Joshua D. Smith, one of the early settlers of Clayton County, was born in Essex County, N.Y., on the 4th day of July, 1833. His parents were Joshua and Susannah (Durfee) Smith, the latter a native of Rhode Island, the former of New York. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters. While living in New York their house caught fire, and Mrs. Smith being alone, three of their children were burned to death; one she succeeded in getting out, but it was so badly burned that it afterward died. They lost all their household goods. In 1850 he emigrated with his family to Clayton County, and loated in Farmerburg Township, where he entered land and made a farm, remaining until his death, which occurred in February, 1858. The mother died in January, 1880. J. D. was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. He left home and engaged in business for himself, entering into the land specualtion in Minnesota and Iowa, which he followed up to 1864, when he married Pamelia, daughter of Henry C. Hamilton. She was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., March 21, 1837. By this union there are four children, three of whom are living, viz.: Horace, Amelia B. and Zoe. Mr. Smith has a beautiful farm of 166 acres, valued at $50 per acre. In politics is a Republican, and has held several local offices of trust. He has been identified with the county for over thirty years, and can truly be classed with its pioneers. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1061-1062 |