Ira J. Smith Biography

	This biography appears on pages 1018-1019 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	IRA J. SMITH, of Springfield, Bon Homme county, is a native of 
Steuben county, New York, where his birth occurred on April 25, 1846, 
and is an honorable representative of one of the oldest and best-known 
families of that part of the Empire state. His father, Solomon C. Smith, 
settled in the above county as early as 1830, cleared and improved a 
good farm and afterward moved onto a farm in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, 
and lived on the same until his death, at the age of seventy-nine years. 
He was of German descent and when a young man married Miss Lucretia 
Hurd, who departed this life when fifty-seven years old, after bearing 
him nine children, whose names are as follows: Joshua C., of Steuben 
county, New York; Rebecca lives in Boston, Massachusetts; Freelove, of 
Fredonia, New York; Daniel, who lives in Portland. Oregon; Betsey, 
deceased; Ira J., whose name introduces this sketch; Mary J., deceased; 
Adaline, of Olean, New York and Lovisa, whose home is in the state of 
Washington.  

	Ira J. Smith was reared to agricultural pursuits. received a 
common-school education and remained with his parents until twenty-three 
years old. Leaving home he came west in 1870. arriving at Yankton, 
Dakota, on March 27th of that year. After spending a short time at that  
place the subject settled in Springfield, which had but recently been 
laid out, and, taking up a quarter section of land in the vicinity of 
the town, turned his attention to agriculture. While proving up on his 
land he worked in different places and after obtaining a patent from the 
government, entered an adjoining quarter section, for which he received 
a deed in due time.  

	Mr. Smith served four years as clerk in the United States land 
office at Springfield, during which time he lived in the town, but at 
the expiration of his term he returned to his farm and has continued its 
cultivation ever since. In addition to agriculture he is largely 
interested in live stock, being one of the leading cattle raisers in 
Springfield township, and he also devotes considerable attention to 
horses and hogs, making the fine breeds a specialty. Mr. Smith is one of 
the substantial business men of his community and as a farmer and stock 
raiser occupies a place in the front rank of those who follow these 
vocations. He is a self-made man and his success since coming west has 
been almost phenomenal. He reached South Dakota with sixty cents as the 
sum total of his capital and at this time he owns one of the most 
valuable farms in the county  and  a fine modern residence in 
Springfield, besides the wealth represented by his livestock and other 
personal property, all of which has been accumulated by his own 
industry, thrift and efficient management. He moved to his beautiful and 
attractive home in the town in 1902, but still gives attention to his 
farming and live-stock interests. Mr. Smith is a potent factor in the 
affairs of his township and county and one of the leading Republicans in 
his part of the country. He served three years on the board of county 
commissioners and could have almost any local office within the gift of 
the people, were it not for the fact that he has always been averse to 
accepting public position. In religion he is a Congregationalist; he 
assisted to organize the church at Springfield and has been one of its 
leading members and most liberal supporters ever since, being at this 
time a member of its board of trustees.  

	The domestic life of Mr. Smith dates from 1873, in which year he 
contracted a matrimonial alliance with Miss Hattie Bell, of Beloit, 
Wisconsin, who has borne him five children, Maude L.; Ward E. died when 
two and a half years old; W. Berton, one of the promoters and owners of 
the Springfield Telephone Company; Mabel C. and Rena A.