My Genealogy Hound

MARSHALL C. SMITH, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Chesterfield, was born in Chester, Hampden County, Mass., December 25, 1855, son of Amok C. and Sarah L. (Beldin) Smith, both of Chester. His father was born November 23, 1812, his mother November 24, 1819. In early life Amok Smith was a painter, and also was engaged in manufacturing paint. Later he took up farming as his occupation, making his home in Chester till 1880, when he came to his son’s farm, where he lived till the time of his death, June 18, 1891. His wife now lives with her son, the subject of this sketch. They were the parents of seven children, namely: Henry H., a Congregational minister, who married Mary Summers, and lives in Knightville, Mass.; Ellen W., wife of Robert A. Billings, of Providence; Fitch G., who died March 8, 1847; Addie D., born April 4, 1849, who died March 15, 1861; Mary E., wife of Ptolemy Smith, of Worthington; Marshall C.; Jennie, born February 21, 1861, wife of A. E. Freeman, of South Worthington village.

Marshall C. Smith received a good common-school education, attending school in Hampshire and Hampden Counties. He worked with his father till 1879, when he took possession of the farm that he now owns, which originally consisted of one hundred and eighty-five acres, but has been enlarged by subsequent purchase till it now comprises three hundred acres. He has made many improvements on his place, and raises bountiful crops of corn, potatoes, and hay, besides large quantities of fruit, a patent evaporator for preparing the latter commodity for market being prominent among his agricultural machines and appliances.

On December 25, 1875, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Lizzie E., daughter of Samuel and Mary Beldin, who was born July 19, 1853, in Chester. Mrs. Lizzie E. Smith died about a year after marriage; and on September 29, 1886, Mr. Smith took to his home a second wife, Gertrude J. Knight, a daughter of O. E. and Anna M. (Smith) Knight, who was born in Norwich, Mass., May 23, 1868. Her parents are both living, her father being the present Postmaster in Norwich. Two children have their home with Mr. and Mrs. Smith, namely: Charles Pomeroy, who came to them when six years of age; and his sister, Hattie A. Pomeroy.

Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican. His wife is a member of the Congregational church at Huntington. They have a very pleasant home, the house, which is a hundred years old, being built with spacious rooms in the generous and substantial fashion of last century.