia, thence about 1852, to Missouri, where he owned a large plantation and a number of slaves which were set free by the emancipa- tion proclamation of President Lincoln. Previous to his removal to Missouri, he came to Indiana and entered a tract of land where his son Alfred now lives in Marion township, Boone county, but afterward disposed of the same and purchased 400 acres lying in the northern part of the township. The following are the names of the children born to Isaac and Susan Srite: Alfred, Marshall, Calvin, Emanuel, Firmen, Marion, Nelson, Caswell,

Lilbern and Armina. The father of these children was a man of more than ordinary powers of mind, a Presbyterian in his religious belief, and an old-line whig in politics, and died in 1862.

Alfred Srite lived on the farm until his. seventeenth year, when he was bound an ap- prentice to learn the tanner's trade, which he followed until attaining his majority. Not fancying the business, he abandoned it and engaged in carpentering, which, with little ex- ception, he has since continued. In 1852 he married Permelia McKinzie, daughter of John and Permelia McKinzie, the offspring of which union were James, Melissa, Lilbern, deceased, and Permelia. Mrs. Srite died January 3. 1859, and in April, 1860, Mr. Srite was united in marriage at Northfield, Boone county, to Miss Euphemia Clark, who was born October 2, 1840, a daughter of James W. and Rachel (Warren) Clark, natives, respectively, of Ohio and New Jersey. The following children were born to James W. and Rachel Clark: James N., John, Sarah J., who died in infancy, Eliza, Joseph, Euphemia, Thomas, Henry who died in infancy, and William. Mrs. Srite's father was a good financier and lived to an advanced age; the mother died at the age of sixty-three and was laid to rest in the Rosstown cemetery, Boone county. To the marriage of Mr. Srite and Euphemia Clark was born one child, Alza, whose birth occurred July 29. 1862, and who died February 29, 1884.

Mr. Srite left home at his country's. call to enter the army. enlisting December 21, 1863, in company H, Eleventh Indiana cav- alry, under Capt. John N. Atkinson. This company went into camp at La Fayette, Ind., thence went to Indianapolis, where the men were drilled preparatory to active service .in the field. From the last-named city, Mr. Srite accompanied his command to Nashville, Tenn., thence to Huntsville, Ala., from which

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OF BOONE COUNTY.

place they scouted to Vicksburg. Further act- ive service was seen through the country from Raleigh to Atlanta, and November 30, 1864, Mr. Srite took part in the bloody battle of Franklin, Tenn, the only regular battle of note in which he participated. He received a severe injury by the falling of his horse, which was shot under him, necessitating his remaining in the hospital for some weeks, and, upon re- joining his command, was sent to Fort Leav- enworth, Kans., where he was honorably dis- charged September 19, 1865. Mr. Srite en- tered the army a stro. g and vigorous man, but returned broken in health, and is destined to be a sufferer the reminder of his life. Polit- ically, Mr. Srite is a republican. He is a stockholder in the Big Springs Natural Gas company and uses natural gas in his c zy home, which is located on the farm that be- longed to his father. He receives a pension of $12 per month, which is but a small return for the much suffering he was compelled to endure while fighting for the Union. May a grateful nation ever hold dear the memory of all brave defenders of the flag and strive to smooth the rough places of their lives.

ENRY CLAY STEED, farmer of Marion township, Boone county, Ind., was born in North Carolina, January 25, 1842, and was reared on a farm. On the first day of March, 1862, he entered company L, Twenty-second North Carolina volunteer infantry, Confederate ariny, and fought at Seven Pines, Chancellorsville, the Seven Days' fight in front of Richmond, the Wilderness, Frederickburg, and at Petersburg. Leaving at the last named place he went to Washington and took the oath of allegiance. After the close of the war, Mr. Steed worked on a farm and in a brick-yard in Illinois eight- een months. In 1867 he returned to North

Carolina, and was employed in farming until 1870, when he came to Indiana and located at Carmel, where he married Lydia (Carey) Davis. Later, he went to Noblesville, Ind., where he accumulated a considerable snm of money in stock-dealing and farming, and then came to Boone county and purchased his present farm of seventy acres, the most of which is in a good state of cultivation. He has a good house with a slate roof, and luxu- riously furnished. His farm buildings are sub- stantial and commodious, and everything about the premises indicates the presence of a careful, industrious and thrifty owner. Prior to the war of the rebellion, Benjamin Franklin Steed, who married Nancy Lasiter, and became the father of Henry Clay Steed and seven other children, was a strong Union man. This love of country was imbibed by the son, who, in order to avoid the Confederate draft, enlisted, as related above, in a regiment in which he had relatives, but which he deserted at the first favorable opportunity, and fled to the headquarters of Gen. U. S. Grant, as the following will attest:

"Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Office Provost-Marshal General, March 2, 1862 .- Received of Private H. C. Steed, company L. Twenty-second North Carolina volunteers, de- serter from the enemy, one musket. - H. P. Clinton, Captain and A. A. Qr. M."

Another document in the possession of Mr. Steed reads as follows:

"Headquarters Department of Washing- ton, Office of Provost-Marshal General, De- fenses, March 6, 1865, Washington, D. C .-- This is to certify that H. C. Steed, in the Twenty-second North Carolina, having deserted and come within our lines, and having this day been examined by me, and it appearing that his intentions are honest in forever desert- ing the rebel canse, and having taken the am- nesty oath under the president's proclamation

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of December 8, 1863, is, by terms of the an- nexed order, exempt from conscription or military service in the armies of the United States serving against the rebels, and has per- mission to go to Springfield, Ill. W. H. Mer- ritt, Lieutenant and Qr. M."

Mr. Steed married August 15, 1872, Mrs. Lydia Davis, who was born in Westfield, Ham- ilton county, Ind., October 29. 1842, a daugh- ter of Zenas and Lydia (Haines) Carey. Zenas Carey was a native of Virginia, though his parents came directly from England, located in Virginia and later came to Indiana and set- tled in Hamilton county, where both ended their earthly career, the father on January 24. 1876, and the mother on November 19, 1842- in the Quaker faith. They had born to themn a family of eleven children, of whom nine sur- vive. Mr. Carey was reared a farmer, came to Indiana in 1835. and settled on a farm in the woods of Hamilton county, where he passed the remainder of his days. " He had married, in Virginia, Lydia Haines, who was born in that state November 27, 1804. and was a daughter of Enos and Mary Evans Haines, both natives of the Old Dominion, and of Welsh descent. To the parents of Mrs. Steed were born the following children: Eli, Mary, Cyrus, Jonathan, Huldah an infant that died un- named, Hannah, Almeda, Deborah deceased), Margaret, Lydia and Richard. Their daugh- ter Lydia was first married, August 8, 1860, to David Hammer, who died November 3, of the same year; her next marriage was on Feb- ruary 6, 1862. to Josiah Davis, by whom she had four children-Monroe, Carrie. Aletha and Harry. Mr. Davis died September 3, 1869, and Mrs. Davis was next married. as stated above, at Carmel, Hamilton county, to Mr. Steed, by whom she has also had four children, viz .: Rhoda, Elmer (deceased). Frank (de- ceased), and Henrietta. Mr. and Mrs. Steed are in their religious faith Quakers; in politics,

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Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : A.W. Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080