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         WILLIAM E. SMITH, a citizen of Morning Sun, Louisa Co., Iowa, was born in Yorkshire, England, Aug. 14, 1829, and is a son of Peter Smith, who emigrated with his family to America in 1835. Stopping for a short time at Beardstown, Ill., he then removed to Des Moines County, locating in Burlington Township, three and one-half miles southwest of Burlington. Entering a claim of 400 acres, for which he paid $1.25 per acre at the land sales, he there made his home until his death. In his native country he had wedded Miss Martha King, and by their union thirteen children were born, ten of whom grew to man and womanhood, while nine are yet living: Ann, the wife of Clayton Hunt, of Des Moines County; John, who died in 1879, Allison, whose home is in Des Moines County; Samuel, a resident . . .

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. . . of Burlington, Iowa; William E., of this sketch; Edward, who is living in Des Moines County; Jarius, of Decatur County, Iowa; Jane, wife of William Finch, of Macoupin county, Ill.; George, a resident of Decatur County, Iowa, and Sarah, who is living in Burlington. Mr. Smith was a man of great intellect, and after he was seventy-two years of age learned to read and speak French fluently. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, and in early life was a Whig, but joined the Republican party at its organization in 1856, after which time he was one of its ardent supporters. His death occurred Jan. 26, 1872, and Mrs. Smith died in May, 1880.

When only six years of age our subject emigrated with his parents from his native land to Des Moines County, Iowa, where he grew to manhood, and received his education in the log school-house common to those pioneer days. He was married in Des Moines County, becoming the husband of Illinois H. Hunt, who was born Nov. 19, 1837, in that county, and is a daughter of Jesse Hunt, one of the pioneers. By their union four children have been born, one son and three daughters—Jessie, Hattie D., Elizabeth (better known as Bessie) and Fred W. In 1873 Mr. Smith removed from Des Moines to Louisa County, locating in Morning Sun, where he has since resided, and is ranked among the prominent men of the place. He has served as a member of the City Council, was School Director for five years, and in politics is a Democrat.