Joseph D. Smith, b. 28 Aug 1833

MCDOLE, SCHRAMBLING

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 11:16:39

In addition to being the possessor of wealth, accumulated by his own industry and good management, Mr. Smith is a very popular man in this county - liberal, hospitable and high-minded, a favorite, both in social and business circles. His life has been largely spent in agricultural pursuits, and he has owned and lived upon several different farms, none of which have been situated over ten miles from Sabula. That which he now occupies lies in Washington Township, near Green Island Station, and comprises 800 acres of land, which he manages himself. Besides this, he deals in agricultural implements, farm machinery, buggies, wagons and other vehicles, and has built up a large trade. He owns a farm of 160 acres two miles west of Sabula, which brings him annually $500. He owns the Schreder Block, the Mitchell House, the Berner House, a large warehouse and a dwelling house in Sabula. He spends about half of his time at his farm, where he makes a specialty of fine horses, and owns the well-known stallion "Vulcan," a registered animal, sired by Corning's Harry Clay, the latter by Neave's Cassius M. Clay, Jr. Vulcan is one of the finest trotters in the West, and a full brother to Sim Watson, who trotted a mile in 2:28 when six years old.

The subject of this sketch was born in the Township of Thorold, twelve miles west of Niagara Falls, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Aug. 28, 1833. His father, James Henry Smith, was a native of the Township of Louth, two miles west of St. Cathrines, Ontario, and his mother was a native of Pennsylvania. Their family consisted of seven children. Joseph D. remained a resident of his native township until twenty years of age, receiving a common-school education, and after leaving school occupied himself as a salesman. Then, determined to seek his fortune elsewhere, he emigrated directly from the Dominion to this county, and in December, 1853, located on a farm in the vicinity of Miles. For a number of years he labored with the usual disadvantages attendant upon a limited capital and a lack of experience, but in due time diligence and economy met with their legitimate reward. He was fortunate in his investments and blest with good health, but at the same time he was not forgetful of his obligations to those less fortunate.

On the 29th of November, 1855, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Mary McDole, daughter of Jeremiah and sister of Albert E. McDole, the liveryman of Sabula. Mrs. Smith was born Nov. 30, 1832, in Cortland, N.Y., and her union with our subject resulted in the birth of three children - May, Ernest L., and James Henry. The daughter is the wife of Charles B. Cotton of Sabula, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work; Ernest married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Frederick Schrambling, of Sabula, and they live on the farm of our subject at Green Island. Mr. Smith established his family at Sabula the last time in the fall of 1874, where they still reside, and he spends part of his time with them. Although giving little time to political affairs, he keeps himself posted on the leading events of the day, and uniformly gives his support to the Republican party. He has had no time to run after official honors, and has uniformly refused those which his fellow-citizens have sought to invest him with. Few men have made better use of their time and talents, and few enjoy a larger proportion of the genuine friendship and respect of their fellow-citizens.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)