Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 539
JAMES M. SMITH

James M. SMITH, an early settler, now residing in St. John's Township, has been associated with the interests of Harrison County since 1855. He first located on section 27. He took a swamp land claim of one hundred and sixty acres, together with eighty-seven acres of timber, in Pottawattamie County. He built a log cabin in 1856, and broke ten acres that season. As the years have gone by, he has added to his land, until he now owns five hundred and thirty acres, all enclosed and either under the plow or in pasture land. In the winter of 1855 and 1856, he lived on the farm now owned by Addison MCINTOSH, the family suffering much from the extreme cold weather. When he came to the county, his family consisted of his wife and one child.

Mr. SMITH is a native of Tennessee, born November 11, 1827. He traces his ancestry back to James SMITH, of Irish descent, who married Mary SHANNON, a native of Tennessee, by whom eight children were born: Andrew, (deceased; William, who emigrated to Georgia; James, (deceased); Charles, living in Tennessee; Reube, (deceased); Rebecca, Mrs. TARPIN, living in Tennessee; Mary Ann, Mrs. BRYANT, living in Tennessee, and Charity, living in Tennessee.

Andrew SMITH, the father of our subject, lived in Tennessee; was a farmer by occupation, and married Miss Lucinda WALKER, daughter of James and Sarah (WHITE) WALKER, who were from South Carolina. Andrew SMITH died January 17, 1882. In 1850, our subject removed from Tennessee, to Putnam County, Ind., where he worked on a farm, at $10 per month. He afterwards bought a piece of land there, which he cultivated for four years, and in the autumn of 1855, came to Harrison County, Iowa. He drove a team through, making the trip in twenty-one days, arriving in September, thirty-six years ago. He was the third family to move out on the Bottoms.

Our subject was united in marriage in Putnam County, In., June 8, 1851, to Miss Sarah HATCHER, the daughter of James and Rebecca (FRAZIER) HATCHER, natives of Tennessee. Her father's ancestors were John and Sarah (MYERS) HATCHER, and on the mother's side her grandfather and grandmother were John and Eva (SHADDOCK) FRAZIER. Her mother came from Ireland. She ran away from home, and had to work out in order to obtain money to pay her passage to America.

Nine children have been born to our subject and his wife, six of who still survive: John Robert, died in infancy in 1850; Samuel H., born October 31, 1852, now living in St. John's township; Mary, Mrs. COFFMAN, October 25, 1856, now a resident of St. John's township; William, April 21, 1859; Robert, February 6, 1861; Joseph, May 29, 1863, at home; Rebecca Clementine, August 8, 1865, died February 21, 1889; Alexander, January 17, 1868; Luvicia J., October 2, 1874.

In 1868, our subject moved to his present residence, on section 33, his home farm containing eighty acres. Politically, Mr. SMITH affiliates with the Democratic party. Mrs. SMITH is a member of the Baptist church.

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