My Genealogy Hound

JAMES M. SMITH, son of Andrew and Selenor (Mackley) Smith, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, October 9, 1839. His father was born in Kentucky in 1811, and emigrated to Jackson county, Ohio, early in life. In 1842 he moved to Indiana, and in 1845 emigrated to Iowa, where he engaged in farming. He came to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1882, where he has since resided. He has been an active member of the United Brethren church for fifty years. His father was a native of South Carolina and was of Irish descent. He died in 1850. The maternal grandfather, John Mackley, was born in Virginia and was of Dutch descent. He also died in 1850. His wife was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and died in 1842. James M. Smith was a strong Union man during the dark days of the rebellion, and enlisted November 2, 1864, in the Thirteenth regiment, Iowa infantry, and went immediately to the front. He participated in the battle of Nashville, and also in the terrible struggle at Decatur, Ala. He served under Gen. Thomas during most of his service and was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, June 20, 1865. After he returned from the service he continued to farm in Iowa for ten years, then emigrated to Buffalo county, Nebr., in 1874, and took a homestead in the southern part of Thornton township, built a sod house and began breaking sod preparatory to planting his first crop. The country was, or seemed like, one vast barren waste, inhabited only by wild beasts; antelope and deer were plenty, and one only had to go a short distance north of where Mr. Smith now resides to see herds of elk. The first year he planted considerable corn and had splendid prospects for a crop, but the grasshoppers came along by and by and soon destroyed every hope of raising any corn that year. Mr. Smith, however, was not discouraged, and the year following planted and succeeded in raising a good crop. His experience the third year, however, was simply a repetition of the first, his entire prospect of a crop being destroyed by the grasshoppers. Even this did not wholly discourage him, for he had great faith in the future of the country and was determined to stay and give it another trial. He did so and has never experienced a failure of crop since. He was formerly the owner of two hundred and forty acres of choice land, but has just presented each of his sons with a deed for eighty acres. Mr. Smith was elected supervisor of Thornton township in 1888 and filled the office with entire satisfaction to all his constituents. Mr. Smith was united in marriage, September 27, 1862, to Miss Nancy Hendrickson. There were born to this union five children, namely — Minnie May, born July 27, 1863 (deceased); John J., born May 20, 1866; Andrew, born December 16, 1869 (married Hattie Carter); Maud, born March 6, 1872 (wife of Presley Clark), and Bertha Viola, born Sept. 11, 1876. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are active and devoted members of the United Brethren church.