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Note: SMITH, John W. an old soldier and native of Ross township, Clinton county, Ind., springs from an old American family of English descent. His grand-father, William SMITH, was born in Virginia, in the year 1780, was taken to Licking county, Ohio, by his parents about 1790, and married Anna BROOK, in the year of 1801, in Licking county, Ohio. Anna was born in Ireland, in the year 1788, and with her parents emigrated to Ohio. William and Anna came to Ross township, Ind., in the summer of 1828, and entered and bought 480 acres of land. There were born to them: Alexander, David, Samuel, Thomas, John, William, James, and Archibald, Mary, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Anna, and Sarah. James and Archibald are now living in Durham, Lewis county, Mo.; Mary, Anna and Sarah are still living in Ross township, Clinton county, Ind. William Smith died June 25, 1833, aged fifty years, ten months, and twenty-one days; Anna Smith , his wife, died January 20, 1849, aged fifty-two years, two months, and three days; both were members of the M. E. church; in politics he was a whig. Thomas Smith , father of John was born in Licking county, Ohio, in 1808, and came to Ross township in 1828 with his parents; he married Rebecca WAYMIRE in 1830, and died July 15, 1873, aged sixty-four years, six months; his wife is still living in Rossville, Clinton county, Ind. Thomas Smith owned land that is now the southeast part of Rossville, and he helped to cut down the first tree on that side of town. He was a carpenter and worked at his trade, but engaged in brickmaking in 1850 and in 1858 engaged in sawmilling. He was a prominent man and a respected member of the Methodist church, held all the lay offices, was a local preacher twenty years, and was well and favorably known. His children now living are John, William, Mervin T., Marion M. and Lydia E. Mr. Smith died in Rossville. He was a most temperate man, and much respected member of the Sons of Temperance.
(The Waymires came from Germany and settled in Butler county, Ohio, about 1783. William WAYMIRE died in Ohio November 25, 1822. Harriet WAYMIRE, his wife, died June 5, 1850, aged fifty years, at Noah GADDIS's, while on a visit to relatives in Rossville, Clinton county, Ind. Harriet, his wife, married William GADDIS, about 1824, in Ohio, and came to Indiana and settled in Tippecanoe county, in the summer of 1828, both dying in Ross township, Clinton county, strict members of the M. E. church.)* *This information needs research.
John W. SMITH, our subject, was born in Rossville, September 1, 1837, and is the oldest man now living that was born and is still residing here. His brother, William, living one mile east, is two years older. Mr. Smith received a common school education and learned farming and carpentering. He married, September 28, 1857, Martha J., daughter of Abner L. and Prudence (CASSEL) JONES, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's sister Hannah, in Michigantown. After marriage Mr. Smith settled in Rossville and followed tile carpenter and sawmill business in company with his father and brother William. He enlisted August 8, 1862, in company I, Fourth Indiana cavalry, Seventy-seventh regiment, as private, at Rossville. His service was principally guarding railroads and scouting in eastern and southwestern Kentucky. He was disabled by an accident when on a charge on a town and was ruptured, but remained until he was discharged on account of disability at Bowling Green, Ky., March 15, 1863, and returned home to Rossville, where he had left a wife and two children. He engaged in the same business he left, including brickmaking. In 1869, he went to Owen township and engaged in the sawmill business until 1875, when he sold out and engaged in the brickmaking business, and in 1879 in making tile in which he was successful. He returned in 1890 to Rossville and bought a one-half interest in the tile factory with Henry L. Smith . He still retains his interest in the tile and brick works in Owen township, with his sons, John A. and Charles E., managers. Mr. Smith has done an extensive business in this line through this part of the county. John W. Smith's wife's father, Abner L. JONES, was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, emigrated to Ohio and married Prudence CASSEL in 1818. Prudence CASSEL was born in North Carolina in 1805. They came to Owen township, Clinton county, in 1836. Abner L. was the owner of 160 acres of land when he died, June 24, 1847, aged fifty years; Prudence died July 8. 1857, aged fifty-two years; both died on the farm settled on, and both were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. To them were born John, Ralph, Abner, Isaac, Isabel, Hannah, Martha, Prudence and Mary, all now dead but Isabel, Hannah and Abner. Mr. Smith and wife were the parents of three children; William T., John A., and Charlie E. Mrs. Smith died July 29, 1894. She was a devout member of the Methodist church for thirty-nine years. In politics John W. Smith is a republican and is now a member of the town council of Rossville, and no one in the village and township is more highly respected than he. He is a comrade of Oliver Short post, No. 390, G. A. R., has filled all the offices, and has been re-elected commander for the year 1895. pp. 859 - 860. Transcribed by Chris Brown
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