Smith, George E.

SMITH

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 9/4/2008 at 21:35:50

George E. Smith

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.139, Knox Twp.)
George E. Smith, farmer, P. O. Avoca, was born in Andover, Merrimack Co., N. H., April 26, 1837, son of John G. Smith, born in Rutland County, Vt., is about sixty-eight years old, and living in Portage County, Wis.; his mother is also living. Subject was educated in New Hampshire; went to Portage County, Wis., with his parents, in 1852, living there until he went West, in 1857, and has always followed farming; his father also has been a farmer since leaving New Hampshire; previous to that, he was a blacksmith. Subject married, in 1859, Mrs. Clarissa Wheeling, born in Ohio, daughter of William Pierce. They have four children - two boys and two girls. Mrs. Smith had one child by her first husband. Subject came to this county in the fall of 1857, settling on Silver Creek. He stayed a hear, when he went to Denver, Colo. Returning to this State in 1859 he spent the winter in Guthrie County moving into this township (Knox) in August, 1860, settling on Section 22, his present place. He first bought eighty acres of land, part from Dowler and part from Pierce, paying about $2.50 per acre. He now owns 200 acres, on which he raises corn and stock, feeding from fifty to 180 head of cattle a year. On August 13, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Twenty-third Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Col. Kinsman, of Council Bluffs, in command; served three years; was mustered out August 13,, 1865, at Harrisburg, Texas; was taken prisoner at Fort Gibson, Miss., May 1, 1863; was in Libby Prison eighteen days, when he was exchanged and taken to City Point on James River; was wounded at Fort Blakely, Ala., April 7, 1865; from this point he went into Texas to take charge of some cotton on the Colorado River. On May 8, 1882, his house burned down, causing the loss of nearly all his household goods, but he has rebuilt; the house, which is a fine one, cost $1,012.50 above the foundation. There is a fine orchard on the farm and a good barn. He also has considerable property in Dakota, two of his sons being located there. All that Mr. Smith has he has made in this county, by hard work and economy, and belongs to the Greenback Party.