HENRY LINTON SMITH

SMITH, HOLMES, SHERWOOD, LYON, VANDEVORT

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 3/8/2009 at 11:10:33

HENRY LINTON SMITH, a resident of Wapello, Iowa, was born in Rockbridge County, Va., Oct. 7, 1836, and is a son of Francis R. and Margaret (Holmes) Smith, both parents being natives of Virginia. The father emigrated to Miami County, Ohio, in 1844, where he engaged in farming and shoemaking. He and his wife reared a family of nine children, seven sons and two daughters: William P., who served as a soldier in the late war, died in Ohio after its close; Jeanette, wife of Jesse Sherwood, a resident of Illinois; John C., a resident of Columbus Junction, Iowa, whose sketch appears elsewhere; Caroline, who wedded James Lyon, of Ohio; James, a contractor of Rock Island, 111., died in 1856; our subject; Givens R., a railroad employe in Michigan; Francis K., also a resident of that State; Samuel W., a railroad employe, whose home is in Michigan. The father of this family, who was of Irish descent, was a man well informed on all questions of the day, and one who took an active part in tlie political affairs of the neighborhood. In early life he was a Whig, but at the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks, and was one of its ardent supporters until his death, which occurred in April, 1854. He reared his family well, gave his children all good educations, and lived to see them respected men and women, who do honor to his name. The mother was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and exerted an influence for the right over her children which will remain with them throughout their lives. She was also of Irish descent, and her death occurred in 1849.

Our subject was reared upon a farm in Miami County, Ohio, and was educated at the common schools. At the age of eighteen he left the parental roof and went to Mercer County, 111., where he was employed as foreman on a large farm for five years. In the spring of 1861, equipped with an ox-team, he started across the plains to Oregon, and was five months and twenty days in making the trip, landing at Dallas Sept. 20, 1861. He there engaged in freighting and mining until 1867, with the exception of two years spent in the service of his country. He became a member of the 1st Oregon Infantry, Company A, and was engaged in skirmishes on the frontiers of Oregon, Washington Territory and Idaho. In 1867 he went to California, where lie remained one year, and then returned to Ohio by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York City. He remained in the State during the winter of 1868-69, engaging in the wood business at Piqua, Miami County. During the following spring he became a resident of Louisa County, Iowa, settling at Grand View, where he engaged in buying and selling horses for two years, and in 1871 removed to Wapello, where he has since resided. Most of the time he has been engaged in the hotel business, and has had charge of every hotel in the city.

On the 12th of October, 1879, Mr. Smith led to the marriage altar Harriet Christina Vandevort, a native of Louisa County, and a daughter of J. M. Vandevort. They have been the parents of three children — Carrie Belle, Chester Linton, and Harvey, who died in infancy. Mr. Smith has been a member of the Town Council, and politically, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He is well known and universally respected throughout the county.
Source: Portrait and Biographical Album 1885