Seth Smith, one of Iowa’s pioneers, and a prominent and influential citizen of Carroll County, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, the date of his birth being December 19, 1830. His parents, John and Esther (Metcalf) Smith, were natives of Virginia and New Jersey respectively, the father born June 3, 1794, and was a solider in the war of 1812, and the mother born April 29, 1802. Eleven children were born to them, eight sons and three daughters, and with the exception of one son, John, who fell in battle at Malrino del Rey, during the Mexican war, all are yet living. The mother died in Owen County, Indiana, in September, 1849, and the father’s death occurred in Marshall County, Iowa, December 5, 1871. Seth Smith, our subject, lived in his native State till nine years of age, when he was taken by his parents to Owen County, Indiana, where he lived till 1849, removing thence with his father’s family to Iowa. He was married in Marshall County in 1854, to Miss Martha C. Cooper, who died April 11, 1864, leaving five children — James A., a resident of Marshall County; Joseph F., living in the same county; Emma E., deceased; Marcus E., of Manning, and Addie, deceased. For his second wife Mr. Smith married Mrs. Elizabeth (Reed) Nettle, widow of John M. Nettle, a member of the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, who was killed at the battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864. Of the four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, three are living – Adora, Ala and Charlie. John B. died at the age of seven years. In 1878 Mr. Smith came with his family to Carroll County and purchased 102 acres on section 6 of Warren Township, which he improved and brought under a fine state of cultivation, residing on that farm until coming to Manning in 1881. Until within the last few years he has been actively engaged in farming, an avocation to which he was reared. He was one of the first setters of Manning, and owns one of the finest residences in the place, which he now occupies. When the Manning postoffice was established, in November, 1881, Mr. Smith was commissioned its postmaster, holding that office until the change of administration, when he resigned, September 30, 1885. Beside his farm on Section 6, Warren Township, he owns eighty acres on section 7 and forty acres on section 17, of the same township. Mrs. Smith is conducting a successful business at Manning, in the millinery and dressmaking line. In the religious as well as the social interests of Manning, Mr. Smith takes an active part. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order, belonging to Manning Lodge, No. 122, I.O.O.F., in which he has filled all the highest offices. In politics he has been an active Republican since the organization of that party.

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