Eli Smith was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1804, and in his native state was reared. When he had arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Clarissa Childs, who was also born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1804 and was a daughter of David W. Childs. Her father was born November 17, 1778, and was married September 7, 1802, to Eunice C. Clapp, who was born in May, 1777. They had five children: Herrick, Clarrissa, Sylvia, Eunice and David.
The wedding trip of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith consisted of their journey to Illinois by way of the lakes to Chicago and thence by ox team to Bureau county, riding the oxen part of the way. With them came Mr. Smith's brother and they located upon the present farm of their son Henry, comprising one hundred and thirty acres. The year of their arrival was 1831, at which time the father entered the land from the government, and it has since remained in possession of the family, Henry C. Smith now holding the original patent. After reaching Bureau conty Eli Smith and his wife stopped for the first night at the cabin of Elijah Eperson, of Princeton township. Their first home was built of logs and Mr. Smith, who was a carpenter by trade, erected the first frame house in Princeton. He had never engaged in farming before, so that his first experience at farm labor was upon his wild prairie land, which he broke, plowed and planted, giving to it his entire attention. As the years passed and he brought his fields under cultivation he was rewarded with good harvests.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith numbered eight children. They were members of the old Hampshire Colony, in which Mr. Smith took an active and leading part. In politics he was first an abolitionist because of his pronounced views in regard to slavery, and later he became stalwart republican. He was known as a most highly repsected and valued citizen, whose influence and labors aided in shaping the destiny and molding of the policy of the county during its formative period and in its later-day develpment. In 1846 he built the brick residence upon the farm
PChicago tribune. (Chicago, Ill.), September 05, 1871
Eli Smith, one of the oldest settlers in Bureau County, died at his residence, two miles north of Princton, on Monday of last week, aged 67 years. Mr. Smith came to Princeton 40 years ago last June and was one of the founders of the Hampshire colony.
The wedding trip of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith consisted of their journey to Illinois by way of the lakes to Chicago and thence by ox team to Bureau county, riding the oxen part of the way. With them came Mr. Smith's brother and they located upon the present farm of their son Henry, comprising one hundred and thirty acres. The year of their arrival was 1831, at which time the father entered the land from the government, and it has since remained in possession of the family, Henry C. Smith now holding the original patent. After reaching Bureau conty Eli Smith and his wife stopped for the first night at the cabin of Elijah Eperson, of Princeton township. Their first home was built of logs and Mr. Smith, who was a carpenter by trade, erected the first frame house in Princeton. He had never engaged in farming before, so that his first experience at farm labor was upon his wild prairie land, which he broke, plowed and planted, giving to it his entire attention. As the years passed and he brought his fields under cultivation he was rewarded with good harvests.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith numbered eight children. They were members of the old Hampshire Colony, in which Mr. Smith took an active and leading part. In politics he was first an abolitionist because of his pronounced views in regard to slavery, and later he became stalwart republican. He was known as a most highly repsected and valued citizen, whose influence and labors aided in shaping the destiny and molding of the policy of the county during its formative period and in its later-day develpment. In 1846 he built the brick residence upon the farm
PChicago tribune. (Chicago, Ill.), September 05, 1871
Eli Smith, one of the oldest settlers in Bureau County, died at his residence, two miles north of Princton, on Monday of last week, aged 67 years. Mr. Smith came to Princeton 40 years ago last June and was one of the founders of the Hampshire colony.
Eli Smith was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1804, and in his native state was reared. When he had arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Clarissa Childs, who was also born in Deerfield, Massachusetts, in 1804 and was a daughter of David W. Childs. Her father was born November 17, 1778, and was married September 7, 1802, to Eunice C. Clapp, who was born in May, 1777. They had five children: Herrick, Clarrissa, Sylvia, Eunice and David.
The wedding trip of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith consisted of their journey to Illinois by way of the lakes to Chicago and thence by ox team to Bureau county, riding the oxen part of the way. With them came Mr. Smith's brother and they located upon the present farm of their son Henry, comprising one hundred and thirty acres. The year of their arrival was 1831, at which time the father entered the land from the government, and it has since remained in possession of the family, Henry C. Smith now holding the original patent. After reaching Bureau conty Eli Smith and his wife stopped for the first night at the cabin of Elijah Eperson, of Princeton township. Their first home was built of logs and Mr. Smith, who was a carpenter by trade, erected the first frame house in Princeton. He had never engaged in farming before, so that his first experience at farm labor was upon his wild prairie land, which he broke, plowed and planted, giving to it his entire attention. As the years passed and he brought his fields under cultivation he was rewarded with good harvests.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith numbered eight children. They were members of the old Hampshire Colony, in which Mr. Smith took an active and leading part. In politics he was first an abolitionist because of his pronounced views in regard to slavery, and later he became stalwart republican. He was known as a most highly repsected and valued citizen, whose influence and labors aided in shaping the destiny and molding of the policy of the county during its formative period and in its later-day develpment. In 1846 he built the brick residence upon the farm
PChicago tribune. (Chicago, Ill.), September 05, 1871
Eli Smith, one of the oldest settlers in Bureau County, died at his residence, two miles north of Princton, on Monday of last week, aged 67 years. Mr. Smith came to Princeton 40 years ago last June and was one of the founders of the Hampshire colony.
The wedding trip of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith consisted of their journey to Illinois by way of the lakes to Chicago and thence by ox team to Bureau county, riding the oxen part of the way. With them came Mr. Smith's brother and they located upon the present farm of their son Henry, comprising one hundred and thirty acres. The year of their arrival was 1831, at which time the father entered the land from the government, and it has since remained in possession of the family, Henry C. Smith now holding the original patent. After reaching Bureau conty Eli Smith and his wife stopped for the first night at the cabin of Elijah Eperson, of Princeton township. Their first home was built of logs and Mr. Smith, who was a carpenter by trade, erected the first frame house in Princeton. He had never engaged in farming before, so that his first experience at farm labor was upon his wild prairie land, which he broke, plowed and planted, giving to it his entire attention. As the years passed and he brought his fields under cultivation he was rewarded with good harvests.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Smith numbered eight children. They were members of the old Hampshire Colony, in which Mr. Smith took an active and leading part. In politics he was first an abolitionist because of his pronounced views in regard to slavery, and later he became stalwart republican. He was known as a most highly repsected and valued citizen, whose influence and labors aided in shaping the destiny and molding of the policy of the county during its formative period and in its later-day develpment. In 1846 he built the brick residence upon the farm
PChicago tribune. (Chicago, Ill.), September 05, 1871
Eli Smith, one of the oldest settlers in Bureau County, died at his residence, two miles north of Princton, on Monday of last week, aged 67 years. Mr. Smith came to Princeton 40 years ago last June and was one of the founders of the Hampshire colony.
Family Members
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