JAMES S. SMITH

    The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were Samuel Smith and Sally Bailey, his wife. Samuel Smith was a son of James Smith and a native of Massachusetts.  He was a member of the Methodist denomination, but after coming to Ohio, devoted his time largely to farming.  During the Revolutionary war, he was a Sergeant, and for three months was engaged in guarding the Hessians; he was also engaged for six months on Long Island, and at one time, during the latter term of service, being detailed to watch the enemy from the top of a breastwork then being erected, he had 300 shut and shell fired at him by the red coats.  He was the father of nine children, one of whom died at their home in Vermont.  In 1817, he came to the West and located on 637 acres of land in Darby Township, Madison County, which he purchased at $2 per acre.  He brought with him seven children, three sons and four daughters, his eldest son having preceded him to the West.  He afterward disposed of 237 acres of his land, retaining 400 acres, on which he continued to live.  His wife was a daughter of Joshua Bailey and Elizabeth Chase, his wife.  Jollies Smith the father of our subject and a son of the above, was born in the woods at Berlin, Vt., September 23, 1793, and received very little schooling, by walking a mile through the woods to a school, then being taught by a woman, in a barn.  At twenty years of age he came to Ohio with his father, but afterward returned to Vermont, and in 1820 married Lucy K. Jones, a native of that State, with whom he returned to his Ohio home.  He had two children-Ira B., who died at the age of twenty-two years, and James S. In 1822 or 1823, he joined his brother John in the purchase of 200 acres of land, for which they paid $300.  They continued together in their operations until they had 1,400 acres, and in 1850 they divided their property, each taking half in value.  James chose, the west half, and continued in possession of it until February 1881.  In 1874, he discovered a failing in his sight, caused by the growth of a cataract over the right eye, which in time affected the other eye, and has resulted in almost total blindness.  He makes his residence with his son, and now in the declining years of his life is tenderly cared for by the latter and his family.  James S. Smith, whose name heads this sketch, was born at the old homestead in Darby Township, Madison County, August 9, 1823, and in 1850 came to his present place of residence.  He owns 1,100 acres of land, part in Darby Township, Union County, and part in Darby Township, Madison County.  On September 8, 1853. he married Miss Amanda Perry, a daughter of James and Susan (Lawrence) Perry, natives of Massachusetts, of English descent; she was born at Plainfield, Vt., March 3, 1835.  To this union four children have been born-Adeline T., born October 21, 1854; Archibald E., born January 11, 1859; Elmer Lawrence, born January 29, 1861. and died June 19, 1874, from injuries received by a kick of a horse, and Merton A., born July 5, 1866.  The surviving children reside at the house of their parents.  In 1862, Mr. Smith left his farm and took up his residence in Urbana, where he remained until 1867, when he returned to this farm, and has remained on it constantly since.