My Genealogy Hound

SANFORD M. SMITH, farmer and stock dealer, section 29, post-office Carthage, is a native of the Empire State, born March 6, 1820. In 1826 his parents moved to Ontario, Canada, and from there they moved to Michigan in 1835, settling in Kalamazoo county, and engaged in farming, where our subject was married Feb. 16, 1844, to Miss Catharine Rowley, of Schoolcraft, Mich., a native of Ireland. Of this union there are two sons, Lewis W. and Richard R. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California, engaging in mining with good success, and returned via Panama next year. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company E, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, and served in the western department against hostile Indians. He was engaged in three fights, and promoted to first sergeant of the company, and was commissioned lieutenant in May, 1863, and mustered out in the fall of 1865, and returned to his home. Mr. Smith came to Jasper county in 1866, and the following year purchased the farm on which he now lives, very nicely situated on Center Creek, consisting of 240 acres, 200 of which are improved, and have good substantial farm buildings. Since Mr. Smith first came to the county he has been engaged in handling livestock and has been quite successful. In 1868 he introduced a flock of 400 sheep into Jasper county, driving them through from Kankakee, Ill., and always keeps more or less sheep for market. Mr. Smith has been honored by positions of public trust, and has inaugurated many progressive improvements in his locality in the schools and otherwise. He is well and favorably known in the county as an energetic and enterprising business man and a kind neighbor and friend.