Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 985 - 986 

BENJAMIN C. SMITH, a worthy representative of the farming and stock-raising interests of Greeley Township, came within its limits in time to assist in organizing the township of Nakulla, and his school district. Originally this township comprised all the territory lying between the two rivers from the south line of town 26 to the west line of the county, and Indians and buffaloes roamed unrestrained over the uncultivated fields. Mr. Smith has engaged in many a buffalo hunt over the ground where the city of Hutchinson now stands, and as one of the earliest pioneers of Southern Kansas is entitled to more than a passing notice.

            Muskingum County, Ohio, contained the boyhood home of our subject, where his birth took place Nov. 8, 1838, his parents being David G. and Mary (Johnson) Smith, natives of Ohio. The father was born Jan. 17, 1811, and followed farming in his native State until 1844, then removed to Huntington County, Ind., of which he was one of the early pioneers, settling in the timber. There he cleared a good farm, bringing the land to a high state of cultivation, and adding one improvement after another, so that it is now numbered among the most valuable homesteads of that section, and which he is still living to enjoy. The mother also survives, and is nearly five years younger than her husband, having been born July 12, 1816. Both are members of the Baptist Missionary Church, and by their kindly and useful lives have gathered about them a large circle of warm friends. Their five children were named respectively: Thomas J., Benjamin C., Mary E., Isaac A. and Martha E. The last named died at the age of three years; Mary is the wife of C. C. Miller, of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Thomas J. is a farmer and stock-raiser, of Eagle Township, this county; the other, Isaac A., is at home with his parents, superintending the farm and practicing medicine.

            While a resident of Wapello County, Iowa, Mr. Smith, after having fully equipped himself with a thorough knowledge of farming, was united in marriage with Miss Mary M. Linn, whose parents, James and Mary (Webb) Linn, were natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio. Mr. L. was born Oct. 8, 1808, and departed this life at his home in Agency City, Iowa, July 17, 1887. The mother was born about 1818, and is still living, making her home with her children in Agency City, Iowa. Mr. Linn was a blacksmith by trade, but during the later years of his life engaged in farming. Both were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are deceased. Those living are Rebecca A., Minerva L., Mary M., Levi, John F. and Philoma.

            Mr. Smith lived on the farm in Indiana with his parents until about twenty-three years of age, and in November, 1861, after the outbreak of the late Rebellion, enlisted as a Union soldier in Company H, 47th Indiana Infantry, and participated in various battles and skirmishes, among the most serious being the siege of Ft. Thompson, and the battle of Island No. 10. In May, 1863, his health having been undermined by hardship and exposure, he received his discharge on account of disability, and returned to the farm. Two years later he went with the family to Wapello County, Iowa, and four years later, in October, 1869, came to this county, and homesteaded 160 acres in Greeley Township, and pre-empted 160 acres in Eagle Township, and has in all 480 acres of land. This he has brought to a high state of cultivation, planted an orchard, and put up the various buildings required by the enterprising and progressive agriculturist. His family now includes three bright children: Altis Claude, born Oct. 28, 1874; David Franklin, May 19, 1877; and Wadie Gertrude, Sept. 30, 1880.

            Mr. Smith, politically, votes the Republican ticket, and has been Clerk of the School Board in his district since 1872. He was Township Trustee five years, and was the first Constable elected in this district, which then comprised the whole of the territory between the Great and Little Arkansas Rivers. Socially, he belongs to Stephenson Post, G. A. R., at Sedgwick City. In the winter of 1869 Mrs. Smith was farther west than any other white woman of the Arkansas River. In 1870 Mr. Smith lost a team of horses, which were stolen either by Indians, or by white men disguised as Indians, and fourteen head of horses belonging to other parties were driven out at the same time, and never recovered. The savages frequently passed by the door of his primitive cabin in the pioneer days, but never offered any violence.

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