SMITH, John R., b 1845; 1905 Bio, Delta County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/delta/bios/smithjr.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 13, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- John R. Smith The late John R. Smith, of Delta county, who passed the psalmist's limit of human life by more than twelve years, was obliged to make his own way in the world from an early age, being orphaned by the death of his mother when he was but eight years old, and finding his father's home broken up after that sad event. He was born in the state of New York on December 26, 1820, the son of Robert and Margaret (McCusic) Smith, the former a native of New York and the latter of Scotland. Mr. Smith's early trials and struggles developed in him a spirit of self-reliance and gave him flexibility of functions and steady resourcefulness, and throughout his life these qualities enabled him to push his way forward with success in the contest for supremacy among men. He received but little schooling outside of the school of experience, but early learned to be ever ready for any duty that came to him and depend on himself in the performance of it. In 1860 he became a resident of Colorado, locating at what was then California Gulch but is now Leadville, where he followed mining about five years, then, in 1865, moved to Jefferson county and bought a ranch, turning his attention to ranching and raising cattle. From this time until his death, on January 26, 1903, he was actively engaged in the ranch and cattle industry, and in these lines was always successful, as he had been in mining. In 1876 he moved to Hinsdale county from Jefferson, and there followed farming and raising stock and also kept a road house for the entertainment of the traveling public until 1882, when he moved to the ranch on which his family now live one mile southwest of Hotchkiss, Delta county, buying another man's rights to a portion of the place and pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres in addition. The fruit industry never interested him, and he turned his land over to the production of alfalfa as soon as possible in order to get feed for his stock. At the time of his death he had it nearly all in hay. On February 28, 1865, he united in marriage with Miss Agnes McIntire, a native of Canada, where her parents, Duncan and Elizabeth (Brush) McIntire, also were born. Her father was a farmer and lumberman. The family moved to Colorado in 1861, locating in Jefferson county. In 1883 they took up their residence in Delta county, where the father died in 1884 and the mother in 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had six children, five of whom are living, Hattie H., Stephen P. Nellie M., Enos M. and Maud E. They are all married and three are living in Colorado. Since her husband's death Mrs. Smith has carried on the business he left and by judicious management and close attention to its requirements has made it pay her well. She has eighty acres of land, about half of which is in hay, and from this she gets enough to support in comfort and good condition her large herd of cattle. She is a member of the Church of Christ and a Republican in politics. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.