1.) Pioneer Citizen Called Home

The community was called upon to mourn the passage of one of her pioneer citizens this week in the person - of James R. Smith who died Monday morning from complications developing from a fall which he sustained a few weeks ago.

There was no man in the community better known, having resided in and near Lamoni continuously for the past fifty-six years, and no one was more respected and loved by the entire community.

J. R. Smith was born in Lewis county, New York, April 3, 1841, a son of Peter and Emma Smith, the former being a native of Germany. When he was quite young his mother died and at the age of fifteen years he began life for himself.

From that time till he arrived at manhood he lived in LaSalle county, Illinois, where he was variously engaged, meanwhile gaining experience and forming habits of industry and self-reliance which have been of great value to him in later years.

When about twenty-one years of age he went to Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where, two years later he was married to Eliza A. Graham, November 3, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Smith came to Decatur county in 1866, where they have since resided.

J. R. Smith did more perhaps than any other one man in developing the community surrounding his home in this part of Decatur county. For many years he was the only buyer of livestock in this part of the country traveling over the hills usually on horseback gathering together a bunch of stock and driving to the railroad, which for many years extended no farther west than Leon and from there shipping to the [illegible]. He shipped the first stock from any station between Kellerton and Humeston. He drove cattle to Osceola, and for many years drove hogs to Leon in large numbers, at one time 13 car loads.

In those early days, a man paid the cash for what he bought his check being of but little value to the average man many miles from a bank or store able to handle the check. There was never a worthy man in those early days that applied to Jim Smith, as he was familliary known among his friends, for assistance who was turned away if it was possible to help him.

Mr. Smith himself a man of but moderate means in those days, lent his influence and his credit to assist a man less fortunate than himself. He was known far and wide for his hospitality and there were few if any homes in the entire community that entertained more visitors than that of J. R. Smith and wife.

During the winter months of Mr. Smith's early years in Decatur county, he did more or less teaming to help out with expenses, hauling goods from Ottumwa, later Osceola, before the railroad was built to Leon, often being gone from home from four to six and eight days at a time leaving his little family to care for the home out on the bleak prairie.

Mr. Smith was one of the signers of the original charter for the townsite of Lamoni when the railroad was built in the early eighties. He always took a lively interest in the official affairs of his community. He served for forty years or more as treasurer of the school board in his district in New Buda township and also served as supervisor of Decatur county for six years doing a fine work while thus engaged.

Mr. Smith by his hard work and economy together with his unlimited faith in the future of the country accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods to enable him to retire from his activities a number of years ago, when they moved to Lamoni where he has since resided. While not actively engaged in business, except as acting as director and vice-president of the Farmers State Bank which he helped to organize, he was keenly interested in the affairs of the town and community, was an honored member of the Lamoni Commercial Club, and had started to attend the regular meeting of the same with his son Arthur when he met with the accident from which complications arose that resulted in his death early Monday morning, February 20.

Mr. Smith was a great church worker having done much to establish the Methodist church in Lamoni of which he was a member. He was a liberal contributor to Graceland College and all other enterprises for the good of Lamoni and the people in general.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith reared a family of eight children. Those living and present at the funeral are C. F., T. J., A. H. and Mrs. Louise White of Lamoni, Mrs. Minnie Keller of Sterling, Illinois, and Mrs. Gertrude Teak of Keokuk, Iowa. Two sons E. H. and J. W. died in 1910. Two daughters and one son died in early infancy.

The funeral was held yesterday afternoon from the [RLDS] Brick Church, Rev. J. Vincent Gray in charge, sermon by Rev. R. M. Shipman. Pall bearers were chosen from the Masonic lodge of which he had been a member for years. It can certainly be said of J. R. Smith that one of the honorable men of the earth has passed to his reward.

Source: The Lamoni Chronicle, Lamoni, Iowa, Thurs. 23 Feb 1922, p. 1

2.) Biography: "For more than three decades James R. Smith was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Decatur county but is now practically living retired in a comfortable home in Lamoni.

"He was born in Lewis county, New York, April 3, 1841, a son of Peter and Emmeline SMITH, who were both natives of Germany but, emigrating to the New World in an early day, were identified with the farming interests of Lewis county for a long period. Both spent their remaining days in the Empire state and passed away there. In their family were three sons, one of whom is living in the east.

"James R. SMITH was reared in the Empire state to the age of sixteen years and during that time he acquired but a limited education. At that early age he heard and heeded the call of the west and accordingly, in 1867, made his way to Illinois, and found employment at farm work near Mendota, in La Salle county. He was married in Jo Daviess county, that state, in 1864 and in the fall of 1866 continued his journey westward to Decatur county, Iowa.

"In the following year, 1867, he located upon a farm southeast of Lamoni, which continued his home throughout a long period. When Mr. SMITH came to Iowa he had three horses and a wagon and but a few hundred dollars in money. This money he invested in land, which was then in a wild state, for at that time this county was but sparsely settled and wild game was numerous. Mr. SMITH went to work and in course of time had the raw land in a good state of cultivation. As he prospered he added to his holdings from time to time until he became the owner of a large amount of land, being at the present time the possessor of eight hundred and forty-five acres. He not only raised the cereals best adapted to soil and climate but also engaged extensively in raising stock, making a specialty of high grade cattle, and this returned to him a good income.

"It was some twenty years ago that he removed to Lamoni and embarked in the grain business, becoming one of the largest buyers of grain in this section of the state. He also assisted in the organization of the Farmers State Bank at Lamoni and is still serving as its vice president. Eventually, however, he disposed of his business interests and for the past fourteen years has lived retired, giving his attention to his invested interests but leaving the active work of his farm to younger hands. He has been a successful man and his success is based largely upon the fact that he was thrown upon his own resources early in his career, which developed in him a spirit of self-reliance and determination to make for himself a place in the middle west.

"As previously stated Mr. SMITH was married in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, in November, 1864, to Miss Eliza A. GRAHAM, and in 1914, after a happy married life covering five decades, they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of that event. Mrs.SMITH was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, a daughter of Theodore and Lena (TUCKER) GRAHAM, natives of Ohio and Missouri, respectively. They were married, however, in Illinois.

"In 1866, the same year of the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. SMITH in Iowa, they, too, journeyed to Decatur County and Mr. GRAHAM purchased a farm located south of Davis City and west of Pleasanton, in Hamilton township. There he was busily engaged for many years with the improvement and cultivation of his place but both he and his wife departed this life many years ago. He was successful in his undertakings and was a stanch supporter of the republican party. Of their family two sons and four daughters survive: Mrs. Viola LANDPHAIR, of Pleasanton, Iowa ; Mrs. Warren LITTLE, of Missouri ; Mrs. Lydia M. OLDS, of Jo Daviess County, Illinois; Mrs. SMITH; William H., who is living retired in Lamoni, Iowa; and Benjamin F., who makes his home in Harrison county, Iowa.

"To Mr. and Mrs. SMITH have been born eight children, of whom six survive and all but one were born in Iowa. Clarence F., a farmer and stockman of Lamoni, is married and has one daughter. Theodore J., who also follows farming and stock-raising near Lamoni, is likewise married and has a family. Minnie B. is the wife of D. F. KALLER, a traveling salesman, who makes his home in Lamoni. Gertie is the wife of Bert TEALE, of Mount Ayr, Iowa. Louie is the wife of A. Otis WHITE, who is engaged in the undertaking business in Lamoni. Arthur H. is married and has one child. He is now operating the home farm near Lamoni.

"Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. SMITH has given stalwart support to the republican party and has served as a member of the board of supervisors, while for the past thirty years he has acted as school treasurer - a fact indicative of the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. In matters of religion he and his family affiliate with the Methodist church, and fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Lamoni. The position he has attained and the success he has won is the outcome of energy and perseverance intelligently applied in his early manhood. To few is accorded the privilege of traveling the journey of life together for a period of more than fifty years as Mr. SMITH and his estimable wife have done and to few is accorded the high regard and esteem that this venerable couple enjoy from all with whom they are brought in contact.

SOURCE: HOWELL, J. M. & SMITH, H. C. History of Decatur County Iowa S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.

2.) Biography "James Robert Smith was born in Lewis County, New York, 3 April 1841; Eliza A (Graham) Smith was born in northern Illinois, July 1844.

"After his mother died, at the age of fifteen years James Robert Smith started to make his own way. He left New York and came to LaSalle County, Illinois, where he lived 'till manhood. When about 21 years of age, he went to Jo Davies County, Illinois, where he married Eliza A. Graham 3 November 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Smith continued to live in Jo Davies County, until they moved to New Buda Township, Iowa.

"Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Smith are among the early settlers of New Buda Township where they settled in the autumn of 1866. They bought 160 acres of land, on which they lived 'till they moved to Lamoni a few years ago. To this original 160 acres Smith kept adding 'till at one time he had 900 acres besides a farm of 320 acres in Bloomington Township. While living on the farm, Smith was a dealer in stock, buying and feeding. This business amounted to around $50,000 per year. In the early days while living on the farm, the Jim Smith's home was known far and wide as one of the most hospitable places in this section of the country. At present, Mr. and Mrs. Smith own the old homestead and an elegant home in Lamoni. Smith is also a stock-holder and vice-president of the Farmers State Bank of Lamoni.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of eleven children, three dying in infancy, those living being: Mrs. Gertie Teale, Mt. Ayr; Mrs. Minnie Keller, Mrs. Louisa White, Clarence F., Theodore J. and Arthur H., all of Lamoni."

SOURCE: The "Decatur County Journal November 12, 1914"

and "J. R. Smith and Eliza A. (Graham) Smith Anniversary" Posted by Deborah Brownfield Stanley, February 28, 2002

Son of Peter and Emma Smith.

WIFE: Eliza Ann Graham

m. 3 Nov 1864 - Jo Daviess County, Illinois