Smith, Maple, Goar, Spencer, Fletcher, Carr, Wisehart, McMeans, Lybrook Compendium of Biography Of Henry County, Indiana B. F. Bowen 1920 JAMES M. SMITH Few communities are favored with a more intelligent and enterprising class of citizens than that of Dudley Township, Henry County, Indiana, and of these there can none be mentioned who deserve more favorable attention than the gentleman whose name opens this biographical sketch. James M. Smith is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Maple) Smith, and was born in Franklin Township, Henry County, Indiana, on the 20th of April 1839. His grandfather, Isaac Smith, was a native of Kentucky and was a veteran of the war of 1812. He was noted as a hunter and many stories are told of his prowess in that line. He removed from his native state to Fayette County, Indiana, and subsequently removed to Iowa, where his death occurred. Robert Smith, the father of the subject, was born in Kentucky August 25, 1804, was reared to manhood in that state and learned the trade of a miller. He ran a gristmill in his native state for a while, but while yet comparatively young came to Indianapolis, in company with a brother, and assisted in the construction of the second brick building erected in that city. At that time, that city was closely surrounded by dense woods and Indians were plentiful. After remaining a short time in Indianapolis he returned to his native state, but in 1824 brought his family with him to Indiana, locating in Franklin Township, Henry County. He entered land about a mile and a half northeast of Lewisville and here he erected the little log cabin in which they made their future home. He was ambitious and energetic and transformed this land into a neat and valuable homestead. He was one of the constructors of and assisted in building the National road running from Richmond to Terre Haute. He was a Christian in the fullest sense of the term and exemplified in his daily life the teachings of the man of Nazareth. Though reared in a southern state he was one of the early Abolitionists, and was utterly opposed to slavery, being fearless in his denunciation of the system of holding human beings in bondage. He maintained a membership in the Presbyterian Church and died in that faith at the advanced age of ninety-six years. To him and his wife there were born the following children: Martha E. is the wife of Henry Goar, a prominent citizen of Tipton, this State; Thomas J. has long been a prominent citizen of the state of Illinois; Margaret A, is the wife of Cyrus Spencer, a resident of Middletown, this county; Mary E. is the widow of the late Lewis Fletcher, of Harper, Kansas, but formerly of Henry County, Indiana; Phoebe J. is the wife of Robert B. Carr, ex-sheriff and ex-clerk of Henry County, but now of South Dakota; James M., the subject; Elmira M., the wife of Willis Wisehart, of Middletown, this state; John R, ex-marshal of New Castle and ex-deputy sheriff of Henry county, now lives at Indianapolis. James M. Smith, the immediate subject, was reared under the parental roof and attended school in Franklin Township and at Knightstown and was engaged in teaching school for twenty years during the winter months. He afterwards took up the study of the law and was admitted to the bar, though he did not follow that profession. After his marriage he lived on a farm for a while and then moved to New Castle that he might accept the position of deputy clerk under Robert B. Carr. In 1875, at the conclusion of his official duties, he located in his present home and has resided here without interruption since. He has a fine and well-improved farm, worth probably one hundred dollars an acre: and is engaged in the general pursuits of agriculture, also giving some attention to the raising of livestock. He has been fairly successful in his operations and today ranks with the most progressive agriculturists of Henry County. On the 17th of December 1868, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Leora A. McMeans. She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Catherine (Lybrook) McMeans, and was born in Lewisville, this state, December 31, 1847. Her grandfather, Thomas E. McMeans, was a native of Tennessee, but came to Union county, Indiana, in1819, and to Franklin Township, Henry County, in 1834. He was an active participant in public affairs, served at one time as sheriff of Union county and died at Lewisville, Indiana, at a ripe old age. Nathaniel McMeans was seventeen years old when he arrived at Lewisville. He was a harness maker by trade and followed that occupation for a number of years. He later bought a farm, which he cleared and improved, and then moved into the city of New Castle, but subsequently returned to farming, buying the place which is now the home of the subject. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Straughn, of which he is a trustee and of which Mrs. Smith was a charter member. Both are active workers in the Sunday school, of which Mrs. Smith has been superintendent for a number of years and in which Mr. Smith has taught a Bible class for thirty years. In politics the subject is an ardent Republican and has always taken a keen interest in the success of his party. In the campaign of 1888, when Benjamin Harrison was the Republican nominee for the Presidency, Mr. Smith and wife and R. L. McMeans and wife formed a quartet, known as the McMeans Glee Club, and sang at many political meetings, acquiring a very enviable reputation through Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. The subject served as justice of the peace in his Township for a number of years and administered justice in a very impartial and satisfactory manner. Mr. Smith possesses strong and positive traits of character, which have won for him a high place in the public esteem. He has always endeavored to he just and such has been his record. His deeds are the best line with which to measure his life, and his good works and beneficent influence will make his enduring monument. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are descendants from two pioneer and highly respected families of Henry County, and are justly proud of their ancestry.