BIO: Jesse P. SMITH, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************** __________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, pages 290-292. __________________________________________________________________ JESSE P. SMITH, East Broad Top, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in Hopewell township, Huntingdon county, March 9, 1812, son of George and Mary (Maninee) Smith. His grandfather, Andrew Smith, a native of Switzerland, came to this country early in life, settled and began farming in Baltimore county, Md., uniting the business of tailoring to his agricultural work. He spent the remainder of his life in Baltimore county. His wife emigrated to this country from Germany, and was a "redemptioner;" that is, coming without means, her services for two years were sold, to pay her passage money. George Smith learned tailoring from his father, and worked at that trade in Baltimore county. He married there, and removed to Hopewell township, Huntingdon county, where for some time he continued in the same occupation. In the fall of 1812, he bought a farm where Cassville now stands; here he still worked at tailoring, his sons attending to the work of the farm. In 1829, Mr. Smith sold this farm, and removed to Tod township, where he bought and improved 98 acres of land, and where he passed the latter part of his life. He was a Whig. His church membership was in the Methodist denomination. Mr. Smith had considerable talent as a vocalist. His wife, a native of Maryland, was a lady of French descent. Their children are: Eliel; William; Daniel; Sarah; Levi; George; Jesse P.; Andrew; Isaac; Elizabeth S.; Barton; Mary M., and one that died in infancy. George Smith died at the homestead in December, 1839; Mrs. Smith, in Cass township, Huntingdon county, in 1855. Jesse P. Smith enjoyed no more advantages in the way of education than were afforded by the log school houses of that early day. He attended the Stever school, in Cass township, which, like many others, had lights of paper and rough slab benches. This school he attended during only a month or two of each year. When the time for this limited school training had passed, the boy began working on his father's farm, and continued in the same place and the same employment until he was forty years old. He then rented a farm in Cass township; after remaining upon it one year, he purchased, cleared and improved 100 acres in Tod township, a dwelling and barn being among the improvements. On this place he remained until 1884, and then went to reside on a small farm near Cook's mill, which is still his home. Jesse P. Smith was married in Cass township, January 16, 1840, to Susan Gherrett, born in that township. Their children were: Thomas, a farmer, of Tod township; and James, who died young. Mrs. Susan Smith died December 27, 1843, at the age of twenty-three; she was born in 1820. Mr. Smith married again in 1844; his second wife was Sarah Robinson, born in Tod township, August 28, 1820, daughter of Vincent and Susan (Hess) Robinson. Her father was a farmer, of Scotch-Irish extraction; her mother was of German descent. The children of this marriage are: Samuel H., of Washington D.C., was a soldier in the late war; Mary S. (Mrs. Solomon Cook); Jesse R., lawyer, of Scottdale, Westmoreland county, Pa.; Eliza Jane; Isaac N., in railroad employ, resides at Mount Union, Pa. At fifty years of age, Mr. Smith enlisted for the defense of the Union against rebellion, in Company I, Twelfth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Taggart and Capt. James Banker; he served eight months. Mr. Smith participated in the famous "Seven Days' Fight." During a large part of his term of enlistment, he was on guard duty, which so seriously affected his health that he still suffers from the consequences. He was for about two months in the hospital at Fortress Monroe, Va. He was discharged at Fortress Monroe, in November, 1862. Notwithstanding the hardships he then underwent, and their bad effects on his physical condition, Mr. Smith, octogenarian as he is, would willingly go again, if it were necessary, to fight in his country's cause. Nor was the father of the family the only one to respond to the call of patriotism. His sons, Thomas G. and Samuel H. Smith, served in the One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, for about fourteen months; the latter was wounded in the leg, from the effects of which he lost the use of his foot. Mr. Smith is a Republican. He served his township two years as supervisor. Himself and family are members of the Methodist Protestant church, in which he is an enthusiastic and persevering worker. He has lent a hand in every department of service; has been class leader, Sunday-school superintendent and teacher, and steward of the church. In the affairs of church and State, as well as in his own personal business, Mr. Smith has never shrunk from difficult work, nor turned back for fear of hardships. He has well earned the comforts that surround him, the respect of his acquaintances, and the approval of his own conscience. He is withal intelligent and agreeable in conversation, and is a genial companion.