JAMES NELSON SMITH

JOHNSON, YOST, NEWMAN, MCCOY

Posted By: nancy dorwart
Date: 3/9/2004 at 20:05:14

Potrait & Biographical Album. Pub. 1890, pp. 526-527. JAMES NELSON SMITH, one of the most extensive stock raisers and dealers of Jefferson county, was born in Liberty Township and is now living in Fairfield. The family of which Mr. Smith is a member is of German origin and was established in America by his grandfather, John Smith,who emigrated from Germany and settled in Ky, where Greenup Smith, father of our subject was born Nov. 27, 1806, near Cumberland Gap. In Ky., Greenup became overseer of an extensive plantation, having charge of some 60 negroes. He married Miss Sarah Johnson Aug. 27, 1829. Mrs. Smith was born in Ky. May 29, 1812 and was also of German descent. Her father served in the Revolutionary War as a valiant supporter of the cause of independence His wife spent her last days in Jefferson County, Iowa.

Having engaged in agricultural pursuits in IL until 1837, Greenup Smith removed to Van Burnen County IA and in the summer of the following tear came to Jefferson County. The Territory if Iowa bore little resemblance to the great commonwealth of today. Mr. Smith bore an important part in the transformation of the wild land into fertile farms and although by an accident he was greatly incapacitated for labor, in all possible ways he assisted in the progress and advancement of the best interests of the commonwealth. In 1842, while raising a building, a log fell on his leg and crippled him for life. In 1844 and 1845 he served as County Treasurer. He and his wife were faithful members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. On June 12, 1870, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, their daughter and Mrs. Smith's mother were driving to church when the horses became frightened and dashed down a slope. The driver tried to stop them but a bridle bit broke and all were thrown from the carriage. Mrs. Smith and her mother were killed and Mr. Smith and the daughter were injured. His death occurred June 12, 1876.

In their family were nine children,John, born July 9, 1830, died May 21, 1861; Martha, born Oct.12, 1831, died Aug. 29, 1880; William, born March 6, 1833, is a farmer of Jefferson County IA; Margaret, born April 13, 1834, is the wife of Peter Yost; Mary, born June 4, 1835, is the wife of Henry Newman; Washington, who served in the army and received a severe wound in the arm, makes his home in Fairfield IA; Sophie, born Sept. 7, 1838 died at the age of one year; Sarah, born Dec. 3, 1843, is the wife of James McCoy.