Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 458
SMITH M. CHILD

Smith M. CHILD, present Post-Master at Dunlap, ranks amongst the very earliest pioneers of that place, as may be seen by the subjoined notice.  He is a native of Bath, Grafton County, N. H., born October 5, 1836. He is the son of David and Charlotte M. (MOULTON) CHILD, both natives of the Granite State. The mother died in 1886, at Nevada, Iowa, at the age of seventy-five years, and the father died in Illinois, in April, 1891, aged eighty-six years. They were of English ancestry and were among the pioneers of Story County, Iowa, and came to the State in the spring of 1855.

Our subject was one of a family of seven children. His education was obtained in the public schools and academies of the East. At the age of seventeen years, he started out for himself, traveling over many of the Western States and territories, until the spring of 1862, when he enlisted in the Thirty-second Iowa Infantry, being mustered out in the spring of 1865. He made a faithful soldier, and belonged to the Sixteenth Army Corps under A. J. SMITH, and was in the battle of Pleasant Hill, Nashville, Tupelo, was with Sherman on his Meriden expedition; also on the Red River raid. After his service in the Rebellion, he entered the employ of the Chicago & NorthWestern Railway Company, commencing as clerk at the Nevada office, which was at that time the end of the road. At the end of one year, he was placed in charge of several important points along the line and in the winter of 1867, he was located at Woodbine, and in June of that year came to Dunlap, and opened the depot office, in a box-car, before there had been a single building erected in the place. He built one of the first residences of the place, in which he still lives. He remained as station agent at Dunlap, until 1873, since which time he has been variously engaged, but principally in the stock business. He traveled for a commission firm some five years and was Deputy Sheriff, of Harrison County for four years. He was also special agent for the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company.

In February, 1890, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Dunlap, under President HARRISON'S administration. He is a supporter of the Republican party, and of late years, has been active in the political work of his county.  He is a member of SHIELDS Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has been Commander twice. He is Vice Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias order.

Mr. CHILDS was married June 10, 1867, to Miss Rachel L. TRUMBLE, of Delaware County, Ohio, where she was born April 2, 1844, and the daughter of Samuel and Harriet (WELLS) TRUMBLE.

Mr. and Mrs. CHILDS are the parents of two sons, Edward T., and David T., both at home. The former is at school and the latter is his father's assistant in the Post office.

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