Smithson, L. W.

SMITHSON, RUTH, BROWNING

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2019 at 18:59:40

BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL RECORD OF RINGGOLD AND DECATUR COUNTIES,
IOWA; l887.
I.W. SMITHSON

I.W. SMITHSON, farmer and stock-raiser, of Grand River Township, living on section 8, is a native of Ohio, born in Clinton County, July 24, l850, a son of John W. and Sarah (Ruth) Smithson, the former being a native of Clinton County, Ohio. They reared a family of six children, their names being as follows--Cynthia Jane, Louisa, I.W., J.T. and T.W. (twins), and Mary Belle. When our subject was seven years of age he was taken by his parents to Randolph County, Indiana, where the family lived one year, removing thence to Wells County of the same State. Our subject passed his early life on the home farm, receiving his education in the common schools. When a boy of thirteen years and eight months, and weighing but ninety pounds, he enlisted in the Union Service in Company K, Seventy-fifth Indiana Infantry, the date of his enlistment being March 24, l864. He was in General Sherman's famous march to the sea, and in all the engagements of that noted campaign, and was at the grand review at Washington. He received an honorable discharge at Louisville, Kentucky, July 25, l865, when he went to Marion County, Iowa, to which county his parents had removed during his absence. August 28, l868, he was married to Miss Sarah Jane Browning, of Marion County, Iowa, a daughter of Wesley and Julia Ann Browning. Mr. and Mrs. Smithson have one son--Isaac Wesley, born August 28, l869. Mr. Smithson resided in Marion County till l873, when he came to Grand River Township, Decatur County, and bought forty acres of unimproved land, which he broke, and sold two years later. After disposing of his land he returned to Marion County, remaining there till February, l882, when he bought his present farm on section 8, Grand River Township, where he has since followed general farming and stock-raising. His farm contains eighty acres of choice land, well improved, with good residence, and commodious barn and other farm buildings and a good orchard. Although but a late comer to Decatur County, Mr. Smithson has become well known. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.