Oliver H. Smith

    Oliver H. Smith, dealer in clothing and gents' furnishing goods, is a native of Grant Township, and a son of William and Hannah (Smith); he was born February 15, 1847, and is of Irish-American descent. Mr. Smith's education was not the most elaborate, but he had acquired a good practical education and labored for his father, on his farm, until his majority.

    In 1872, he came to Boswell, and in company with D. E. Taylor, began a general store, being the second firm in the town -J. W. Hash & Son being the first -known as Taylor & Smith. Mr. Smith continued the business, after purchasing his partner's interest, two years, when he sold the same to H. C. Harris, and, in 1881, in company with his brother, he began the clothing business, theirs being the only store of that line in the town, in which they have been successful.

    In 1876, Mr. Smith was married to Miss S. J., daughter of John and Sarah Dawson, a native of Illinois. Their union has been productive of three children -Perry, Nellie and John W. Mr. Smith is a Democrat and cast his first Presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He is an Odd Fellow and he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.