My Genealogy Hound

JAMES SMITH, a leading agriculturist and extensive land-holder of Berrien County, Mich., owns a magnificent homestead of three hundred and twenty acres, located upon section 24, Berrien Township, and has been a constant resident of his present locality and closely identified with the progressive interests of the State for more than three-score years. The father of our subject, Isaac Smith, born in Doyle County, Ky., in 1800, journeyed with his parents to Ohio when only seven or eight years of age, and settled in Preble County. Later in life he became a farmer in Indiana. The paternal grandfather, James Smith, was a native of Pennsylvania, but in very early days made Kentucky his home. One of his sons, Robert, served with courage in the War of 1812. The mother, Martha (Burke) Smith, a native of Giles County, Va., and born in 1795, was the daughter of John Burke, a pioneer settler of Ohio. The parents married in the Buckeye State and emigrated to Indiana, later removing with two yoke of ox-teams from Union County, Ind., to their homestead in Michigan, upon which they settled permanently in the fall of 1830. The land was covered with a dense growth of timber, through which the Indians roamed, and to which there was then no road from the highway. The father assisted in making the road to Berrien Springs. He had but very little capital, and when he had purchased the one hundred and sixty acres of unbroken wilderness, years of hard work faced him.

With energy and courageous resolution, Isaac Smith set himself to work. He had, to assist him, an ox-team and a horse, and as companions of the solitude he had his faithful wife and three little children. His first care was to build a substantial log house, which the family made their permanent home. In time he cleared, cultivated and improved the farm, one of the landmarks of pioneer days. The mother passed away in 1857, the father surviving her twenty-five years. They were the parents of five children, of whom our subject is the only one now living. In early life a Whig, Isaac Smith later became a stalwart Republican, and was a prominent factor in the social, religious and political enterprises of his locality. In religious belief a Presbyterian, he was generous to the needy and a kind neighbor in hours of suffering. Energetic, self-reliant and industrious, he was beloved and respected by all who knew him.

Our subject, James Smith, was born November 2, 1827, in Preble County, Ohio, and came to Michigan when a little lad of three years. Reared to manhood on the old farm, he attended the log schoolhouse, and afterward enjoyed the benefit of instruction in a select school in Niles. When twenty-one years of age, he began life for himself, and adopted the avocation of his father, and has continued the pursuit of agriculture his entire life.

In October, 1853, James Smith and Malvina Babcock were united in marriage. Mrs. Smith was a daughter of John and Sarah (Kendall) Babcock, natives of Stephentown, Rensselaer County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock were both born in the year 1795. John Babcock studied law under Judge Mann, of Troy, N. Y., and practiced there until his death in 1841. Mrs. Babcock survived until 1876. They were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom attained to adult age, six yet surviving. Two sons served in the war. H. R. was with the First Michigan Cavalry from the beginning of the Civil War to its close. Allan K., of the Seventh Iowa, was killed at the second battle of Corinth. Mrs. Smith was born November 16, 1829, in Stephentown, and attended school in that place until thirteen years of age, when she went to Chemung County. In 1844, arriving in Michigan, she prepared to teach, and for several years presided in various schools of the State, and was so successful as an instructor that her services were in constant demand. The father was very active in politics and, although all his sons were Republicans, Mr. Babcock remained a strong Democrat and with honor held many town offices. In faith, he and his family were Episcopalians. The mother joined her children in Michigan in 1858.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith were blessed by the birth of four children, three of whom yet survive. Martha is the eldest-born; Mary, deceased, was the wife of H. C. Corell, and left one child, Anna Claudine; Dr. Ethan H. practices medicine in Santa Clara, Cal.; Charlie R. is the youngest-born. The estimable wife of our subject is a valued member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, and has taken an active part in the Sunday-school and is known as a woman of high principles and earnest character. Mr. Smith has also taught in the Sunday-school for fourteen years and has had a class average of twenty scholars. He has likewise served as Treasurer. Miss Martha is a teacher in the Sunday-school and has also been Secretary of the Pokagon Township Sunday-school Association for eleven years. The parents and their daughter and sons occupy social positions of usefulness and influence and have a host of friends. The daughters, graduating from the Niles High School, were both proficient in music and enjoyed extended advantage for a thorough education and the study of art and music. The eldest son, Dr. Ethan H., was a student in the classical course at the University of Ann Arbor and also entered the medical department, and graduated from Bellevue Medical Hospital College in 1889. For forty years our subject has been fraternally connected with the lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Berrien Springs. A Republican since the organization of the party, he takes a deep interest in local and national issues and has frequently served his party with ability as a delegate to conventions, but has never desired nomination for office, although frequently solicited to allow the use of his name as a candidate. Financially prospered, Mr. Smith owns eight hundred acres of valuable land, and upon his finely improved homestead profitably conducts general farming, and raises some of the best stock (principally horses) handled in the county. A man of sterling integrity and superior business attainments, our subject commands the high regard of all his fellow-townsmen and of his wide acquaintance throughout the State.