Jean,
Page 261 of the Biog. Record and Portrait Album says, "Ira Smith, father
of John D. Smith, the County Commissioner, and uncle of W. W. Smith, the
present county treasurer, came to LaFayette in 1828 or '29, kept a hotel
for many years, accumulated some property, edited the Journal, and died
about eight or nine years ago."
I typed a biography from this book last night for another lady who is
also researching the Smith family. The biography is on William W.
Smith, the county treasurer and gives information on his father, who, it
would appear, was Ira Smith's brother.
Adina
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Biographical Record and Portrait Album of Tippecanoe County, Indiana,
1888, pp. 473-474.
WILLIAM W. SMITH, the present treasurer of Tippecanoe County, was born
in Clarke County, Ohio, west of Springfield, July 7, 1835, a son of
ABRAHAM and ELIZABETH SMITH. Abraham Smith was born near Milledgeville,
Georgia, and when three or four years of age removed with their family
to Ohio, passing through Cincinnati when that now prosperous city was
called Fort Washington, and was then under the command of General
Harrison. This was about the year 1790. They first settled four miles
above the present site of Cincinnati, and soon after went up the Mad
River to Clarke County, and entered land right in the wilderness, being
among the pioneers of that county, where they spent the remainder of
their life. ABRAHAM, the father of our subject, was reared in Clarke
County amid the scenes of pioneer life, and was there married to
ELIZABETH ULLERY, a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, whose parents were
of Pennsylvania Dutch descent, they coming from Pennsylvania, and
settling in Pickaway County, Ohio, among the early settlers. ABRAHAM
lost his wife by death in 1839, and in 1845 he removed to Lawrence
County, Illinois, making his home in that county until his death, which
occurred in 1872.
WILLIAM W. SMITH, the subject of this sketch, accompanied his father to
Lawrence County, Illinois, being then a lad of ten years. His father
being a farmer he was reared to the same vocation, assisting his father
on the home farm until 1855. In the spring of that year he went to Cass
County, Indiana, where he worked during the summer, and in the fall of
the same year came to Tippecanoe County, Indiana. He received a fair
education while living in Ohio and Illinois, and for a number of terms
taught school. After coming to this county he worked out by the month
for some time and subsequently both a meat market which he conducted
four or five years. In 1863 he bought a farm in Union Township, to
which he removed in June of that year, and there followed agricultural
pursuits until assuming the duties of his present office. He was
nominated to this office by the Republican party, being elected in
November, 1885, and September 1, of the same years he removed to
LaFayette, where he has since made his home, though he still retains his
farm in Union Township.
MR. SMITH was married at New Carlisle, Ohio, June 1, 1859, to MISS
MELISSA B. JOHNSON, a native of Clarke County, Ohio, and a daughter of
JAMES and MARY (BURGESS) JOHNSON. Her father was an early settler of
Clarke County, and a paper manufacturer at Springfield for many years,
but at the time of his death, in 1840, he lived on his farm. His widow
survived him many years, dying about 1875. MR. and MRS. SMITH are the
parents of four children--MARCELLUS L., residing in Ramsey County,
Dakota; CARRIE B., wife of ADAM WALLACE, of LaFayette; WERDIE P. and
DELOS M. The Smith family have always affiliated with the Whig and
Republican parties in their political views. MR. SMITH, our subject,
has always been a Republican. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order
and has passed all the chairs in Tippecanoe Lodge, No. 55. He is also a
member of the Royal Areanum. MR. SMITH and his family are members of
the Methodist church.