Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 509

HENRY G. SMITH, an early settler residing on section 27, Bloomington Township, was born in Chenango, N. Y., in 1825. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812. His parents, Nathaniel P. and Bathsheba ( Collins ) Smith, were also born in the Empire State, and of their ten children six are now living: Henry G., of this sketch; Harriet, now the wife of Mr. Hemingway, resides at Smyrna, N.Y.; Susanna, now Mrs. Northrop, resides in the same city; Mary Hannah, now Mrs. Jaques, is living in Brookfiel, N.Y.; Charles is located at Smyrna, N.Y.; George is also a resident of Smyrna. John died in New York City in 1866. The father was a farmer by occupation, and resided in the Empire State until his death, which occurred in 1880, at the ripe old age of eighty-five years. His wife departed this life in 1860, at the age of sixty years.

Our subject was reared to farm life but being naturally a mechanic he followed various occupations in that line. He worked at the trade of a carpenter for some years, and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where for three years he had charge of a large coopering establishment, and also engaged in brush-making. Leaving that city for the West, in 1851, he came to Iowa, and took up his residence in Muscatine, where he again engaged in brush-making, which he carried on for some time, when he began upholstering and wood-carving, which vocations he followed until 1868, when he left the city to engage in horticultural pursuits. He purchased fifteen acres of land covered with hazel brush and scrub oak, for which he paid $80 per acre, and set out small fruits of all kinds. He has since added three acres to his original purchase, which, with the improvements, cost $300 per acre, and deals quite extensively in small fruits. His farm is pleasantly situated about two and a half miles northwest of the Muscatine court-house, and is one of the best improved in the county. He has erected a fine brick residence, built a good barn and made other extensive improvements, which indicates taste, as well as thrift and enterprise.

In 1854 Mr. Smith returned to New York, where in August of that year he was united in marriage with Sarah Jane Hunt, a native of the Empire State, and a daughter of Isaac and Sophia ( Arnold ) Hunt. Her father was born in Lansingburg, and her mother in Galway, that State. He was an express-man, his route being from Lansingburg to Troy. His death occurred May 19, 1870, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Hunt is still living, and resides in her native State. Her grandfather Rose was a baker in the War of the Revolution. Of the family of which Mrs. Smith was a member, one sister and four brothers are yet living: Sophia, wife of David Gregg, of Waterford, Ny. Y.; Jesse, also a resident of that State; Enoch, who lives at Lansingburg; George and Charley, who both reside at Troy, N.Y.

After his marriage Mr. Smith returned to Muscatine with his young bride, there making his home unitl 1866, when he removed to the farm on section 27, Bloomington Township, where he still makes his home. To this worthy couple have been born six children, four of whom are living; George, died at the age of nine months, Carrie Died in 1861, when only six weeks old; Charley is married and resides in Hodgeman County, Kan.; Chockley is married and resides in Muscatine, where he is engaged in the grocery business; Clarkson is single and is a ship-builder of San Francisco, Cal,; Horty, residing at home, is a young man of more than ordinary ability. He is a natural brickmason, quick to learn and shows considerable tact in that line of business. He has frequently won at different times when prizes were offered, and bids fair to make life a success.

In his political sentiments Mr Smith is a Democrat, having voted with that party throughout his life, and is one of the earnest supporters of its principles as advocated by the prominent leaders. He can trace his ancestry back to the time when members of the family aided in the formation of that party, to which he gives unswerving allegiance. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Muscatine, and are held in high regard throughout Muscatine County, where they have resided for almost thirty-eight years.


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