Centennial History of Grant County Ind. "Paschal B. Smith. Though not among the oldest residents of Grant county, which has been his home since l900, Mr. Smith has so effectively identified himself with the spirit and activities of the county that he is regarded as one of the most valued citizens. Mr. Smith is a big man, not only in physical proportions, but in Character and heart, is big hearted, generous and hospitable, and at the same time is a very practical and successful farmer who believes in going ahead all the time. Paschal B. Smith, the oldest of thirteen children, was born on the old Virginia homestead, February 24, l853. His education was received in the common schools, and as he grew up he became acquainted by practical experience with the activities of his father's farm. There he continued to live until twenty three years of age. On July l6, l875, just one year before the centennial celebration of American Independence, he married Elizabeth Gardner, a native of Scott County, Virginia, where she was born September 22, l856. Her parents were Ewel and Margaret (Barnhart) Gardner, natives of Scott County, where they lived and died prosperous farmers. Mr. Gardner was a California forty-niner, spending more than three years on the western coast, and having exceptional fortune in mining and his other ventures. After returning to Virginia, he gave all his attention to the cultivation of a large plantation. He was born in l8l0 and died August l7, l890. His wife died March 6, l904 when past eighty years of age. They were a Methodist family. Of the large family of children in the Gardner household, Mrs. Smith and a brother live in Indiana, the latter being J. Perry Gardner of Gas City in Grant county. After the marriage of Mr. Smith and wife, they lived ona farm in Virginia until the turn of the century. They then came to Grant County and located on the Schrader farm, near Jonesboro, and three years later took possession and began operating one hundred and sixty acres in the Solomon Wise farm in section fifteen of Fairmount township. He has proved very successful in Grant county agriculture, grows large quantity of hay, clover, corn, oats andwheat, and with the exception of the wheat practically every pound of his crops is fed to the stock on the place. As already noted, Mr. Smith is a hustler and one of the best farmers in this section of the county. He and his wife have seven sons and three daughters living, mentioned as follows l. Stephen R., a farmer in Mill township, married Lillie Fleenor, without children. 2. Calvin D., who married Ethel Overman, lives on a farm in Jefferson township and had two children Virginia and Ilene the later dying in infancy. 3. Charl,es L. is a farmer in Mill township and by his marriage to Bertha Clay has three children, L. Vera, Virgil Lee, and Edgar R. 4. James C., who is a foreman in the Jonesboro Rubber Company, married Margaret Jones and their two children are Warren H. and E.E., 5. Henry C., married Susan Swartz, lives in Jonesboro, and has a daughter, Darlene. 6. Daisy E. was liberally educated in the grade and high schools and is now living at home. 7 Maudella, a graduate of the high school and Marion Normal College holding a teacher's license, lives at home. 8 Woody M. is a junior in the Fairmount Academy 9 Joseph L. attends the public school and the younges, Gladys D. is also a student. One child Orville S., died at the age of twenty-eight years, unmarried. Mr. and Mrs. Smith hold to no particular church though their children attend the Methodist Protestant Sunday School. In politics he is a Democrat" Note: There numerous descendants of Samuel and Rachel Stinson Smith who are buried on a hill on their property. The cemetery is probably in the worse condition of any I have visited.