SMITH, Lewis M. - 1914

SMITH, OSBORN, OGLE, ACRES

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/7/2009 at 01:22:54

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

LEWIS M. SMITH.

Lewis M. Smith, a well known farmer and stock-raiser of Afton township, owning three hundred and sixty acres of improved land on sections 19 and 20, was born in Howard county, this state, March 18, 1864. He is a son of Mordecai and Phoebe (Osborn) Smith, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio, both having moved to Illinois when they were still young. Their marriage occurred in that state and they afterward lived there until 1858. Five years later they moved to Cherokee county and the father took up a homestead claim in Afton township, operating this tract of eighty acres for some time. He afterward sold the property and since that time has purchased two farms, his present holdings being located in Cherokee township, just adjoining the corporation limits of Cherokee. He is a veteran of the Civil war and is now living practically retired, having survived his wife since 1910. In their family were ten children, three of whom have passed away.

Lewis M. Smith acquired his education in the public schools of Cherokee county and when he was twentythree years of age began his independent career, buying eighty acres of land in Afton township. He afterward sold this property and purchased a portion of his present farm, adding to the original tract from time to time until he now owns three hundred and sixty acres. This is located on sections 19 and 20, Afton township, and is in a high state of cultivation, Mr. Smith being a practical and progressive agriculturist. In addition to general farming he also raises and feeds stock, his interests along this line constituting an important branch of his business.

In 1887 Mr. Smith married Miss Susie Ogle, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Joseph Ogle, who died when his daughter was still a child. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have become the parents of four children: Ada, who was born in May, 1888, and who is now the wife of Webster Acres, of Spring township; Eva, who was born in 1890 and has graduated from public school; Fred, whose birth occurred in 1892; and Edward, born in 1894. Mr. Smith has never been active in politics, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, in which he is meeting with signal success. Thus he has become one of the enterprising and substantial farmers of the county.