SMITH, William H. - 1914

SMITH, JOHNSON, LEONARD, YOUNG

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2009 at 17:18:28

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

WILLIAM H. SMITH.

William H. Smith, who since 1894 has owned and operated a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 36, Rock township, is numbered among the most progressive and able farmers of this locality. He was born in Scott county, Iowa, May 20, 1866, and is a son of John M. and Christina (Johnson) Smith, the former a native of Norway and the latter of Ohio. The father moved to Scott county, this state, when he was a child and lived there until 1869, when he came to Cherokee county, taking up a homestead claim of eighty acres in Pilot township. This he improved and operated for six years, after which he disposed of his holdings and went to Montgomery county. He spent a similar period of time engaged in farming in that locality and then disposed of his agricultural interests, moving to Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked at the butchers trade. Eventually he returned to Cherokee county and made his home with his children for about four years. He died at Clarinda, Iowa, in 1901, having survived his wife since 1879.

William H. Smith was reared and educated in Cherokee and Montgomery counties and at the age of thirteen went to work for his uncle on a farm in Silver township. At the end of six years he rented land, farming this property until 1894, when he bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 36, Rock township. Upon this he has since resided, engaging in general farming and specializing in the raising of Aberdeen Angus cattle, his herd consisting of fifty or sixty head. He also keeps Poland China hogs and his stockraising interests are extensive and important.

In March, 1890, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Louie Leonard, a daughter of Ransom and Mary J. (Young) Leonard, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Connecticut. The father moved to Adams county. Iowa, about the year 1871 and there operated a farm until 1882, when he went to Ida county, one mile from the county line. There he purchased a farm and operated this property until the spring of 1913, when he retired from active life, moving into Holstein, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of eight children: Bert R., aged twenty-one; Russell R., nineteen; Harold H., fifteen; Nelson V., who died in January, 1896, at the age of six months; Thelma C., aged ten; William S., seven; Lela C., four; and Lewis L., three.

Mr. Smith was formerly a stockholder in the Citizens Savings Bank of Quimby and is now interested in the Farmers Telephone Company. He is connected fraternally with the Quimby Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is a member of the Christian church. During the long period of his connection with agricultural interests of this locality he has contributed in substantial measure to general growth and development, standing today in the front ranks of progressive and successful farmers.