Jones logo
J. V. Smith
Born June 20, 1835
J. V. Smith, who is now one of the substantial farmers of Wyoming township, was born in Scotland, June 20, 1835, and is a son of David and Isabel (McCladen) Smith. The parents were also natives of that country, but in 1855 they brought their family to the United States. They came direct to Iowa, locating upon a farm in Jones county, which remained theirs for the remaining years of their lives. Mr. Smith died in I872, but his wife survived him for ten years, witnessing the success, which had already opened for her son. Of the six children who were born of their union two alone are now living: J. V., of this sketch, and Elizabeth, who makes her home in Center Junction.
J. V. Smith received a good common-school education in his native land and remained with his parents until they settled in this county. Then he began to make his own way in the world, having attained the age of twenty years. For a time he worked by the day as a laborer and then, in 1856, went to Nebraska, where he preempted land, living upon it for about five years to insure his possession and improving it during that period, In 1861 he returned to this county and bought the farm on which he now lives. It embraces one hundred and sixty acres, has been well improved and is cultivated so that it renders rich returns for the labor spent upon it. It was in I875 that Mr. Smith put up the fine brick house which is his home, and he has since made several improvements, so that it is a very comfortable and convenient dwelling.
In 1858 Mr. Smith wedded Miss Sarah J. Hunt, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, in 1840. Her parents, J. W. and Catherine Hunt, were among those who sought homesteads in Nebraska when that state was thrown open with many inducements to families and they passed the remainder of their lives there. Two of their eight children have also died. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: George D., who is now in Clinton, Iowa; James A., of Onslow; Emma L., who is the wife of Delbert Wright, of this county; J. E., who lives at home; Jennie, who is the wife of Jerome Bender, of Wyoming; Laura A., and John G., who are at home; and six who have died. Mrs. Smith was taken from this world in 1902 and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Wyoming. Reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Smith still gives unwavering support to its creed, while politically he affiliates with the republican party, feeling convinced of the value of its principles in the government of a nation. He has taken no small part in public affairs of the township, for he has filled some of the offices within the gift of the people and always with the same success which has attended his own agricultural operations.

Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 570.

image

© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
Last updated on Friday, 16-Apr-2021 16:53:33 MST