Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Smith, John 1842 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 5, 2007, 6:24 pm

Author: Emma E. Forter

JOHN SMITH.

    John Smith, better known among his many friends in this county as "Jack,"
and one of the best-known and most substantial pioneer farmers of Marshall
county, now living in comfort on his well-kept farm of one hundred and sixty
acres in Murray township, is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of
Kansas since 1881. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, August 12, 1842, son
of Patrick and Rosa Smith, natives of Ireland.

    In 1881 John Smith came to Kansas with his family from Illinois and bought a
farm in Murray township, the place where he still makes his home, and proceeded
to develop the same. After he had made considerable and substantial improvements
on the farm another claimant appeared on the scene, claiming prior rights, and
Mr. Smith had to pay for his farm a second time, the place thus costing him
nineteen dollars an acre, together with interest on the sum claimed by the man
who entered prior claim. This setback, together with poor crops during the early
years of his farming, gave Mr. Smith a touch of hard times which he will never
forget, but he pushed along and presently began to prosper, in time having his
farm well improved and profitably cultivated. In addition to his general farming
he has always given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has
done very well. Mr. Smith is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's
attention to local civic affairs, but has never been a seeker after public office.

    In 1868, while living in Illinois. John Smith was united in marriage to Mary
Hill, who was born in Pennsylvania, and to that union fourteen children were
born, twelve of whom are still living, namely: Patrick, a farmer; Mrs. Mary
Doren, of Murray township; John, who is now living in Colorado; Mrs. Rose
Gudbolt, of Axtell, this state; Mrs. Maggie Peterson, of Atchison; Mrs.
Elizabeth Yoder, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Catherine, who is at home; Mrs. Anna
Tubby, of Nebraska; William, of Colorado; Mrs. Alice Ruggles, of St. Joseph;
Mrs. Helen Whittaker, of Kansas City, and Robert, at home. The mother of these'
children died at her home in Murray township on April 8, 1915, at the age of
sixty-three years and twenty-five days. She was a faithful member of the
Catholic church, as is Mr. Smith, and their children were reared in that faith,
the family ever taking a warm interest in parish affairs.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)


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