Francis M. Smith

            FRANCIS M. SMITH was born in Whitley County, Ind., January 3, 1849, the son of Elias and Nancy Smith, born respectively in 1825 and 1827, in Wayne County, Ohio, where they were married, January 24, 1847. In 1848, they removed to this township and settled on section 27, and there the father died, November 20, 1878. The mother still lives on the farm with her children. Our subject, Francis M., the eldest of eight in the family, remained at home till about twenty-four, years of age, when he went forth to seek his own fortunes. February 12, 1874, he married Mrs. Martha J. Wagner, who was born in Ohio, December 1, 1850, and was the daughter of Philip and Martha Wince. Shortly after his marriage he bought a farm on Section 28, this township (Washington Twp.), and occupied it until 1882, when he sold it and bought an 80 acre farm on Section 23, in the same township, on which he now resides. He is a rising young man, and quite popular in the community. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church and have a family of four children, namely: William W. Wagner, (Mrs. Smith’s son by her first husband), Cora, Flora, and Emma.

Source: Counties of Whitley and Noble, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Weston A. Goodspeed, Historical Editor. Charles Blanchard, Biographical Editor. F.A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1882, page 389.