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Note: "QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY HISTORY AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN" by David Wilcox, Chicago. Lewis Publishing, 1919, pp. 1045-1046: WILLIAM J. SMITH. The present county clerk of Adams County has many interests and associations that identify him with this section of Illinois. He was born here, and when Adams County was just emerging from its wilderness condition his grandparents established homes on tracts of Government land. There is a long and honorable record of the family who have been known as substantial land owners and agriculturists and men who have borne their responsibilities with credit in every relationship. The county clerk was born at Ursa in Adams County July 26, 1870, a son of William B. and Susan (LOWRY) SMITH. The paternal grandparents were James Glenn and Sarah (CUNDIFF) SMITH, who came from Kentucky to Adams County in 1830, and the 160-acre farm which the grandfather acquired from the Government and developed for agricultural purposes is now owned by his grandson, Thomas B. SMITH, of whom mention is found elsewhere in this work. This old homestead is situated near Ursa. William B. Smith was a native of Kentucky and was a small child when the family came to Adams County. He died at the age of fifty-eight and his wife two years later. The maternal grandparents of William J. SMITH were John and Isabel LOWRY, who brought their family from Londonderry, Ireland, where Susan Lowry was born, and settled on a farm in Adams County in 1836. William B. Smith and wife were the parents of six children: Sarah E., deceased; Isabella L. WALKER, deceased; Thomas B., owner of the ancestral estate near Ursa, and in whose sketch appears the family record; Margaret and Susan, who died in infancy; and William J. William J. SMITH lived on the farm and attended the rural schools until he was fourteen, after which he continued his education in the Quincy public schools, and spent one year in the college at Carthage, Illinois. He faced the serious responsibilities of life at the age of eighteen, and for three years was employed in the office of John H. BEST, traffic manager of the Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City Railway. He then went back home and participated in farming there for four years. Taking a civil service examination, he went to work for the Government as letter carrier in Quincy and was with the postal department there for ten years. He still retains his membership in the Letter Carriers' Association. Mr. Smith resigned as letter carrier to become deputy county clerk in 1906, and the four years he spent in that office was an invaluable preparation for his present duties. Leaving the county clerk's office he went on the road as a traveling representative of Armour & Company, and continued that work until elected county clerk in 1914. Mr. Smith's political activities have been in the democratic party. He is a Mason, a member of the Woodman of the World, the Loyal Order of Moose, and belongs to the Adams County Mutual Benevolent Society. His church is the Presbyterian. February 25, 1902, he married Maude E. BRAZIER of Macon, Missouri. They have one child, Elizabeth. By a previous marriage Mr. Smith has two children, William Bryant, now an auditor and Hunter B., a machinist." Middle name of John on 1880 Ursa, Adams Co, IL Census: <https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXNM-T5X> William B Smith Self M 56 Kentucky Susan Smith Wife F 49 Ireland Mathew Ferris Other M 30 Ireland John William Smith Son M 9 Illinois, 1900 Quincy Ward 5, Adams county, Illinois Census: Household Gender Age Birthplace head William J Smith M 30 Illinois Widowed, father's birthplace: Kentucky, mother's birthplace: Ireland son William B Smith M 8 Illinois son Hunter B Smith M 6 Illinois niece May L Byrd F 26 Illinois nephew Smith Byrd M 22 Illinois servant Catherine Thuer F 18 Illinois 1910 Quincy Ward 6, Adams county, Illinois Census: Household Gender Age Birthplace self William J Smith M 39y Illinois wife Maud E Smith F 36y Missouri son William B Smith M 17y Illinois son Hunter B Smith M 15y Illinois dau Elizabeth V Smith F 2y Illinois 1930 Quincy, Adams Co, IL Census: William J Smith Head M 59 Illinois Maude E Smith Wife F 56 Missouri Missouri, Marriage Records: William J Smith, Spouse: Maude E Brazier, Marriage Date: 25 Feb 1902, Marriage Place: Macon, Macon, Missouri Gravestone photo with Maude: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=87463309
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