WILLIAM C. SMITH
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An excellent farm of five hundred acres located on section 4, Jefferson township, does much credit to the agricultural skill of William C. Smith, who is one of the successful and competent farmers of Louisa county. He was born in Henry county, Illinois, on the 10th of October, 1864, and is the youngest son of David H. and Esther (Sornberger) Smith.
The father was born in Morgan county, Ohio, January 7, 1834, and was the fourth in order of birth and eldest son in a family of six children, whose parents were Nathan and Susannah (Howard) Smith. They were natives of Pennsylvania and from that state removed to Ohio, where their deaths occurred. In the county of his nativity David H. Smith continued to make his home until attaining his majority, in the meantime attending the common schools and Ohio University at Athens. He then removed to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where he spent seven years, being engaged in farming, teaching and mercantile business. In 1861 he took up his residence in Henry county, Illinois, where he operated rented land for five years, and then purchased an eighty acre farm on section 12, Osco township, upon which he erected a fine set of buildings. As time passed he added to his property until he became the owner of several hundred acres.
In Lafayette county, Wisconsin, October 25, 1855, David H. Smith married Miss Esther Sornberger, who was born in Delaware county, New York, March 31, 1834 and was a daughter of George and Hannah (Olmsted) Sornberger, also natives of the Empire state. By this union six children were born: Howard H., a resident of Houston, Texas; Charles M., of Boone county, Iowa; William C., of this review; Myra E., the wife of O. A. Hommersand, of Houston, Texas; Ella, who died at the age of two years; and Kittie, who died at the age of five months. In 1904 the parents came to this county to make . . .
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. . . their home with their son William and here the father died December 24, 1909, but the mother’s death occurred at the home of her son Charles in Albany, Missouri, September 16, 1905. They were both earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the father served as road commissioner for five years.
William C. Smith acquired his education in the common and high schools, remaining a member of his father’s household until he had attained his majority, at which time he left home to begin life for himself. He engages in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of feeding stock for the market, and he is meeting with gratifying success from his various ventures. Mr. Smith is a man of considerable versatility and for more than fifteen years he has been recognized as one of the best auctioneers of his community, devoting a great deal of his attention to that business.
Mr. Smith established a home of his own by his marriage December 10, 1885, to Miss Olive L. Parsons, a native of Jefferson township and a daughter of Joseph J. and Mary E. (Coleman) Parsons, natives of West Virginia, who came to Iowa at an early day, locating in Jefferson township, Louisa county, where Mrs. Smith was born. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have three children: Earl P., who was born on the 25th of November, 1887, and is a farmer of this county; D. Howard, who was born on the 21st of December, 1893; and Nellie, whose birth occurred on the 28th of July, 1897.
The religious faith of the family is manifested through their affiliation with the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally Mr. Smith is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of Wapello Lodge, No. 5, A.F. & A.M., while to the men and measures of the republican party he accords his political support. He takes an active interest in the affairs of his township and for ten years served as trustee and he has also been a member of the school board. His life has ever been one of continuous activity and as a result he has attained a position which ranks him among the substantial farmers of his community as well as the most highly respected citizen.
