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Below is a family biography included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Joseph F. Smith, retired, was born in Portsmouth, N. H., September 15, 1816, and is a son of Francis and Martha (Mitchell) Smith, the former a native of New Market, N. H., and the latter a native of Kittery, Me. They moved to Portland, Me., where the father died, but the mother died in Jersey City, N. J. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and followed this occupation during his youth. He was for many years a cutter in one of the largest establishments in Portland. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and the father of six children, two now living: Samuel, who resides in Kansas, and Joseph F., who was reared in the city of Portland, Me., where he was educated. He served an apprenticeship to the carpenter’s and joiner’s trade, and was engaged in Boston, Mass., for one summer. He then went South, and helped build up Brunswick, Ga. He assisted in building the first house that was erected in this noted city, going to the woods to hew the timber. He afterward returned to Portland, where he remained a short time, and in 1860 he landed in Lebanon, Mo., coming up on the ‘Frisco Railroad, as far as it was completed, which was some distance from Rolla. There he hired wagons to move his property to Lebanon. Previous to this, however, in 1842, he married Miss Martha J. Stearnes, a native of Westfield, Mass., and lived in Chicago one year. He moved from there to St. Louis, where he resided about fifteen years, being engaged in the manufacturing business with Clark, Renfrou & Co., Eagle Foundry. Before leaving he was a partner in the St. Louis Agricultural Works. At this time the population of St. Louis did not exceed 80,000. After coming to Lebanon, Mo., Mr. Smith erected the first steam mill in that city, and this he operated until 1872. During the war he was taken prisoner, was put in the guard house, but was brought out in order to grind their grist, though watched over with a guard and gun. Afterward he had to sleep in the woods for safety. The country was as yet sparsely settled, and Mr. Smith witnessed many hardships during the war, but he stood up to his principles manfully, and pulled through all right, although his life was often threatened. He is now retired from active business life, and is enjoying the fruits of his industry. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for over forty years, becoming a member of the St. Louis Lodge No. 5 while living in St. Louis. He is also a member of the Encampment, and is Past Chief Patriarch, having been elected to the Grand Encampment. This is an organization in which Mr. Smith has always taken a great interest, and has been a good and useful member. To Mr. Smith’s marriage were born six children, four now living: Fannie, wife of James Appling; Isabel, wife of T. H. Jones; Charles A., and Jennie, wife of Dr. C. F. Wright, of Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Congregational Church. While living in St. Louis Mr. Smith was engaged in building circular saw-mills. He put up saw-mills in different portions of the Union, and traveled thousands of miles in order to do so.

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This family biography is one of 104 biographies included in The History of Laclede County, Missouri published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Laclede County, Missouri History, Genealogy, and Maps

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