Biography - Daniel Smith
DANIEL SMITH, who resides on section 19, Ridge Township, Shelby County,
is a citizen of superior ability and intelligence. His father, Nathan Smith,
and his grandfather, Daniel, Sr., were born in Maryland. The father of our
subject was a farmer by occupation and married, while living in Nicholas
County, Ky., Mary Killam, who was born in Nicholas County, December 2, 1799.
After marriage this young couple settled in Nicholas County and remained
there until death in the early prime of life, August 15, 1830. His bereaved
widow, who was the mother of five sons and one daughter, removed the
following year to Shelby County, Ill., and passed away January 30, 1880.
The subject of this writing was the second in this family, being born
September 21, 1821, in Nicholas County, Ky., where he spent the early years
of his life. The father died before the boy had completed his ninth year and
when he was ten years old he came with his mother and the family to Shelby
County, and lived for some nine or ten years in Rose Township. Since that
time he has made his home in Ridge Township. He received thorough training
in the practical work of farming in his boyhood and undertook that as his
life work.
Daniel Smith and Sarah A. Wagoner were united in the sacred bonds of
matrimony in Rose Township, August 3, 1843. The bride is a daughter of Jacob
and Drady (Sargent) Wagoner, both of whom were Virginians by birth and first
settled in Kentucky, afterward in Indiana and then pursued their pioneer
life in Illinois, settling in Rose Township in 1833. The mother died in 1840
and the father passed away in Ridge Township, in 1857. They were the parents
of eight children, five sons and three daughters, and Mrs. Smith, who was
born in Washington County, Ind., July 1, 1823, was the sixth in order of
age.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have passed their married life in Ridge Township and here
their family of five children have been born. George W. is a resident of
Shelbyville; Mary, who became the wife of Samuel Brownback, who died in
Rural Township in 1872, leaving one child, George, who has been reared by
his grandparents; Russell is a farmer in Rural Township: and John J. carries
on a farm in Ridge Township. The remaining child is Olivia. Three little
ones died in infancy. Mr. Smith has been Highway Commissioner and School
Director for a number of years. His political convictions have led him to
ally himself with the Democratic party and he cast his first vote for James
K. Polk. His wife is an earnest and active member of the Christian Church.
Mr. Smith bought his land from the Government and has a fine estate of four
hundred and sixty-seven acres upon which he has erected a delightful home,
commodious barns and other excellent outbuildings. These are situated upon
the home farm which covers some one hundred and fifty acres. This
intelligent gentleman and genial neighbor has made his mark in the community
where he lives and is worthy of the generous estimate which is every where
accorded him.
Extracted 11 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 291-292.
