Smith, Howard A 1827-1911

SMITH, WELLS

Posted By: Bart Hamlett (email)
Date: 3/19/2016 at 21:31:10

Howard A Smith was born in Clay county, Missouri, March 15, 1827 and died at his home in Edgewood, Iowa, December 6, 1911, aged 84 years, 8 months and 21 days. When three years of age, he with his father's family removed to Pike county, Illinois where his home continued until the spring of 1842, when he became a resident of Jackson county, Iowa. In 1844 he secured a farm in Clayton county, near the town of Colesburg, Iowa. On the 25th day of November of the same year he was married to Miss Elizabeth H. Wells, then a resident of Colony Township, in Delaware county, Iowa. Later they moved across the line into Delaware county. Elizabeth R. Wells was born in Knox county, Ohio, May 22, 1834, and moved with her family to Illinois when about thirteen years of age, removing to Delaware county, this state, the next year.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith occurred at Delhi, Iowa, and the union of this worthy couple continued with a rare devotion, until the death of Mrs. Smith, which occurred at their home in Edgewood, on June 2, 1905. The first years of their married life was spent at their home near Colesburg. In the year 1871 they moved onto the homestead near Edgewood, in Honey Creek township, Delaware county, still owned by a member of the family. As age advanced, and they were unable to attend to the labors of the farm, they moved into the town of Edgewood and for a number of years their home has been at that place.
There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith eight children, of whom two died in infancy, and their daughter, Emma when a young lady seventeen years old. Five sons are living and were beside their father as he breathed his last. They are Dwight T., living in Edgewood, Wilson A., living on the old homestead, Truman P. and Charles M., whose homes are near Manchester, and Frank C. of Waterloo. Of his father's family only one brother, Winfrey Smith of Clayton county, one and one half years older than the deceased, is living.
The subject of this sketch became a Christian in early life, and for many years was a faithful member of the Congregational church of Edgewood, giving of his time and means in support of the work, and in securing and maintaining the present church building and parsonage. Having a warm interest in public affairs he will be missed, not alone by family, but by the church, and the entire community.
( as printed in the Manchester Democrat December 13, 1911 )