SMITH, John Jackman Jr. 1780 - 1873 (1909 story)

SMITH, ALKIER, BISHOP, SEARS, CHASTAIN, HAWK, DUNNING, DAVIS, JERRELL

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 4/3/2006 at 19:44:29

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Thursday, December 23, 1909
Page 8, Columns 4 & 5

JOHN JACKMAN SMITH
Short Biography of an Early Pioneer of Jefferson County

John Jackman SMITH, born in the state of Virginia, 1780, emigrated to near Lexington, Ky., when 10 years of age. In 1803 he engaged to accompany the Lewis and Clark expedition on that historic exploration and adventure trip up the Missouri River and westward to the Pacific. Owing to an attack of severe sickness, he was compelled to give up the undertaking, and as long as he afterwards lived he never ceased to contribute his part to the chronicles of the wonderful journey.

In 1815 this SMITH family emigrated to Ohio, where the subject of this sketch was united in marriage to Rachel ALKIER. They continued to reside in Ohio until the spring of 1837 when they journeyed to Wisconsin Territory, now the State of Iowa. They made the trip by ox teams and settled in now Jefferson County, built a cabin on the south bank of Cedar Creek in Liberty township, residing there three years, then he built a larger house in the same locality, on land now owned by the heirs of John BISHOP. In 1865 the SMITHs again moved a short distance to another farm within one mile of where he first settled, until he died in November, 1873, aged 93 years.

When Jefferson County was organized, Mr. SMITH, at the first election, was elected County Commissioner along with Daniel SEARS and B. F. CHASTAIN, and under direction of this board the first survey of 25 blocks was made for the city of Fairfield, the county seat. This was in 1839. It is a matter of record that these commisioners followed up the surveyor and the chainmen and drove the stakes at lot corners. Mr. SMITH was a man of considerable money, even in those days. He purchased of the government over 5000 acres of land in Jefferson County, and loaned much money to other investors, but he never owned a lot in Fairfield. He made a crossing south of Fairfield, Cedar Creek, that was long known as "Smith's Ford", now "Smith's Bridge".

Right here you will pardon me if I leave the subject to tell some stories about Smith's Ford. I do not believe there is a place on earth where the writer ever had the fun that he had at this ford. It was there I spent many hours in my boyhood days. Think of five to 20 boys, healthy, full of fun, out for a good time, jumping into the cold waters of this creek at the ford, on a July or August day, and to splash and dive and swim to heart's content -- so long that we had to hurry home to get there before dark. And at this ford, too, I saw many souls baptized into the kingdom of their Redeemer. Here I witnessed some of the happiest of evangelistic meetings, the old-fashioned preaching that lasted for hours and everybody joined in the singing of the old hymns. It is impossible to express the joys of those days as I now reflect upon them, but --

I would like to go back for a month or so,
Back to the fancy hung long ago;
To the old rocky ford where I used to swim
And be for a while a boy again.

Yes, years have come and passed away,
Golden locks have turned to gray;
Golden ringlets once so fair
Time has changed to silvery hair.

And where is now that happy crowd?
Once so full of joy and hope.
Happy voices full of glee
None are here to speak to me --
All alone beside this stream
Olden days seem but a dream.

In the early days of John Jackman SMITH, the pioneer, he entertained many notables. It was not uncommon for such personages as Black Hawk and Wapello to call at his house. He was their true friend and would often give things at a sacrifice to them and they in turn would bring him wild game, such as turkeys, deer, etc.. One character was Phillip HAWK, of whose history no one ever discovered very much. He would never go to bed, but would lie down on the floor, using for a pillow a small bundle, the contents of which was a well kept secret. There are still some old settlers in Jefferson County who remember Phillip HAWK.

John Jackman SMITH raised four sons and four daughters. He gave to each 300 acres of land. The farm that Jefferson County now owns is the farm given to Elias SMITH, father of the writer, and here Elias raised his family of five sons and two daughters. And here the mother, bless her memory, died in the year 1847. At this time the writer was five years old and a younger sister, now Sarah DUNNING, of Ottumwa, was born there. Also Marion, now of Kirksville, was born there in 1840, and Edward James, now a resident of Caldwell, Ohio, was born there in 1837. Edward claims the distinction of being the oldest man born in Iowa and going from Iowa in the war of the Rebellion.

There are none of John Jackman SMITH's children now living, but there are over 30 grandsons and many granddaughters yet living, and many great-grandchildren, a number of great-great-grandchildren and some great-great-great-grandchildren. His oldest son, Elijah SMITH, and three daughters, Susannah DAVIS and Rachel JERRELL, crossed the great American desert to Oregon in 1852 with ox teams and were seven months on the journey. None of them ever returned to Iowa.

John Jackman SMITH was a large, portly man, weighing nearly 300 pounds. He was a well posted man on general subjects, and was considered a man of good judgement, and at one time served as a justice of the peace continuously for over 20 years. He was kind to all and was always willing to help anyone in need. He was a member of the Masonic order and stood high in the councils of that society.

Carlisle A. SMITH,
Agency, Iowa, R.F.D. #2
(Grandson of John Jackman SMITH, an Iowa Pioneer)

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s).