Irving Daniel Smith Biography


	This biography appears on pages 388-391 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				IRVING DANIEL SMITH.

	No history of South Dakota would be complete and satisfactory 
were there failure to make extended reference to Irving Daniel Smith, 
who became one of the most successful residents of the state and whose 
life stands as a splendid example of what may be accomplished when 
energy and determination point out the way to success and when the 
individual has the courage to follow the path thus indicated, even 
though it be fraught with difficulties and obstacles. That Mr. Smith 
became a wealthy man is largely due to his keen sagacity, which kept 
him in the vanguard of westward migration and prompted his investment 
in lands which he held until they greatly appreciated in value. He made 
his home upon a farm in Lake county, and there passed away February 8, 
1906.

	New York claimed him as a native son, his birth having occurred 
in Litchfield, Herkimer county, on the 19th of May, 1826 It was there 
that his father, Schuyler S. Smith, was also born and in that locality 
he spent the greater part of his life, passing away there in 1843. In 
early manhood he had wedded Julia Aylsworth, who was born in Litchfield 
township in 1803 and who reached the seventy-third milestone on life's 
journey ere called to her final rest, her death occurring in 
Marshalltown, Iowa, in May, 1876. Their family numbered six children, 
of whom Irving D. was the eldest.

	Spending his youthful days in the Empire state, where he acquired 
his education as a public-school pupil, Irving D. Smith there grew to 
manhood. In 1849 he joined the goldseekers in California, going west by 
way of the Panama route to San Francisco and after spending some time 
in that state returned to New York, where he engaged in farming. 
Deciding to try his fortune in the middle west, he first located in 
Whiteside county, Illinois, where he bought cheap land, and on 
disposing of that property removed to Benton county, Iowa, locating 
near Vinton, where he purchased a tract of land, borrowing the money to 
do so. The land had been somewhat improved and after engaging in its 
cultivation and further improvement for a time he sold out and moved 
further west, purchasing property near Akron, Le Mars and Remsen, Iowa. 
As he prospered in his agricultural pursuits he added to his property 
from time to time, buying more land near Akron and Merrill. He made his 
home near Remsen until 1891, when he came to South Dakota, taking up 
his abode in Lake county, where he arrived on the 28th of December. In 
the meantime his business affairs had been so capably managed that he 
was able to bring with him to his new home a very substantial sum for 
investment. He purchased five thousand acres of farming and grazing 
land and to his holdings kept adding from time to time as opportunity 
offered and his financial resources increased until be was the owner of 
over ninety-two quarter sections, or almost a township in South Dakota. 
The farm upon which he made his home is situated a short distance 
southeast of Madison and is a splendidly improved property, upon which 
are commodious and substantial buildings. It is a model country estate 
and bears every evidence of the thrift, enterprise and progressiveness 
of the owner. At the time of his death Mr. Smith owned fourteen 
thousand seven hundred and sixty acres of land in the counties of Lake, 
Moody, Brookings, Minnehaha and McCook but the most of it was in Lake 
county. He also had thirty-two hundred and forty acres in Iowa, near 
Akron and Merrill, Plymouth county. He generally purchased unimproved 
property, which he proceeded to break and put under cultivation, 
afterward renting it. His plan was to start with the crude and make 
better.

	Mr. Smith was twice married and became the father of nine 
children. The four born of the first union are all now deceased. On the 
24th of October, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura A. 
Beecham, a daughter of Thomas and Amy (Crabtree) Beecham, the latter a 
daughter of Richard Crabtree. Thomas Beecham was born in England and in 
child hood came to this country with his parents, Thomas and Deborah 
(West) Beecham, the family locating in Nova Scotia. The grandfather of 
Mrs. Smith served as a lieutenant in the King's Hussars. Her parents 
lived for some years in Illinois and thence went to Iowa, where she was 
reared and married but they later became residents of Nebraska, where 
Mrs. Beecham passed away in 1885 and Mr. Beecham in 1894. Mrs. Smith is 
the youngest of their eleven children, five sons and six daughters, of 
whom four are now residents of South Dakota. The name Beecham was 
originally spelled Beau Champ.  

	To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born the following children: Sherman 
O., now living in Portland, Oregon; Helen, the wife of Irvin M. Pike, 
of San Diego, California; Thomas, who married Mabel Irish, of 
Brookings, and is now engaged in business in Madison, South Dakota; and 
Julia Esther and Courtney A. who are attending All Saints School at 
Sioux Falls. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Presbyterian church and is 
also quite active and prominent in the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs, 
belonging to Madison Chapter, No. 6, O. E. S. and Hope Lodge, No. 2, 
Order of Rebekahs, in which she has served as noble grand.  

	In his political views Mr. Smith was always a republican but took 
little active interest in the work of the party, particularly as an 
office seeker. However, he filled the position of justice of the peace 
in his township and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial. He 
did not wish office, however, preferring always to concentrate his 
energies upon his business affairs. He was a man of sound judgment, of 
keen insight into business situations and of notable enterprise, and 
whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion. No 
one ever questioned his integrity in business methods and the most 
envious could not grudge him his success, so honorably was it won and 
so worthily used. Mr. Smith was a man of generous, kindly impulses, 
whose fortune is said to have been honestly won, for he newer took 
advantage of a creditor, was kind to the poor and his tenants never had 
any complaint to make of his treatment of them. Of keen foresight he 
had unfailing faith in the future of the middle west and bought land 
when others wanted to sell. He gave liberally to worthy charities and 
to private needs his heart was ever inclined. At his death he left to 
two of his tenants, who had faithfully served him, a quarter section of 
fine land. Much of his vast holdings were distributed before his death. 
For years he was an exemplary and prominent member of the Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows, which he joined during his residence in Illinois, 
and he presented a half section each to the lodge at Madison and to the 
Orphans Home at Sioux Falls. On one occasion his heart was so touched 
by the needs of a poor German family who were threatened with being 
sent to the poor house that he sold them a tract of forty acres at a 
nominal price. He gave numerous tracts to friends and relatives and his 
family were left a handsome fortune. Much of his success in life he 
attributed to the aid and encouragement given him by his v if e, who 
kept his books and displayed excellent business judgment in her advice 
and counsel. His example should well serve as a source of inspiration 
and encouragement to others, for he started out empty handed and 
entirely through his labor and perseverance gained place among the 
wealthiest residents of the state, and many believed that at the time 
of his death he was the largest holder of South Dakota land. He was 
very popular because of his geniality and cordiality. He held 
friendship inviolable and in his life he exemplified the teachings of 
the philosopher Emerson, who said "the way to win a friend is to be 
one." His death, which occurred in 1906, was the occasion of deep and 
widespread regret, for many there were who had learned to esteem him 
and to hold his comradeship dear.