Smith, Abraham

SMITH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2021 at 20:49:59

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.850

ABRAHAM SMITH
Abraham Smith, who is living retired on his farm on section 28, Liberty Township, was born in Darke County, Ohio, December 8, 1834, his parents being James and Syvilla (Bixler) Smith. The father was a native of Pennsyl­vania, where his birth occurred in 1797, and on reaching man's estate he took up his abode in Darke County, Ohio, following agricultural pursuits as a life work. Subsequently he resided in Warren County, Indiana, for several years but in 1856 located in White Breast Township, Warren County, Iowa, where he owned a home at Lacona. He lived largely retired, his last years being spent at the home of his son Abraham, in Liberty Township, where his demise occurred March 5, 1880. In his political views he was a democrat. His wife, also a native of the Keystone state, was born in April, 1806, and passed away at the home of a daughter in White Breast Township in 1883. She was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. James Smith were born thirteen children, only three of whom survive, namely: Abraham, who was the third in order of birth; Jacob, living at Lacona, and Perry A., of Oskaloosa.
Abraham Smith was largely reared in Warren County, Indiana, and ac­quired his education in the common schools. The year 1857 witnessed his arrival in Warren County, Iowa, where he spent two years and then made the overland journey to California. After having engaged in mining in the Golden state with a fair measure of success for about two years, he returned to this county via the Isthmus of Panama and New York. He then pur­chased an ox-team and was employed in breaking prairie for various agricul­turists here. In the fall of 1861 he was married and located on his present farm of forty acres on section 28, Liberty Township, and with the exception of the year 1873, which he spent in Kansas, he has made his home on this place to the present time. For a number of years he was successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits but is now living retired, though he still gives supervision to the work on the farm. He replaced the old buildings with new and substantial structures and his property is equipped with all the im­provements and accessories found upon the model farm of the twentieth century.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Crumrine, who was born in Darke County, Ohio, March 6, 1840, her parents being Samuel and Eliza (Potter) Crumrine, who in the year 1855 located in Liberty Township, this county. The father, who was a native of Darke County, Ohio, passed away at Osceola in 1873, when almost sixty-nine years of age. His wife, who was also born in Darke County, Ohio, died in 1872 at the age of fifty-six years, passing away on the home farm in Liberty Township. Unto this worthy couple were born ten children, of whom three still survive, as follows: Mrs. Smith, who was the fourth in order of birth; Mrs. Susan Huff, who makes her home in Kansas, and Samuel, also a resident of the Sunflower state. From the age of fourteen years Mrs. Smith has resided on the farm in Liberty Township which is still her home. By her marriage she has become the mother of thirteen children: Adeline, who passed away at the age of twelve years; Mary L., who died when eight years of age; Clara B., the wife of Nicholas Gooch of Oklahoma; Gusta May, the wife of Jeremiah Sandy, of Liberty township; Eliza S., who became the wife of Elmer Keeney and also resides in Liberty Township; Effie J., the wife of Alonzo Puderbaugh, who is mentioned on another page of this work; John, who died when but thirteen months old; Glenn, at home; Ada, the wife of Walter Dooley, living at Albia, Iowa; one who died in infancy; Tessie, the wife of Clark Nyswonger, of Liberty Township; Seymour, who also passed away in infancy, and Hettie, the wife of James Snuggs, of Liberty Township.
Mr. Smith gives stalwart support to the men and measures of the democracy, and is a public-spirited citizen whose aid and influence are always given on the side of right, truth and progress. Having resided in this county for a half century, he is well and favorably known and now in his declining years enjoys the respect and esteem of an extensive circle of friends.