Smith, Ithamer

SMITH, WOODARD, ALBAUGH, SMITH, CUSHMAN, PHILIPS, DUNN, DECKLER, GILETTE, BROWN, LAWRENCE, HARRINGTON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/31/2003 at 01:33:55

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

ITHAMER SMITH

Ithamer Smith, the subject of this sketch, was born in New York, June 12, 1824, and died June 12, 1901, at the age of seventy-seven years, a son of Claudius and Polly (Woodard) Smith. The father was a native of Massachusetts and was twice married, his first union being with a Miss Albaugh, a widow with two children, a half brother of our subject being Sadiuns, who is married and resides in Castleton, Vermont, and has four children. After the death of his first wife the father was married in New York to Polly Woodard, a native of the Empire state, and about 1858, he removed with his family to Illinois, locating in Argo, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1865, when he was eighty-six years of age. His wife passed away about 1871, at the age of eighty years. Their children were as follows: Mary, the widow of Pixley Smith, resides in North Dakota and has three children; William, who married Jane Cushman and after her death wedded Mrs. Cushman, resides in southern Illinois and has four children; Sarah is the wife of Edmond Philips, of Thompson, Illinois, and has three children; Warren, who married a Miss Dunn and after her death wedded her sister, is now living in Thompson, Illinois, and has two living children; Edmond makes his home in Argo, Illinois, and is married and has four children/ and Eliza, also makes her home in Thompson, Illinois.

In the district schools of New York Ithamer Smith pursued his education until fourteen years of age when he began working in a lumber camp and was there employed until his marriage. On the 20th of September, 1848, in Warren county, New York, he wedded Caroline Deckler, who was born at Saratoga Springs, New York, September 20, 1828, a daughter of James and Cynthia (Gilette) Deckler, who were natives of the same state, and were there married. In 1858 they removed to Illinois, and the mother died in Fulton, that state, after which the father made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Smith. His death occurred about 1860. In his family were ten children, but Mrs. Smith is now the only one surviving. With her husband she came to the west, and for about a year and a half they resided in Argo, Illinois, after which they spent a year in Fulton City, returning thence to Argo, but when another year had passed they came to Iowa, making the journey across the country in a “prairie schooner” or covered wagon. They located in Bloomfield township, Clinton county, and Mr. Smith rented a farm, upon which he resided for seven years. Illness and unfortunate circumstances caused him to lose over six thousand dollars, but he possessed strong determination and resolute purpose, and in course of time regained what he had lost. He also continued to prosper, and purchased a farm of eighty acres on section fourteen, Bloomfield township, where he raised a high grade of cattle for market and also became an extensive breeder of hogs. He has improved his place with substantial and commodious buildings and has added all modern accessories and conveniences found upon a model farm of the twentieth century.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born four children: Jane, who married Silas Brown and resides in Bloomfield township; John J., whose sketch is given below; Emma, wife of George Lawrence, of Elizabeth, Illinois, by whom she has two children; and Hattie B., who married Adolphus Harrington, a carpenter and contractor of Delmar, Iowa. They have four children. Mr. Smith served as road supervisor, but never sought or held other office, preferring to give his attention to his business interests, in which he met with credible success. In his political views he was a stalwart Republican and in religious faith a Methodist, shaping his life by his Christian belief, and thereby commanding the respect and confidence of all men.