My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE W. SMITH.
The large majority of pioneer settlers—they who reclaimed the wild land and converted the frontier into a section of civilization—have largely passed away. Only comparatively few who were factors in the early development are still living here. George W. Smith, however, is one of this number and as a pioneer settler and for years a prosperous farmer, we take pleasure in presenting the record of his life to our readers. He still owns a good farm property of two hundred and forty acres in Jones township and the excellent appearance of the place indicates the care and labor which he bestowed upon it through so many years. As one rides abroad over the county today and sees its excellent improvements, its fine homes, well cultivated farms and thriving villages, it is hard to realize that it is within the memory of living man when all this district was wild unbroken prairie. Such, however, was the condition when Mr. Smith arrived here on the 15th of June, 1854. He was then a young man of about twenty-two years, his birth having occurred in Licking County, Ohio, January 29, 1832.

His father, George S. Smith, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was reared to the age of eighteen years, when in 1808 he went to Ohio, settling in Licking county. Later he was married there to Susanna Fry, and in the midst of the wilderness he cleared and developed a farm, whereon he made his home until 1839. Again he cast in his lot with pioneers, this time settling in Cumberland county, Illinois, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land and opened up a farm that remained his place of residence until he was called to his final rest in 1847. His wife survived him and afterward went to the home of her son, John Smith, in Indiana.

George W. Smith is one of a family of three sons and seven daughters but only two are yet living, his brother being W. R. Smith, of Montana. The subject of this review was about sixteen or seventeen years of age when the family went to Illinois and later he joined a brother in Indiana, settling in Vermilion county. The advantages of his youth were limited. He had little opportunity to attend school and is largely a self-educated man but has gained much practical and valuable knowledge through earnest toil, and he soon came to a realization of the value of industry, integrity and perseverance as factors in the business world. Returning to Illinois, he joined his mother there and remained during the year of 1853. In 1854 he arrived in Union county, Iowa, believing that the west held his opportunity. He took charge of a flour, grist and saw mill for his uncle, John Smith. It was one of the old landmarks of the county and one of the few places where the settlers could get grinding done at that early day.

Mr. Smith established a home of his own in this county by his marriage on the 10th of April, 1855, to Miss Fatima Reed, a daughter of William Reed, who was an uncle of D. R. Cromwell. Mrs. Smith was born and reared in Ohio and was one of the early teachers of Union county.

Following their marriage Mr. Smith settled on a farm near Arispe, where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land. He had previously purchased eighty acres in, Highland township but he located on a claim, living there for a brief period, when he sold that property. He next took up his abode on the river, where he bought one hundred and twenty acres and there transformed the raw bottom land into productive fields which he cultivated for three years. While living there, however, he lost his wife and subsequently he made his way to the gold mines of Colorado, where he engaged in mining for nearly four years.

Returning to Iowa on the expiration of that period Mr. Smith sold the old farm and bought that which he now owns, securing first a tract of one hundred and twenty acres. This he placed under the plow and his cultivation and labor as the years passed made it very arable and productive. To the original purchase he added as his financial resources increased until he now owns two hundred and forty acres in one tract. Upon this farm he built a good stone residence, two stories in height, it being the only stone house in the county. He also put up good barns and outbuildings, set out an orchard and cultivated the place in accordance with ideas of modern culture, the farm work being carried on successfully by him until 1903, when he removed to Afton, where he has since resided. Upon his place he has a fine stone quarry, has taken out building rock and burned lime. In all of his business he has displayed unfaltering industry and the secret of his success lies not in advantageous circumstances but in hard work.

On the 18th of September, 1864, in this county, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Burkhamer, a native of Pennsylvania, in which state she was reared, coming to Union county in the year of her marriage. By his first marriage Mr. Smith had one son, John W. Smith, who is now a stenographer with the Illinois Steel Company. By the second marriage there are three children: Laura J., the wife of John Flucky, of Afton; Clara, the wife of William Goodridge, who is operating her father’s farm; and Anna, at home.

Politically Mr. Smith is a Jeffersonian democrat. He has served as supervisor, was also elected as clerk and has served on the county and petit juries. He has likewise been a delegate to numerous conventions of his party and his opinions carry weight in its local councils. Few if any residents of Union county have more intimate knowledge of its history and its early development. He split the stakes to mark the lines that indicated the boundaries of Alton; he broke many acres of virgin soil with ox teams and thus aided in reclaiming the wild land for the use of civilization. He has seen the entire county change from a wilderness and swamp into one of the rich agricultural districts of this great state and the part he has taken in its advancement well entitles him to mention with its honored and representative citizens.