William Smith

    William Smith, the oldest living settler of Benton County, is a native of Ohio, born January 14, 1809, a son of James and Catherine Smith, and of Irish descent. He came to this county in the year 1839, worked for an uncle by the month, and on December 14 of that year married Miss Hannah Smith, daughter of William and Sarah Smith, a native of Ohio, who died April 15, 1878, having borne nine children -Stephen, James, William,. Philip, Oliver, Sarah, Catherine, and infant and Leah, of these two are deceased.

    After marriage Mr. Smith settled on the farm he now owns, having begun with a quarter-section and reached 500 acres, some of which he gave to his children, but reserving 300 acres, with improvements and good brick residence, worth $2,000. Mr. Smith remembers how abundant were the Indians, and wild game when he came to this territory, and recalls many interesting incidents of the early times. He is a life-long Democrat, and has served two terms as County Commissioner. He is one of the most moral of men and most exemplary of citizens. Mrs. Smith was a member of the M. E. Church.

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