Smith, William H.

SMITH

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/17/2008 at 16:24:25

William H. Smith

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.266, Wright Twp.)
William H. Smith, farmer, P. O. Griswold, Cass Co., Iowa, was born in Vermillion County, Ill., May 16, 1842. He is the son of Hiram and Naomi (Dillon) Smith. His father was a native of Virginia. He came to this State in 1855, locating in Cass County, where he died in 1858, at the age of about fifty years. The mother of our subject was born in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1815, and is still living on the old homestead in Cass County. Our subject attended the common schools until he was twelve years old. July 28, 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, Company I, Capt Coe. He took part in many heavy engagements, including Vicksburg, Fort Gibson, Black River Bridge and Spanish Fort. He was mustered out of service at Davenport, this State, August 18, 1865. He was married, in Grove City, Cass Co., Iowa, March 18, 1868, to Amanda Mewhirter, born in Van Wert County, ohio, in March, 1849. She is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Walters) Mewhirter. Her parents left Ohio in 1854, and came to this county, where they have lived ever since. After his marriage, our subject worked his mother's farm for one year, and afterward his brother's for two years. He then purchased his present place in Wright Township, where he now resides. It consists of 120 acres of land in Section 24, Township 75, Range 38. Our subject has been School Director, Road Supervisor, and is at present Constable. He has six children - Edward A., born January 20, 1868; Mary E., born October 17, 1869; Franklin A., born January 11, 1872; Nora E., born March 19, 1875; Maggie M., born August 2, 1877; and Willie S., born March 5, 1880. Mr. Smith is an Odd Fellow, and in politics a Republican.