Agnew, Smith G. (1848-1925)

AGNEW

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/14/2019 at 23:12:23

Smith G. Agnew
Oct 8, 1848 - Nov 8, 1925

[From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.599]
SMITH G. AGNEW, one of the substantial farmers of Layton Township, is descended from a prominent old American family of Scotch descent. His grandfather came from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania and his father, GIBSON AGNEW, was born on a farm in that State and learned the tanner's trade, which he followed several years. When a young man, he went to Ohio and was there married to ELEANOR SMITH, and to them have been born 12 children: Eliza, Sarah, Martha, Amanda, William, David, Margaret, John, Mary, Smith G., George, and Irwin. The father settled on a farm in Parke Co Indiana where he ran a distillery and where he remained one-fourth of a century. In 1852 he settled on a farm in Cedar Co, Iowa, where he was among the early pioneers. He then removed to Muscatine Co where he died in 1877 at age 81 years. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in which he was an elder. SMITH G. AGNEW, the subject, was born October 8, 1848, in Parke Co, Indiana and was but four years of age when his parents came to Iowa. After the death of his father, he managed the home farm for two years. After marriage Mr Agnew came to Pottawattamie Co and settled on 160 acres of wild land, which he had bought a few years before. With the help of his wife and his own hard work, he has added to this place until he now owns a fine homestead of 240 acres, which is pleasantly situated near Walnut. Politically Mr Agnew is a stanch Democrat and also takes an active interest in the cause of education and in the good of the schools. He was married in Clark Co in 1879 to LAURA WOODS, daughter of John and Amanda (Walker) Woods, who were the parents of: Laura, Charles, James, Loren and Warren Woods. The father was an old settler of Muscatine Co, having come in 1851. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. Mr and Mrs Agnew are the parents of four children: Millie, Harry, Loren, and Edith. Both Mr and Mrs Agnew are members of the Presbyterian Church. The grandfathers of Mrs. Agnew are both living. Valentine Woods, her father's father, is now living in Cass Co at age 79 years. He emigrated from Pennsylvania to Dearborn, Indiana, where he lived many years. Robert Walker, her mother's father, is living in Sacramento, California, at age 78 years. He came from Switzerland, is a carpenter by trade, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.