Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Smith, Charles H 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 1:47 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Charles H. Smith, farmer, residing on section 21, Hahnaman Township, is a son 
of Christian and Anna M. Smith, natives of Germany. His mother died in her 
native country, and in the spring of 1851 his father emigrated to this 
country, and settled in Montgomery Co., Pa. He resided there for six years, 
and in 1857 came to this county and settled in Sterling. The issue of their 
union was four children, namely: Christian, Charles H., Emma and William. 
Charles H. was born in Germany, Feb. 1,1846, and was five years old when he 
came with his father to the United States. He lived at home, in Pennsylvania, 
assisting on the farm and attending the common schools, until 1861, when he 
came to this county, and "worked out" on a farm for three years. He then, in 
partnership with his father, rented a farm in Coloma Township, which they 
jointly cultivated for five years, after which he was variously occupied for a 
while, and then rented a farm, and cultivated it himself for several years. In 
1880 he went to Hahnaman Township, and purchased 160 acres of land, located on 
section 21. He erected a fine house and barn on the land, and entered 
vigorously upon the task of its improvement. In April, 1884, the destroying 
element, fire, swept away his barn and outbuildings, together with a large 
quantity of grain, 16 head of hogs, and all his farming implements. Misfortune 
did not dishearten or overcome him, and he rebuilt the same year. About 80 
acres of his land is in a good tillable condition. Mr. Smith was united in 
marriage Feb. 18, 1868, at Sterling, Ill., to Miss Mary, daughter of Phillip 
and Margaret Obendorf, natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States 
about 1850, and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., from whence they came to this 
county in the spring of 1860, settling in Jordan Township, where, three years 
later, in 1863, the father died. They were the parents of five children: John, 
Mary, William, Charles and Sarah. Mrs. Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pa., 
Aug. 29, 1850. She and her husband are the parents of four children: Nellie 
M., Nettie M., Charles E. and Lilly M. Mr. Smith has held the office of School 
Director, and politically is identified with the Republican party. 
Religiously, he is a member of the German Evangelical Church, and his wife is 
a member of the English Lutheran Church, of which she has been a member since 
16 years of age.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full-
page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/whiteside/bios/smith2199nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 3.3 Kb