Smith, James H.

SMITH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 17:47:27

JAMES H. SMITH
born Apr 17, 1847, Illinois

James H. Smith, a prominent farmer of Warren county, was born on a farm in Stephenson county, Illinois, April 17, 1847, a son of John and Charity (Gilbert) Smith. James H. was reared and educated in Green county, Wisconsin, and his father's removal to this county he the country schools here. In early life he became familiar with modern farming, and place is now one of the finest in the county. The beautiful home which stands on section 18, occupies one of the finest building sites in the township, while the circular-shaped barn attracts wide-spread attention. The traveler who passes the farm soon evinces a desire to see the interior of this fine structure, and on examination wonders at its many conveniences and its simplicity. The dome-shaped building has a large space of many square feet on the first floor, wherein can be stored a great many tons of hay, and from many points of this floor are openings to emit quickly the feed for a great variety of stock. Either wing of the lower floor of this most modern structure contains a sufficiently large space for corn and oat cribs almost hid, or at least not taking up the room which in a square barn would be too apparent. The practical dimensions are 56x56 feet, and for most conveniently housing stock is the finest of the kind in this locality. The stalls for horses and the places partitioned off for colts, were made to please the artistic eye of the owner and are models of convenience and skill, and certainly fill a long felt want. Across from the building an underground run stretches beneath the road, thus admitting hogs to the pasture from the barn-yard, thus not interfering with road traffic. This modern farm and fine home is located about three-quarters of a mile from the pretty city of Milo, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and the place is a source of pride to the entire community. Mr. Smith has devoted many years of his life to improving his beautiful farm, and it certainly would please the most fastidious observer.
Mr. Smith was married December 30, 1877, to Miss Alice Stoops, a native of Marion county, Indiana, and a daughter of Henry and Amanda (Hunter) Stoops. They have had five children, namely: Arlo E., born January 26, 1879; Noel H., October 10, 1880; Merrill B., April 1, 1884, Orra E., March 4, 1887; and Rosa E., August 27, 1889; Noel Hurst, died October 21, 1880; and lies at rest in the Baptist churchyard, not far distant from the pretty home in which she first saw the light of day. Mr. Smith affiliates with the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for General U. S. Grant. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.1067