Reuben Smith 1807-1881

SMITH, LEWIS, FRANKLIN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/20/2005 at 09:44:21

Reuben Smith 1807-1881

Reuben Smith, of Post township, died on Saturday last after a long continued illness, and was buried on Monday. His age we do not know, but he was quite advanced in years. Mr. Smith was one of the pioneers of Allamakee County. Coming from Vermillion, Ind., in 1849, he arrived in what is now Post township June 20th, where he took a claim on Yellow River. This was about a month before Mr. G. C. Shattuck located on the prairie where Waukon now stands. Mr Smith subsequently purchased other claims near his amounting to 1700 acres, of which he still retained 480 acres in 1877. At the time of his arrival there were but seven or eight settlers near what is now Postville, including Mr. and Mrs. Post, and the latter is still living there. In April 1851, "Smith's place, Sec. 12," was one of the three points voted on for County Seat, the two others being Vailsville, on Paint Rock Prairie, and Columbus. As neither place had a majority another vote was taken on the first Monday in May, the same year, between Columbus and Smith's Mill, the former being chosen by a majority of 14 votes. Mr. Smith is said to have built the first school house in Allamakee Co. During the earlier years of the county every inhabitant was acquainted with Reuben Smith, and he has always retained the friendship and respect of those who knew him. Since age brought its bodily infirmities upon him he has not been able to get about and keep up so large an acquaintance as formerly; still the name of "Uncle Reuben Smith" is familiar throughout the county. During these later years he delighted to dwell upon the memory of the pioneer times here and would talk for hours with out tiring. So passes away another of the early settler of this county. Peace to his ashes.

-source: Waukon Standard, Thursday, September 1, 1881

-note: Reuben Smith, born April 29, 1807 at Baltimore, Maryland; died August 28, 1881. Wives were Martha (Patsy) Anna Lewis and Adaline (Thomas) Franklin.

- contributed by Mary Durr