My Genealogy Hound

DEACON SAMUEL SMITH, a well-to-do farmer of South Amherst, was born in Middlefield, Mass., August 5, 1826, son of Samuel and Lucy (Metcalf) Smith. Mr. Smith’s ancestors emigrated from England in 1634; and in the year 1700 some of them settled in East Haddam, Conn., where their descendants still reside. Mr. Smith’s grandfather, who served in the Revolutionary War, became one of the early settlers of Middlefield, Mass. He was a hard-working and successful man, and died there, over eighty years old. He raised a family of six children, of whom Samuel Smith, Sr., Mr. Smith’s father, was the youngest.

Samuel Smith, Sr., was born in Middlefield in 1797. He was reared to agricultural occupations, and succeeded to the ownership of his father’s farm. He always resided in Middlefield, and was a prosperous farmer. In politics he was originally a Whig, but was later identified with the Free Soil and antislavery parties. He was a member of the Baptist church. Samuel Smith, Sr., died in Middlefield, aged eighty years. His wife, Lucy Metcalf, who was born in Middlefield in 1800, became the mother of nine children, all of whom lived to maturity; and six are now living. They were: Joseph, Ann, and Edward, who are now dead; Lucy, Sarah, Samuel, John, Azariah, and Judson. The mother died at the age of fifty-nine.

Samuel Smith, Jr., commenced his education in the schools of Middlefield, and completed his studies with a year’s course at the Williston Academy. At the age of twenty-two he settled upon a farm in Middlefield, consisting of one hundred and eighty acres, which he purchased entirely on credit. By diligently applying himself to the task he not only cleared it from debt in fifteen years, but also had some capital to spare. In 1867 he moved to South Amherst, and bought the farm of sixty acres where he now resides. He conducts general farming, in which he has been successful; and, although he is nearly seventy years of age, he is still actively attending to his farm duties. He has well earned the prosperity he now enjoys. Politically, he is independent, but his sympathies are with the Prohibition movement.

In 1851 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mary Bliss. She was born in West Springfield, Mass., January 17, 1827, daughter of Hosea and Mary (Bagg) Bliss. Hosea Bliss was born in West Springfield, December 28, 1800, and married for his first wife Mary Bagg, who was born in West Springfield, April 14, 1802. She was the mother of four children, as follows: Huldah C. and Helen M., who are now dead; Malah E., wife of Noah Dickinson; and Mary M., Mr. Smith’s wife. Hosea Bliss died July 23, 1869. He attended the Congregational church. Mr. Smith’s first wife died June 3, 1860. He wedded for his second wife Martha Stone, who died in February, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had three sons, namely: Hosea B., who resides in North Amherst; Percy L., a resident of the State of Wyoming; and Earnest B., who resides at home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were members of the Baptist church, of which he has been a Deacon for over twenty years.