Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Smith, Charles Clayborn 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com September 3, 2007, 4:56 pm

Author: Genealogical/Biographical Publishing Co

CHARLES CLAYBORN SMITH. The life of Mr. Smith was for years inseparably 
associated with the history of this county, where he made his home from June, 
1835, until his death, January 27, 1892. Through his energy of disposition and 
uprightness of character he won a competency and gained a high name among his 
associates. As a farmer, he was industrious and intelligent; as a citizen, 
public-spirited; as a business man, keen and quick, and in his home relations 
devoted and affectionate. Coming to the county while it was still a part of 
Cook County and contained few people, he witnessed its remarkable growth and 
the development of its resources, and, through his keen foresight, accumulated 
a valuable property, which has increased steadily in its worth. He was thus 
able to leave his family in comfortable circumstances, besides giving each of 
his children a good start in the world.

Mr. Smith was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., May 2, 1818, a son of Barton 
and Faithy (Moore) Smith, who were the children of Revolutionary soldiers and 
of English descent. Barton Smith was the youngest of a family of six sons and 
three daughters. All of his brothers were present with General Jackson at the 
battle of Horse Shoe Bend and he had started to join the troops, but was taken 
back home by friends after he had gone six hundred miles or more. From 
Tennessee he removed to Fountain County, Ind., after his marriage, and in 1835 
brought his family to Illinois, buying a lot in Joliet. While he carried on a 
farm, he continued to make his home in Joliet until his death in 1862. He 
served as police magistrate and deputy county collector. His wife survived him 
thirteen years. They had four children, all now deceased.

When the family came to this county Charles C. Smith was seventeen years of 
age. He then started out as a peddler, making regular trips through Cook, 
Iroquois, Vermilion and Will Counties, and trading his goods for butter, eggs, 
ginseng root, hides, tallow, cattle, etc. After nine years as a peddler he 
rented a farm, which he cultivated in the ensuing years. In 1850 he bought the 
place, which then consisted of one hundred and forty acres. Afterward he added 
to his property until he owned twenty-nine hundred and fifty acres of land, 
some within the boundary of Wilmington Township. For eight years he had a 
contract to furnish the state penitentiary with beef, and during one year of 
this time the value of the meat furnished was $35,000.

About the time that he purchased his farm Mr. Smith established a home of his 
own. He was married July 24, 1850, to Miss Corinza Burr, daughter of Wareham 
Bissell and Nancy (Cummings) Burr. Her father, who was a direct descendant of 
Aaron Burr, was born October 25, 1795, and died September 6, 1861. He was 
reared near Jamestown, N. Y., and for two years engaged in teaching school 
there. September 12, 1822, he married Miss Cummings and removed to Indiana, 
remaining near Shelbyville until 1833. His next removal brought him to Will 
County, where he settled eight miles up the river from Wilmington. He came in 
the spring just after the Sauk war and his family followed him in the fall. 
Buying government land, he settled down to farming and also taught for some 
years in the district schools, having previously been a prominent educator in 
Indiana. Later he sold his place and removed to Wilmington, where he made his 
home for five years. From there he went to Jackson Grove and bought land, 
where he spent the remaining years of his life. He was a consistent member of 
the Baptist Church and a man who stood high in his community. His father, 
Bissell Burr, born December 14, 1771, was a son of Nathaniel Burr, whose 
father, John, (born in  1670) was a son of Samuel Burr. The latter, a native 
of England, was made a freeman in Hartford, Conn., in May, 1658. His father, 
Benjamin Burr, was the founder of this branch of the family in America. He was 
one of the original settlers of Hartford, Conn., in 1635. His name, in the 
land division of Hartford in 1639 as an original proprietor and settler, is 
the first evidence we have of his presence in America, but as the first 
settlers of Hartford were collected from Watertown, Newton and other places 
near Boston, it is supposed that he was in Massachusetts some time before 
removing to Hartford. He may have been among the eight hundred who came to 
America with the Winthrop fleet in June, 1630. He died in Hartford March 30, 
1681. He had been made a freeman in 1658. 

The mother of Mrs. Smith was a daughter of William and Sarah (Hunt) Cummings, 
of North Carolina families. Her parents came from the south to Indiana and 
afterward settled in Missouri, where they died. Ten children were born to the 
union of C. C. Smith and Miss Burr. Of these Edgar Francis died in infancy and 
Emma J., Mrs. Herman H. Unland, is also deceased. Barton, the oldest of the 
family, is a member of the firm of Smith & Baker, corporation attorneys, of 
Toledo, Ohio; he is one of the prominent Masons of Ohio and has held the 
highest offices in his lodge, chapter and commandery. William T., the second 
son, is a coal mine operator in Kenmare, N. D. Ella May is the wife of W. B. 
Douglas, of St. Paul, one of the most prominent public men in Minnesota, for 
two terms a member of the state legislature and now attorney-general of the 
state. Charles W., of Joliet, is engaged in the cattle business. Lucy M. is 
the wife of Frank A. Miller, an expert machinist of Oshkosh, Wis. Cora A. is 
the wife of Dr. Henry F. Hicks, a prominent dentist of Joliet; Eva S. is the 
wife of Proman W. Smith, a farmer of Channahon Township; and Floyd H. resides 
with his mother on the old homestead, the cultivation of which he 
superintends. Of the large family who once were sheltered by the old home, he 
alone remains. He was born here June 6, 1874, and acquired his education in 
the common schools and Joliet high school. After the estate was settled he 
began the supervision of six hundred and thirty acres that fell to his lot. He 
is now one of the progressive farmers of Channahon Township and is very 
popular with the young people of this section. Like his father he is a 
Democrat politically. Like him, too, he takes an interest in educational work 
and is a member of the school board. Fraternally he is connected with 
Channahon Lodge No. 162, A. F. & A. M.; Kalon Camp No. 4282, Modern Woodmen of 
America; and Channahon Lodge No. 713, Court of Honor.

Additional Comments:
Genealogical and Biographical Record of Will County Illinois Containing 
Biographies of Well Known Citizens of the Past and Present

Biographical Publishing Company; Chicago 1900

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