Dudley F. Smith

            DUDLEY F. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in the vicinity of his present home, in Van Buren Township, on March 17, 1839. He was the third of five children of parents Dudley C. and Isabelle (Porch) Smith, natives of Vermont and North Carolina, and of English origin. Dudley C. Smith was thrice married. He first married Maria Humphrey, who bore him one child –Olivia (Givens). He was next married to Elizabeth Berry, of English birth. Her brother founded an institution called Harmony, where everything was in common. To this marriage were born two children (both living). The family came to Monroe County in 1820, settling near Bloomington, and there remained for five years. They then came to this township (Van Buren), and purchased 100 acres of land, partly improved. They were among the first to settle here, and Mr. Smith died here at the age of eighty-four, possessing 600 acres of land, and $10,000 in money. He distributed this among his children, and died a member of the Christian Church, in which he had been an Elder for about forty years. The grandmother of Dudley F. Smith was a sister of Salmon P. Chase, of national fame. Dudley F. attended common schools, and also the State University. His father had taught for fifteen years, and our subject has also followed that vocation to some degree.

    Mr. Smith married, December 23, 1863, Sarah Blankenship, a native of Decatur County, Ind. She is a daughter of James and Dolly (Stark) Blankenship, of English ancestry. To them were given four children, three now living –Winona, Ulysses Howe and Paul. Mr. Smith owns 120 acres, besides an interest in 560 acres in his father’s estate. The family are members of the Christian Church. He belonged to the Grange, and is now a Republican.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884. Page 651.