Biographical Sketch of Nathan R SMITH, Macoupin County, Illinois This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Crystal Jensen ---- Nathan R. Smith Family~ Greene, Madison, Macoupin ILL ------- Biographical Record of Macoupin Co, Illinois 1904; Pages 281 & 282. NATHAN R. SMITH one of the successful farmers and stock raisers of Dorchester Township, Macoupin County, the owner at a fine farm of 153 acres in Section 25 and 26, is also one of the prominent and influential men of his township. He was born December 5 1838 near Carrolton, Greene County, Illinois, and a son of Thomas and Mary (Chatham) Smith. This branch of the great Smith family is of Welsh extraction. The great-grandfather of our subject served in the Revolutionary War and his grandfather,Nathan Smith, served in the War of 1812. The latter had five children: Thomas, Joseph, Mrs. Elizabeth Weeks, Mrs. Miranda Newberry and Mrs. Lucy Woodruff, all of whom became residents of Illinois. Thomas Smith, father of Nathan R. Smith, was born August 9, 1813, in North Carolina near Raleigh, where he resided until 1834, when he removed to Greene County, Illinois. There he married and later removed to Madison County and still later to Macoupin County, dying on his farm south of Staunton in 1852. In politics he was a Whig. Both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church. The latter who was a native of Virginia, accompanied her parents first to Kentucky and later to Illinois. She became the devoted and beloved mother of six children: Nathan R., of this sketch, who is the oldest; Mrs. Frances Snell of Staunton; Jasper, who lives with our subject; Mrs. Ellen Sparks who lives near Edwardsville, Illinois; Joseph, superintendent of a coal mine at Staunton; and Mrs. Margaret Grant, of Edwardsville. Nathan R. Smith was an infant when his parents moved from Greene to Madison County and was four years old when they came to Macoupin County, which has been his home ever since, with the exception of three years spent in Madison County. He has always followed a farming life and his fine farm of 153 acres testifies to his ability. He located on it in 1866 and has made stock raising a feature; giving attention only to the best grades of cattle and hogs. His improvements are substantial and a lately erected fine dwelling and commodious barn, add much to the air of comfort and the prosperity of the place. He has a fine orchard of 50 trees, set out by himself, which are in good bearing at the present time. In 1858, Mr. Smith married Servilla Walker, who was born in Dorchester Township, Macoupin Co, Illinois, June 29, 1840, a daughter of Aaron and Nancy Walker, natives of Indiana and Illinois, respectively, who were pioneers in this section. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had three children born to them, viz: Charles, a resident of Mitchell, Illinois, who has four children, -- Charles, Donna, Maggie, and an infant; Thomas also a resident of Mitchell, who has three children; and James, who is also a resident of Mitchell. Mrs. Smith died in 1874 and in the following year, Mr. Smith married Hannah Cornelius, who was born in Dorchester Township, Macoupin County, Illinois, and they had three children: Nathan, of Mitchell; Mrs. Dolly Sawyer, of Staunton, and Cornelius who lives at home. The mother of this family, born February 14, 1853, died April 21, 1897. In 1900 Mr. Smith married Mrs. Julia Simmons, daughter of Jacob Perrine. For the past 30 years Mr. Smith has been a school official, for 16 years was a highway commissioner, has been four times elected township clerk and has been supervisor for seven years. In all his public offices he has been honest, careful, and economical in the interests of the township. Fraternally he is a Master Mason in Lodge No. 177 and a Modern Woodman of America in Lodge No. 572, both of Staunton. ------ Staunton City Cemetery, Staunton, Macoupin Co Illinois Nathan R. Smith born 5 Dec 1838 Died 5 Oct 1919 Wife: Hannah E., wife of N.R. Smith born 14 Feb. 1853 Died 21 April 1897 Buried: Section 2, Block 47, Lot #3 *************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. **************************************************************** This file has been submitted for inclusion in the USGenWeb Archives by: Crystal Jensen