My Genealogy Hound

HIRAM SMITH is another one of the prominent citizens of the county who claim New York as their native State, his birth occurring in Genesee County, near Lockport, January 15, 1838, and he has all those characteristics of thrift, energy and industry so common to the average New Yorker. His parents, Samuel and Frances (Fordom) Smith, were of English and Welsh-Scotch extraction, respectively, but aside from that but little further is known of the early history of the family.

Our subject’s parents had thirteen children. Emily married William Owens, and became the mother of two sons and two daughters. They reside in Calvin Township. Esther, who first married William Hickley, became the mother of three children, but only one child lived. Her second marriage was to Ransom J. Osborn, by whom she had one child. She is now residing in Calvin Township, this county. Chauncy married Miss Frankie A. Wayne, and served three years in the Civil War. He was captured at Murfreesboro. Mary F, married Jeremiah Chowgo, by whom she had three children, and after his death she married Madison Maston. Lovisa married Silas Bump, and subsequently went to Kansas, where they now reside. They have four children. Alvira married Frank Hilton, and died leaving three children. Josephus died when young. Russel married Alfaretta Allen, and to them were born two children. After his death his widow married our subject. Lewis married Lourin Carmichael, but after her death was married to Miss Oma Schuttle, who bore him two children. They reside in Calvin Township. Harvey married Alta Osborn. Amos married Olive Niver, by whom he has three children. They reside in this township.

The father of our subject left New York State for Michigan in 1838 with an ox-team, and settled in Calvin Township, this county, where he tilled the soil for many years. His death occurred on this farm in July, 1888, when seventy-seven years of age, and his widow too passed away on the old homestead, in the spring of 1893, when seventy-two years of age. They were worthy and respected citizens. Our subject was but six months old when brought by his parents to Cass County, and of course all his recollections are of this State. He grew to sturdy manhood in the wilderness of Michigan, but on account of being obliged to work hard in youth, his educational advantages were rather neglected.

When eighteen years of age, our subject decided that it was not best for man to live alone, and he was married to Miss Hannah J. Haden. This union resulted in the birth of three children. Charles is a resident of Elkhart, Ind. Fred married Millie Day, and they have two children, Glennie and Jessie. He and his wife reside on a part of our subject’s farm. Edward married Lorena Cope, and they have one child, and reside in Elkhart, Ind. Mr. Smith lost his estimable companion December 18, 1885, and in 1886 he married his present wife, she being the widow of his brother Russel. They have two children, Stephen and Herman.

On the 2d of September, 1864, Mr. Smith enlisted in Company I, Twelfth Michigan Regiment, and served one year. The battle of Bull Run was the only engagement of note in which he participated, for he was on detached duty in Arkansas and Indian Territory most of the time. On the 9th of September, 1865, he was discharged at Camden, Ark., and returned to the peaceful pursuit of farming. Since the war he has resided on his present property, where he had settled shortly after his first marriage, and he is one of the foremost agriculturists of the county. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics has ever been a Republican. He has never aspired to political honors, and has never held a township office, preferring to devote all his energies to the farm.