Edwin Smith was a highly respected resident of Forestville and his demise was
sincerely mourned by his many friends. He was born in Indiana on the 30th of
April, 1845, a son of Jackson Smith, a native of England. The latter came to
Iowa in the early '50s and was for several decades a resident of Delaware county. Mr. Smith of this review was reared by his
grandparents until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he enlisted in
the Sixth Iowa Cavalry and served in the Union army for over three years. Most of the time his command was engaged in fighting the
Indians in the Dakotas.
At the end of his military service he returned to Iowa and located in
Manchester, where he learned the tinner's trade.
He subsequently removed to Forestville and worked in a mill there for some
time. His demise occurred there in November, 1911, when he was sixty six
years of age.
He was
industrious and did well whatever he undertook to accomplish, his many
admirable characteristics winning him loyal friends. He was for many years a
resident of the county and was well known and respected.
Mr.
Smith married on the 29th of August, 1867, Miss .Mary K. Gilbert, who was
born in Boone county, Illinois, but came with her
parents to Iowa when but seven years old. To this marriage were born two
children: Lida, who was born December 20, 1869,
and who died October 15, 1870; and L. Grace, who was born March 14, 1877, and
is the wife of W. L. Pelley. She has two
children: Bracell L., who is a high-school
student; and Rex A., born March 27, 1907. Previous to her marriage Mrs. Pelley was a school teacher for several years and
is a graduate of the state normal school at Cedar Falls.
Although Mrs. Smith owns a fine residence at Forestville, she is making her
home with her daughter, Mrs. Pelley, who is in
the hotel business in Dundee.
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