Smith, Orin J.

SMITH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2021 at 20:52:04

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.560

ORIN J. SMITH
Success is not a matter of genius as held by some, or of good luck as others contend. It is the result of clear judgment, experience and indefatiga­ble energy. This statement is verified by investigation into the lives of the greatest majority of men who have gained prosperity and are known in their respective communities as men of force and ability. The life of O. J. Smith is proof of this statement for he has gained a place among the substantial residents of Lincoln Township, although when he started upon his business career his capital was quite small. General farming and stock-raising now claim his attention and he lives on section 23, Lincoln Township, where he owns and cultivates a farm of two hundred and forty acres.
Mr. Smith was born in Poweshiek County, Iowa, May 17, 1859. His father is now one of the most venerable citizens of Indianola and mention is made of him on another page of this work. The son was reared to manhood in Poweshiek County and excellent school privileges were afforded him so that he was able to supplement the advantages of the district schools by a more advanced course. He engaged in teaching school for one term and then took up the work of railroad construction. His entire life has been one of persistent activity, guided by sound judgment. On the 28th of December 1881, Mr. Smith was married in Poweshiek County to Miss Laura Higgins, a native of Johnson County, Iowa. After their marriage they removed to Audubon County, where Mr. Smith began farming, sixteen years being devoted to general agricultural pursuits in that locality. As he had no money with which to purchase a farm he rented land for eight years, during which time his energy and diligence, supplemented by the aid of his wife, brought him capital sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm. This he did and for eight years longer continued in Audubon County. He then sold out there and removed to Green County, where he owned a farm of two hundred and forty acres which he cultivated for two years. He then sold and bought where he now lives, becoming owner of this property in 1902. He repaired the build­ings, fenced the fields and now has a good house upon his place with a sub­stantial barn and other outbuildings. He has cleared for the first time some of the land here and as the years have passed his labors have brought the fields under a high state of cultivation, so that the work of early spring plant­ing is followed by the garnering of rich crops in the late autumn. He also raises and feeds stock, fattening hogs for the market and this aids quite materially to his yearly income.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of three sons and three daughters, the eldest, Professor Roy A. Smith, is a graduate of the Simpson Business College and is now teacher in Charleroi Commercial College; Cella, is the wife of Roy Williams who is farming on land belonging to his father, Hugh Williams. Harrison is a student in Simpson College; Carrie B., Corda C., and Leota F., are all at home.
The parents indicate their religious faith in their membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and their close adherence to its teachings. Mr. Smith was superintendent of the Sunday school in Audubon County for eight years and has been an active worker in the church and a generous contribu­tor for the support of the cause. Politically he is an unfaltering advocate of the Republican Party and served as township assessor of Audubon County for six years. He has been township trustee here for five years and has been identified with the schools in an official capacity for a number of years. He has been a delegate to the county conventions and for two years was a dele­gate to the Republican state convention. He is a worthy representative of a well known family and like others of the family has lived a life of intense and well directed activity, characterized by faithfulness in the performance of every duty.