Smith, Pleasant

SMITH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 17:50:48

PLEASANT SMITH
born Nov 21, 1836

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.641

SMITH, PLEASANT, farmer and merchant, Belmont Township, Sec. 19; P. O. Milo; born Nov. 11, 1826, in Highland county, Ohio; parents moved to Stephenson county, Ill., in fall of 1845, and to Greene county, Wis., in 1853; he came to this county and settled on present farm in fall of 1860, where he has since lived; he is now engaged in merchandizing in Milo, having established a store at the first laying out of the town; he built the first storehouse in the place, and carries a large and well assorted stock; has been justice of the peace, town clerk and town trustee; married May 22, 1859, to Emaline A., daughter of Harvey Henry, of Greene county, Wis.; they have had eleven children: Sylvanus H., Archibald N., Lillian, Eva, Etta, Otto, Lizzie, Bertha, Ray, Floy, Baby; Etta died in infancy; he owns an improved farm of eighty acres.

Pleasant Smith, one of the well-known and respected citizens of Belmont township, who has spent more than thirty-five years in Warren county, is a native of Ohio, born in Highland county. His parents, John and Charity (Gilbert) Smith, had a family of twelve children, eight of whom are now living. Our subject, who was the third in order of birth, is the oldest survivor. The others are Asa, a fruit-grower of central California; Albert, who died in infancy; Nathan, who was a soldier of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry during the Civil war, and is now a farmer of Kansas; Amos, who was a member of the same regiment and died in New Orleans; William R., who makes his home in Kansas; Mary Ann, wife of M. G. Oldaker, an agriculturist of Belmont township, Warren county; Levi, who is living in Smith county, Kansas; Amanda, of Highland county, Ohio; and one who died in infancy. The father of this family was born February 9, 1810, and the mother June 14, 1814. Her death occurred in January, 1895. Our subject was born November 21, 1836, in a log house, with clapboard roof, puncheon floor and old-fashioned fire- place. He became familiar with all the experiences and trials of frontier life, and when nine years of age accompanied his parents on their removal to Stephenson county, Illinois, where he acquired a common-school education. The father erected a log house at a point near the northern boundary line of Illinois, and the water for their home they secured from a spring in Wisconsin - several rods from their dwelling. In the spring of 1855 they removed to Green county, Wisconsin, where a farm was rented and they made their home until the fall of 1860 - the year of their arrival in Warren county, Iowa.
The journey was made by the father, mother and eight children, their equipments comprising three wagons and six horses. On section 19, Belmont township, Mr. Smith purchased 160 acres of wild prairie land on which was not a stone or a stick available for building purposes. A few days later a fine well, twenty feet deep, was sunk, and an excellent supply of water secured. They then gave their attention to the erection of a small frame building, 16 x 24 feet, with a twelve- foot shed. The structure was made of native timber, principally elm, oak and walnut siding and walnut shingles. The barn was a rough, board structure covered with slough grass. The place was fenced with oak rails, and in the spring they began farming in earnest. The father, a native of North Carolina, is now living retired at the ripe old age of eighty-five years, an honored Christian gentleman, who is yet enjoying good health. In politics he has been a Republican since the war. His wife, a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, died at the age of seventy-five, and was laid to rest in the burying ground of the Baptist Church, where a monument has been erected to her memory. She was a loving wife and devoted mother, and all who knew her had for her the highest regard. Pleasant Smith remained at home until May 22, 1859, when he married Miss Emeline C. Henry, a daughter of Harvey and Emeline Henry, the ceremony being performed at the parsonage of the Christian Church in Green county. Until 1864 they lived a part of the time with his father and then purchased sixty acres of wild land on section 19, Belmont township, covered with prairie grass. He erected a small frame building, to which he has made several additions, until he now has a very pretty and comfortable home. In the family are fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters, all yet living, except Etta, who was born June 24, 1869, and died in 1870; Sylvanus H., born February 22, 1860, is a harness-maker of Milo; Archibald N., born March 24, 1863, is farming in Belmont township; Lillie L., born December 12, 1865, is employed in the printing department of the Adventist, a publication at Battle Creek, Michigan; Evelyn, born April 13, 1867, is the wife of E. McElroy of Milo; Otto M., born October 1, 1870, is a blacksmith of Milo; Lizzie E., born July 26, 1872, is the wife of Oscar T. Winning, of Milo; Florence B., born January 31, 1874, is the wife of Ed Newland, of Milo; Ray A., born January 22, 1876; Ernest F., born January 12, 1878; Clifford B., born August 2, 1879; Gertrude M., born October 7, 1881; Foster C., born November 13, 1883; and Emeline C., born July 28, 1886, are still with their parents. Mr. Smith now owns eighty acres of rich prairie land and ten acres of timber land. For thirteen years he conducted a store in Milo, having established the first one at this place and brought in the first car-load of lumber here. The firm of P. Smith & Company, up to about three years ago, at which time they sold out, were doing a good business in the line of general merchandising and had an extensive trade which yielded a good income. Mr. Smith has been prominently identified with all that pertains to the upbuilding of the city, and with the promotion of its leading interests. The beautiful shade trees which now surround his home were grown from seed which he planted in 1863. In politics Mr. Smith has been a warm advocate of Republican principles since proudly casting his first presidential vote in support of the martyred President, Abraham Lincoln. He has held various positions of honor and trust, has for some years been Justice of the Peace, has served as Town Clerk, and has just completed a term extending over nineteen years as Treasurer of the School Board. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their well spent lives have won them the warm regard of many friends. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.307