SMITH, A. Q.

SMITH, ANDERSON, ENGELDOW, ABEL, GLEITER, JULIUS, KOPPEN, CHRISTENSEN

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/26/2003 at 18:51:08

Biography reproduced from page 248 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

A. Q. Smith owns and operates a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres located in Lincoln township. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, on the 10th of September, 1853, and is a son of Jeremiah and Lucinda (Anderson) Smith. The parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, but removed to Ohio in childhood with their respective families, and there they were married and passed the early period of their domestic life. About 1854, they continued their journey westward to Iowa, locating in Johnson county, in the immediate vicinity of Solon. After a residence there covering a period of about six years they went back to Ohio, but two years later they removed to Iowa, this time settling in Benton county, where the father, who had always engaged in farming, continued his agricultural pursuits. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Smith numbered nine, our subject being the seventh in order of birth. The others are as follows: Rebecca Jane and Matilda, who are deceased; David, who enlisted at the beginning of the war and was killed at the battle of Vicksburg; Liza Ellen, deceased; Oliver, who is a resident of Guthrie Center, Iowa; Juliet, who became the wife of William Engeldow, of Vinton, Iowa; A. G., who is also a resident of Vinton; and Samuel, who makes his home in Guthrie Center, this state. The parents have long been deceased, the mother’s death having occurred in 1882, and that of the father in 1884. In the paternal line the family is of German extraction. The mother, however, was of Scotch-Irish descent.

A. Q. Smith, who was a small child when his parents first located in Iowa, began his education in the common schools of Johnson county, this state, and completed it in those of Benton county. His early life was passed in the uneventful routine that characterizes the rural sections, his energies being directed along agricultural lines. He remained at home until he was twenty-five, at which time he was married and began farming for himself in Benton county. That remained his place of residence until 1894, when he came to Kossuth county and purchased his present farm in Lincoln township. Since taking possession of this property he has wrought many and extensive improvements, having erected the majority of the buildings now in use and installed various conveniences about the place. His fields are in a high state of productivity and devoted to diversified farming, in connection with which he is raising a high grade of cattle and horses, being the owner of a valuable Percheron stallion.

Mr. Smith has been twice married. His first union was with Miss Sylvia C. Abel, on the 16th of October, 1978, and they became the parents of the following children: Nettie Mae, the wife of G. H. Gleiter, of White, South Dakota; Ola Blanche, who married Andrew Julius, of Buffalo Center, Iowa; Edna Pearl, the wife of Otto Koppen, who is residing on the farm with Mr. Smith; and Lola, a school teacher, who is residing at home. The daughters were all given good educations and were fully qualified to teach. The mother passed away in 1901 and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Mount Auburn, this state. She was a most estimable woman and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On October 23, 1906, Mr. Smith married Miss Emma Christensen, and they have one son, Emery A.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the Methodist Episcopal church. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party in national elections, but locally he often casts an independent ballot, giving his support to such men as he feels are best adapted to serve the interests of the community. He has served as school treasurer in Lincoln township for six years and as road supervisor for three. Mr. Smith is a capable man of well defined ideas and earnest purpose and has met with success in his undertakings, being numbered among the substantial agriculturists of his community. His property is improved with two complete sets of buildings, the condition of which as well as the appearance of the fields give evidence of good management and competent supervision.

Kossuth Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen