Sidney "One Arm Smith" was a true pioneer of Mitchell County Iowa. He was born April 22, 1829 in Norfolk Co. England to unknown parents, and made his way to America at an early age. Sometime before 1857 Sidney made his way to near Mitchell, Mitchell County, Iowa, where he began his young family.
In about 1856 he married Ann or "Annie" B. Neville, and they were the parents of four known children: Kate Neville, b. August 1857; William, b. December 1859; Edith, b. May 1862; and Sarah J., b. May 1867.
On June 1, 1863, at the age of 1 year, little Edith Smith died of unknown causes. Her parents ordered for her, all the way from Cedar Falls, Iowa, an elaborate headstone to mark her passing which was quite unusual for this time period. In 1863 it was not uncommon for parents to lose a child, and sometimes many, so for this reason expensive or elaborate headstones were not an ordinary occurrence.
The 1870 Federal census for Mitchell County, Iowa, Cedar Twp., shows Sidney Smith as head of household, age 42, born in England.
Sometime between 1867 and 1878, Sidney and Ann were divorced, and Sidney married his neighbor, who had also just gotten divorced.
Sidney married Jane Harris-Tubbs at Osage, Mitchell Co. Iowa on April 12, 1879. (Jane was married first to Caleb Colvin Tubbs, and had three known children with him, Charles, Mary, and Silas Tubbs.)
The 1880 census lists Sidney, Jane, and Silas Smith, although this is believed to be an error and is actually Jane's son Silas Tubbs at age 17. On this census Sidney lists his occupation as a "gardener."
It appears as though "One Armed Smith" had a run-in with the law around 1880, when he was arrested and fined by the authorities in Osage for "making liquor or wine of some sort," and after he paid his fine he vowed to never again return to Osage.
A 1902 Osage Newspaper article had this to say:
About twenty-two years ago Sidney Smith, better known as "One Arm Smith," residing on the Cedar River about three miles northwest of Osage, was arrested and fined by parties in Osage on the charge of making liquor or wine of some sort. He paid his fine and declared he would never again come to Osage. Six or seven yearslater he came to town once. For fifteen years however, he has not been in Osage until last Saturday. About two weeks ago his wife died, and last Saturday morning when his little boys [grandchildren?] came up with their load of vegetables for market, Mr. Smith came along.
He looked at the new buildings and the many other improvements in utter amazement. It was not the same town he had known in former years. Fires had eaten up the old wood buildings on Main Street, and modern stone and brick structures had taken their places. Nearly all of the many handsome and modern residences had been built since he was here. Paved streets, cement sidewalks, electric lights, water works, telephone lines, and many other things now a part of the city's life and convenience had been added since Mr. Smith visited the town. He was around town nearly all day, doing business and viewing the place.
Sidney and Jane shared in the work of tending to their large gardens and raised a variety of vegetables that Jane took to town and sold. One hundred years later the terraces built for their gardens are still visible, and the craftsmanship displayed throughout the original house and property are a testament to Sidney's tremendous dedication and abilities. One must keep in mind that he did all this without modern conveniences and with the use of only one arm.
Although some might have viewed Sidney unfavorably and as a "bootlegger," he and Jane were also known for their generosity. Jane's obituary tells us,
She married Mr. Smith in 1879. His business was then and ever since has been "gardening." For the past 20 years and more her part has been to sell and deliver door to door in Mitchell and Osage. Her cheery, good-natured face, her old white horse and loaded wagon were seen nearly every day, upon highway or street, or in front of house or store.
Every boy and girl of the two towns knew that old bell ring when it called us to buy, and it had a gladsome sound for us all. And its notes were as regular as the morning chimes of city church tower.
Her train was as certain to come and go on its appointed time as any passenger on a main line. In all her dealings with our people she was honest, easy, and indulgent to the poor always, often giving to them when they could not pay. Many is the family she thus relieved year after year on her daily round. There was none of this haggling, halfpenny, greedy, niggardness in her bargaining’s so common among city vendors of her class.
In another possible display of generosity, the 1885 census is interesting in that it lists Sidney, Jane, Sidney’s son William, and daughter Sarah, but also his ex-wife Ann, all living in the same household.
There seems to be some confusion between this Sidney Smith and another Sidney Smith who also resided in Mitchell Co. Iowa. According to the History of Mitchell County 1883, the other Sidney, "Sidney S. Smith," was born May 14, 1841, at Henderson, N.Y., and passed away near El Monte, California on December 8, 1912. At the age of 21 he enlisted in the 29th Wisconsin Volunteers, Co. B, and served his country for three years, and in 1866 he was married to Miss Melissa Dunning.
The assumption had been that because the Sidney Smith we speak of here was called "One Armed Smith," that he had lost his arm in the Civil War, but to date no information has been found to support the claim that our Sidney had ever participated in the Civil War. There have been some references to "One Armed Smith" being called "Captain Smith," but family documents, and various other research does not support or conclude that he ever went by the name of "Captain Smith," although the other Sidney Smith just might have.
The 1895 Census shows Ann Smith living in Cedar Twp., Mitchell County, age 64, divorced, place of birth England, with children William, age 35, and daughter Sarah J., age 25. It also shows Sidney and Jane still residing at their home on River Road between Osage and Mitchell.
Sidney and Jane continued to live at their home on River Road until July 1902. Jane's obituary tells us that in June of 1902 she became ill at the home of Frank Eaton. It goes on to say that after a few days "she was removed to her home on the river road toward Mitchell in the afternoon, and died in the evening." It is unclear who Frank Eaton was and what his connection to Jane and Sidney might have been, but Jane evidently remained in his care for 5 days, from Saturday June 18th until Wednesday June 22nd, when she died.
Jane's funeral service was held at the Methodist Church in Mitchell and she was laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery at Mitchell.
Sidney's first wife Ann nee' Neville Smith died two years later in 1904, near Brownville, Mitchell Co., Iowa; and she was interred at the Beaver Creek Cemetery. Ann was laid to rest next to their daughter Sarah J. who had passed away in 1901, unmarried, at the age of 34.
In 1906, two years after Ann had died, her son William also passed away; he was 47 years old and unmarried at the time of his passing.
Sidney and Ann's daughter Kate was their only child who grew to adulthood and married. She married James Counsell November 5, 1877 at Mitchell County, Iowa, and they were the parents of five known children: Lee Neville, b. 1879; Ray Earl, b. 1881; Glendon Roy, b. 1888; Isaac, b. 1894; James F., b. 1896.
Kate Neville Smith Counsell died February 20, 1940 near Riceville, Mitchell Co., Iowa, and was interred at Beaver Creek Cemetery with her husband James, mother Ann, and siblings.
Sidney Smith, pioneer, master gardener, and apparent bootlegger, passed away at Mitchell, Mitchell Co. Iowa on May 3rd, 1909 at the age of 80 years. He was laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery, Mitchell Co., Iowa, beside his wife Jane.
Written by Kathy Pike, (great-great-granddaughter of Jane Harris-Tubbs-Smith)
HTMLization by K.L. Kittleson, May 2005