BIO: Smith, Reuben & Eliza Roberts - Spencer, Jefferson Cos Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 22:50:25 -0500 From: "Diana Flynn" ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any 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. ************************************************************************ "HISTORY OF GREENE AND SULLIVAN COUNTIES, STATE OF INDIANA, FROM THE EARLIEST TIME TO THE PRESENT; TOGETHER WITH INTERESTING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, NOTES, ETC." CHICAGO: GOODSPEED BROS. & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1884. GREENE CO., IN. HIGHLAND TWP. PAGE 422 REUBEN SMITH, a well-to-do farmer, living in Section 17, was born in Spencer County, Ky., August 1, 1823, and is a son of Morgan and Elizabeth (Jeems) Smith, with whom he removed to Floyd County, Ind., when about two years old, where he was raised to seventeen years of age. His mother dying in about 1840, his father remarried and moved to Missourri, after which Reuben returned to his native State, where he married Eliza Roberts, on November 19, 1843. In November, 1847, he and family moved to Greene County, Ind., and purchasing eighty acres of pre-empted land on Section 21, in Highland Township, there located and engaged in farming. In November, 1864, they moved to where they now live, which has since been their home. Mr. Smith is an industrious citizen, and by hard work and economy he and wife have accumulated a goodly share of this world's goods. At one time he owned two hundred and fifty acres of land, but of this he now only owns ninety acres, having given the remainder to his children. For nine months and six days Mr. Smith served his country in the late war as a member of Company A, Twenty-fifth Indiana Infantry. He joined Sherman's army at Atlanta, and with him marched to the sea, thence to the Carolinas and finally participated in the grand review at Washington. He was discharged at Indianapolis in July, 1865. His grandfather, Reuben Smith, was a commissioned officer in the Revolutionary war, and during that sanguinary struggle fought over the same ground as did our subject in the rebellion. Mr. Smith is a Republican and he and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, Mrs. Smith having belonged to that denomination for over forty-one years. Nine children have been the fruit of their union, whose names are: John W., (deceased), two that died in infancy unnamed, Mary E. (deceased), Nimrod C., James C., Irene L., Jennie and Armstead (deceased). The mother is a native of Jefferson County, Ky., born February 12, 1821, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lane) Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are among the first families of their township.