Adair County Iowa
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| Adair County Iowa |
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Julius B. Smith carries on general agricultural pursuits on section 20, Eureka township. He is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Boone county, January 21, 1850. His parents were James H. and Julia A. (Linderman) Smith, natives of Michigan and New York respectively. The father was a farmer by occupation and after leaving Michigan made his way to Boone county, Illinois, where he established his home at a very early day. He went to that state with his parents and his father there entered land from the government, while later James H. Smith purchased a tract of eighty acres. He at once began the tilling of the soil and continued to engage actively in farming there until 1860, when he removed to Tama county, Iowa, where he purchased land, which he operated throughout his remaining days, death terminating his labors in August, 1905. His wife passed away in May, 1908. Julius B. Smith was reared and educated in Boone county, Illinois, and in Tama county, Iowa. He divided his time during his youthful days between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the task of tilling the soil. He remained with his parents until twnety-three years of age and then rented land and engaged in farming for about three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Adair county, where he arrived in the fall of 1875, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Eureka township. With characteristic energy he began to further develop that place, clearing it of the timber and brush upon it. At a later period he bought more land until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, constituting a splendidly improved farm, of which one hundred and sixty acres is on section 19, Eureka township. He sold a small portion of the remainder for the town shite of Berea, but still holds title to the rest of his property. He has since operated his farm, with the exception of nine years which he spent in Anita, Iowa. Practically throughout his entire life he has carried on general agricultural pursuits and the evidence of his labors is seen in the generous harvests which are gathered upon his place. He studies progressive methods and accomplishes what he undertakes by reason of persistency, determination and skill. In October, 1878, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Ida Eby, a daughter of William and Rachel (Stevenson) Eby, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The parents went to Illinois at an early day and about 1852 the father established a blacksmith shop at Polo and continued to engage in business along that line throughout his remaining days. For some time he conducted a smithy at Berea and made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Smith. His death occurred in April, 1905, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-seven years. He had long survived his wife who passed away in 1863. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were five children: Dawn, the wife of E. O. Patterson, a lawyer living at Dallas, South Dakota; Tillie, the wife of Scott Gearhart, a resident of Alliance, Nebraska; Clyde, who is farming part of his father’s land; Marie, who died in November, 1911; and Eby, at home. Mr. Smith gives his political support to the democratic party and has served as assessor of his township. Fraternally he is connected with the Indepedent Order of Odd Fellows. He subordinates public activities to private business, however, and is leading a busy, useful and honorable life as a farmer of Adair county, whre he feeds about two carloads of cattle annually, making that one important feature of his business. In his life there are few idle hours. He concentrates his energies upon the work at hand and knows that persistency of purpose and honorable dealing are salient and indispensable elements in the attainment of success. |
