Columbia County PA Archives Biographies.....SMITH, John M. 1826 - living in 1899
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  Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com June 30, 2005, 5:41 pm
  
  Author: Biographical Publishing Company
  
  JOHN M. SMITH, who formerly was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Madison
  township, Columbia County, where he owns an excellent farm of 200 acres, is now
  a resident of Jerseytown, where he is living in retirement. He is a son of
  Elisha B. and Mary (Miller) Smith, and was born on the Smith homestead, near
  Jerseytown, March 8, 1826.
  
    John Smith, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of New Jersey, who
  located in Briarcreek township, Columbia County, where he remained a few years
  before removing to Madison township. In the latter place he purchased a tract of
  400 acres of land and followed farming until his death. He and his wife Eleanor
  reared the following children: Henry; John; Francis; Hugh; Alexandria; Elisha
  B., the father of our subject; Elizabeth; Margaret; and Ann.
  
    Elisha B. Smith, after reaching manhood, succeeded his father on the old
  homestead in Madison township, where he was successfully engaged in cultivating
  the soil all of his life. He was called to his final rest in 1844, at the age of
  fifty-one years. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat and voted
  uniformly for that party. Religiously he was a member of the Reformed Church. He
  was united in the holy bonds of wedlock to Mary Miller, a daughter of Joseph
  Miller, a farmer of Mon-tour County, Pa., by whom he had three sons and two
  daughters: John M., the subject of this biographical record; Joseph, deceased,
  who was a farmer in Michigan; Margaret, deceased, who was the wife of George F.
  Fague of Muncy, Pa.; Elizabeth J., a maiden lady who resides with our subject;
  and Wilson W., a well-known business man of Hazleton, Pa. John M. Smith was
  reared on the farm and obtained his education in the common schools of his
  native town, after which he took up the occupation of a farmer. He resided on
  the old homestead, where he owned 200 acres of land and followed farming with
  excellent results until 1897, when he was enabled to retire from active labors
  and spend his declining years in the enjoyment of well-earned rest. He is now
  residing in the village of Jerseytown, where he has a large circle of
  acquaintances who hold him in high esteem as an estimable citizen and a true
  friend. During the Civil War he was unable to enter the service and consequently
  paid $600 for a substitute. Mr. Smith is a musician of considerable ability and
  for twenty-five years was teacher of a singing school.
  
    In 1862 our subject was joined in hymeneal bonds to Mary Pursel of Frosty
  Valley, Hemlock township, and they are the parents of three children: Elizabeth;
  Herman D., a bookkeeper of Williamsport, Pa.; and Gertrude. Mrs. Smith was
  called to her final rest in 1885, at the age of fifty-four years.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
  
  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
  Published by 
  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
  
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