Biography - James M. Smith
James M. Smith, whose farm of two hundred acres is pleasantly situated in Linder
[T]ownship about tree miles from Carrollton, has been a resident if Greene
[C]ounty since March, 1863. He was born in Knox [C]ounty, Tennessee, August 31,
1847. His father, John Smith, was also a native of Tennessee, and the
grandfather, William Smith, was born in Belfast, Ireland. The former was reared
in the state of his nativity and was married there to Nancy Golston, whose birth
occurred in that state. They began their domestic life upon a farm in Knox
[C]ounty, Tennessee, and eight children were born to them there. In 1863 they
removed to Illinois, settling in Greene [C]ounty, where the father spent his
remaining days.
James M. Smith went to Greene [C]ounty when youth of sixteen yers and he
remained under the parental roof until he had attained adult age. He had a fair
cammon-school education and was thus well equipped for life’s practical duties.
When he had reached manhood, he rented a tract of land and began farming on his
own account. In 1884 he made his first purchase of land, becoming owner of two
hundred acres where he now resides. This he began cultivate and improve and has
since carried on the work of the farm with excellent results, being now one of
the prosperous agriculturists of his community. He has improved his residence,
has built substantial outbuildings, and has equipped his farm with modern
accessories and the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the
fields. He raises wheat, corn and other cereals, and he also raises and feeds
stock, annually fattening and shipping about two carloads of cattle and two
carloads of hogs. He makes a specialty of pure blooded Poland-China hogs.
In 1874 in this county Mr. Smith was married to Miss Fannie Landis, who was born
in Greene [C]ounty and is a daughter of William Landis, one of the early
settlers of this part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Smith now have six children:
Arthur, who is living at Carrollton; Harry, at home; Nina, the wife of Herbert
David, editor of a paper at Winchester, Illinois; Grace, Laura, and Philip S.,
all at home.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Smith is a
Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Carrollton. He votes with the Republican
party and has never faltered in his allegiance thereto since casting his first
presidential ballot for U. S. Grant in 1868. He has never sought or desired
office for himself, but served on the school board for six years. His residence
in Greene [C]ounty covers more than four decades, during which time has done his
full duty as a citizen, being a public-spirited man interested in whatever tends
to promote the general welfare. His business career has also been crowned with
success and proves that prosperity may be attained through well directed and
persistent effort.
Extracted 2021 Aug 23 by Marti Swanson from Past and Present of Greene County, Illinois, by Ed Miner, published in 1905, pages 635-636.
