Bartholomew County IN Archives Biographies.....Smith, Jonathan 1831 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 21, 2007, 6:34 pm Author: B. F. Bowen (1904) JONATHAN SMITH. Jonathan Smith was at one time an extensive land owner of Bartholomew county, but he divided his realty holdings among his children that he need not be burdened with the care of large interests in the evening of life and now retains possession of one hundred and forty acres. This is valuable land and his property is an indication of his well spent life, because he had nothing at the outset of his business career and all that he has possessed has been acquired entirely through his own efforts. There is much in his life history that is commendable and as he has many friends in Bartholomew county the record of his career will be received with interest. Mr. Smith was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, April 25, 1831, and is a son of Jacob and Christina (Hall) Smith, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was born during the latter part of the eighteenth century. He was a farmer, owning land in Pickaway, Fairfield and Franklin counties, Ohio, and was a weaver by trade. His son now has in his possession linen that was woven by the father. Removing to Ohio, he settled in Pickaway county in pioneer times and in these early days aided largely in rolling logs and making clearings that the work of improvement and development might be further carried on. His political support was given to the Democracy and he was a citizen of worth, being public spirited and active in behalf of every movement for the general good. His father was a highly educated man, but Jacob Smith had few opportunities for advancement in the schoolroom. However, he gained a good practical knowledge through reading, observation and experience and in addition to English he could read German. He belonged to the German Reformed church and took a very active and helpful part in its work. His farm comprised one hundred and sixty acres of land, which was splendidly improved. Unto him and his wife were born fourteen children: Samuel, now deceased, who wedded Mary Feller and was a farmer of Fairfield county, Ohio; Susan, the deceased wife of Sol. T. Loffers, also a farmer; Henry, who married Elizabeth Runkle and carried on farming and operated a sawmill, but is now deceased; Moses, deceased, who married Margaret Smith and followed farming; Reuben, who married Eliza Glick and is engaged in the tilling of the soil; Christina, the deceased wife of John Blackwood, a school teacher, inventor, blacksmith and farmer; Jacob, now deceased, who was also a farmer and who married for his first wife Susan Shride, while after her death he wedded Katherine Shride, also now deceased; John M., deceased, who married Elizabeth Smith and was a farmer; Emanuel, who married Elizabeth Omen and has followed shoemaking, coopering and farming, while at the present time he is running an express wagon in Logansport, Indiana; Jonathan, of this review; Nama L., the wife of Amos Culp, an agriculturist; Sarah, the wife of Caleb Brobst; David, who married Eliza Fellers and follows agricultural pursuits; and Elizabeth, who is the widow of Henry S. Glick, a farmer. Jonathan Smith remained on the home farm in Pickaway county, Ohio, until he reached his twenty-third year. In 1854 he came to Bartholomew county, Indiana, and was here married soon afterwards to Noami Glick, with whom he had been reared as a child, her parents removing from Pickaway county to Bartholomew county in 1846. After their marriage Mr. Smith and wife returned to Ohio, where he had a crop. They remained in Ohio until August, 1855, and then came back to Bartholomew county and settled permanently. He bought a tract of one hundred acres of land in Clay township, seven miles due east of Columbus, on September 7, 1855. Of this, forty acres were cleared and he began farming on the same, clearing up the entire tract. He added to this tract from time to time until it contained at one time over four hundred acres, all in a body. This he has divided among his children from time to time until he now holds only one hundred and twenty-acres. Besides conducting his farming operations he also raised for the market both cattle and hogs. He removed to Columbus about 1894. On the 17th of December, 1854, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Noami L. Glick, a daughter of Joseph and Delilah Glick, who were Ohio people, the father a farmer by occupation. In the year 1846 he came to Indiana, establishing his home amid the pioneer settlers of Bartholomew county. Throughout his entire life he carried on farming and he owned a great deal of property both in the country and in town. He made everything that he possessed and his business methods were reliable and straightforward; in fact, his life was ever honorable and upright and his example is one well worthy of emulation. He voted with the Democracy and was deeply interested in many matters pertaining to public progress and improvement. He had a family of eight children, to whom he gave excellent educational privileges. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with ten children: Emma A., the deceased wife of Lyman B. Boyer, a farmer; .Clara, the wife of William A. Ross, now deceased, but who was formerly engaged in farming and after carrying on that work for a time devoted his energies to merchandising; Homer A., deceased; Lillie, the deceased wife of Bascom Wilson, a farmer; Anna M., who died in childhood; Nora F., who has passed away; Pearl, the deceased wife of Dr. Doty, who is in Mexico; Stella D., the wife of Frank Carman, who is now living upon her father's farm in Clay township, Bartholomew county; Bertha A., the wife of Frank Fulwilder, a farmer; and Vesta N., the wife of George Mellinger, a tailor, residing in Muncie, Indiana. Mr. Smith has provided his children with good educational privileges and has greatly assisted them in the various walks of life which they have chosen. He prospered in his business undertakings and from time to time added to his possessions until he was the owner of six hundred acres. Later he began giving of this to his children until he now retains about one hundred and twenty acres. He also has town property, including three houses in Columbus, one of which he occupies. In matters pertaining to the general welfare Mr. Smith has ever been progressive and enterprising and he has spent a large amount of money in making good roads. He withholds his co-operation from no movement or measure that is calculated to prove of public benefit. He votes with the Democracy and he holds membership in the English Evangelical Lutheran church. Although today he has passed the psalmist's span of three score years and ten he can do more work than many a hired man notwithstanding that his left hand is crippled. He has always led an industrious life, realizing the value of energy, activity and strong determination as factors in gaining success. Whatever he has accomplished has been won through honorable efforts, and all who know Mr. Smith entertain for him high regard which is always given in recognition of true worth and capability. Additional Comments: Extracted from BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY INDIANA INCLUDING BIOGRAPHIES OF THE GOVERNORS AND OTHER REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS OF INDIANA ILLUSTRATED 1904 B. F. Bowen PUBLISHER File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/bartholomew/bios/smith702gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/infiles/ File size: 7.8 Kb