SMITH, John Jackman, Jr. (1780-1873) -- 1907 Biography

SMITH, LEWIS, CLARK, ALKIRE, BISHOP, SEARS, CHASTAIN, SULLIVAN

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 4/5/2006 at 15:54:05

"Fairfield Tribune", Sept. 2, 1907, Pg. 8, Col 1

JOHN JACKMAN SMITH (Jr.)
A Short Biography Of An Early Pioneer, Furnished Historical Society By His Grandson

John Jackman SMITH, one of the early pioneers of Jefferson County, was born in the state of Virginia in the year 1780. His family emigrated to Kentucky near Lexington, when he was ten years old. He continued to reside there until 1803, when he engaged to go with Lewis & Clark on that famous exploring expedition up the Missouri River and to the Pacific Ocean, but on account of a severe sickness he was prevented from making the journey and as long as he lived he always regretted that he failed to go. In 1815 the SMITH family emigrated to Ohio, and there he was married in the same year to Rachel ALKIRE. They continued to reside in Ohio until the spring of 1837, when they emigrated to Iowa (then Wisconsin Territory). They made the journey with ox teams, and did not arrive until the fall of that year.

He first built his log cabin on the south bank of Cedar Creek in Liberty Township, and continued to reside there with his family about three years, when he built a double log house further south, and on the edge of the prairie on a tract of land owned by the heirs of John BISHOP, and continued his residence at that place until in the year 1865, when he moved to another farm in that vicinity. Here he remained until he died in November, 1873, at the age of 93 years.

He was an active county officer when this county was organized, at the first election of county officers, he, with Daniel SEARS and B. F. CHASTAIN, were elected to the office of County Commissioners, and it was under their direction that the first survey of 25 blocks (now called Old Plat, City of Fairfield) was made in the spring of 1839. It is a matter of history that said Board of Commissioners followed up the surveyor and his chainmen, and drove the stakes at corners of the lots.

He was a man of means and property and at different times purchased from the United States over 5000 acres of land in this county, but never owned a lot in the city he helped to stake out. He dug down the banks of Cedar Creek and made a crossing south of this city which is still known as "Smith's Ford", and now Smith's Bridge. His son-in-law, John W. SULLIVAN, the father of the writer, came with his family in the spring of 1838, and next year at the first election for county officers in the new county of Jefferson was elected to the office of Treasurer of the County, and afterward held several other important offices, and died in the fall of 1847 (1849?).

John Jackson (sic) SMITH was a resident of Liberty township until his death. He raised four sons and four daughters. He gave to each 300 acres of land. None of his children are now living and but few of his descendants reside in Iowa.

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