SMITH, Harrison 1821 - 1913

SMITH, RENO, HARRISON, POWELSON

Posted By: Deborah Brownfield - Stanley (email)
Date: 3/1/2006 at 17:07:10

Fairfield Daily Journal
Feb. 12, 1913
Page 2 column 3

HARRISON SMITH WAS WELL KNOWN.

The funeral of Harrison SMITH, who died on Monday, was held this morning at eleven o’clock, conducted by Rev. J. A. Brown of Batavia, and interment was made at Smith Branch cemetery. Mr. SMITH was one of the earlier settlers and a veteran of the Civil War. He came to this section of Iowa when quite young and settled on or near the place where he died. At the opening of the Civil War he enlisted in Company D, of the Nineteenth Iowa Infantry, serving as first lieutenant and also held the position of Captain of the State Militia. Mr. SMITH took a prominent part in the capture of John Kephart in June 1860. Kephart had murdered a woman and two children in an emigrant wagon about two miles north of Batavia on Crow Creek. (Cedar?) Mr. SMITH saw Kephart about the time of the murder and after the discovery was the leader of the posse that followed him to Upland, Mo., where he was captured. Shortly after being returned to the Jefferson County jail Kephart was taken by a mob and lynched near the scene of his crime.

He leaves to mourn his death seven children, three sons, H. E., A. P., and C. J., of Batavia, and four daughters, Mrs. Norman RENO of Whittier, Cal., Mrs. Lizzie HARRISON of Belle Plain, Kansas, Mrs. POWELSON and Miss Chineley SMITH of Batavia. The deceased was married twice and each of his helpmates have preceded him in death.