Tuscola County MI Archives Biographies.....Smith, Thomas F. 1837 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 29, 2007, 8:01 pm Author: Chapman Bros. (1892) THOMAS F. SMITH was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., February 9, 1837. He is a son of Lonson and Susan (Frazier) Smith; the former was born and brought up in Connecticut and the mother was a native of Canada. Our subject's father was by trade a blacksmith, but for the greater portion of his life followed the calling of a farmer. The original of our sketch for several years was associated with the interests in various ways of the village of Watertown, N. Y. He there received a limited education, for although the schools were very good, the time that he could spend there was not considerable. When he was sixteen years of age he went to Dresden, Canada, in order to learn the harness-maker's trade, having two years previously gone to that country with his parents. After serving-three years' apprenticeship he was determined to try his fortune in the Western country and went to Iowa, beginning work at Waterford. He staid there for about one year and then went to Pontiac, Ill., where he resided for two years. At the end of that time he returned to Canada and spent several years in work at his trade. Desirous of seeing something more of the Western country our subject went to Kansas and for two years was employed in the city of Topeka, thence removing to Wichita, where he opened a harness shop under the firm name of Smith & McComb. While there he helped organize Sedgwick County and was one of those instrumental in nominating St. John for Governor during his first term. He spent about six years at Wichita and his business netted him $1,000 per annum. In all he spent fifteen years in Kansas and came to Michigan in 1881, locating on the place which he now owns and occupies, which is on section 23, Elmwood Township, Tuscola County. His place is all in a high state of cultivation and bears evidence of being under the best of management. Our subject was married January 9, 1867, to Jane Nellis, of Chatham, Canada. Four children have blessed and sanctified this union. Their names are Ada, Maud, Roy Lonson and Susan, all of whom are still living. Mrs. Jane Smith died July 6, 1879, while they were residents of Wichita, Kan. In November, 1882, our subject was again married, his bride being Mrs. Pickel, of Millington, this State. This union has been blessed with one child- Flossie. Mr. Smith's eldest daughter married Dr. Lowe, of Chicago; the other children are all at home. Since coming to his present place our subject has made farming his sole business and has been very successful. Politically he is a Republican and has acted as Township Treasurer, and was Sergeant-at-arms in the Senate at the State Legislature held at Topeka, Kan. Mr. Smith is an enterprising and progressive gentleman who favors all measures that promise to be for the benefit of the township. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Portrait and Biographical Record of Genesee, Lapeer and Tuscola Counties, Michigan, Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Together with Biographies of all the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States Chicago: Chapman Bros. 1892 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/tuscola/bios/smith695gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb