Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 454-455; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Patrick H. Smith occupies an important position both in
the public and business life of Union Township, of which he is
Supervisor, and where he is engaged in buying and selling hay and
grain. Kentucky is his native State, he having been born in Union
County, November 5, 1830. His parents were Samuel A. and Louisa
(Clements) Smith. His father was born in St. Mary's County, Md., in
1803, and early in the present century was taken to Kentucky by his
father, who was a physician, and a pioneer of that State. He was of
English descent. Samuel Smith became a farmer, but in 1849 he abandoned
his farm and removed to Uniontown, Ky., with his family, and there
engaged in the mercantile business, until his death the following year
deprived the community of an enterprising and valued citizen.
Patrick H. Smith was twenty years old when his father removed
into town, and he assisted him in the management of the store until the
death of the latter, when the business was sold, and our subject
continued his mercantile career as a clerk in the store of William
White, of the same town, remaining with him a year. He was ambitious to
try life in the West, and in 1850 came to this State, which was then
considered to form a part of the "Great West," and was still in the
hands of the pioneer. He took up his residence at St. Augustine, and
there entered into a partnership with his cousin, E. M. Clements, in
the mercantile business, which they conducted under the firm name of
Clements & Smith three years.
Mr. Smith was then seized with the gold fever that was sending
so many hundreds of people from all parts of the country across the
plains and mountains to seek the precious metal on the Pacific Slope,
and he joined a company of twelve, with three teams of oxen, and they
made their way slowly across what was then called the "Great American
Desert," and over the huge rocky barrier that towered between that and
the golden coast. Arriving in San Francisco our subject first obtained
employment of a wholesale butcher named Danos, and was with him for
about a year, and he also worked for a Frenchman at the Washington
Street market. After that he turned his attention to mining on Nelson
Creek, Plumas County, and prospected with varied success for a year.
His thoughts often tended homeward, and he then decided to return to
Illinois, and while awaiting a steamer at San Francisco, the famous
riot took place, in which Cary shot King; the city fell into the hands
of the Vigilance Committee, so noted in the history of San Francisco,
who cleared it of the desperadoes. In August, 1856, Mr. Smith sailed
for New York, landed there in September, and arrived in St. Augustine
about the 1st of October.
During his absence in California, Mr. Smith made some money,
which he invested in the lumber trade in St. Augustine after his return
to these parts, and a year later he extended his operations to include
grain buying and selling, and also did some blind draining, and he is
still engaged in the grain, and hay business, conducting it in the
village of Avon, where he has fine facilities for trading, and is one
of the substantial members of the community.
Mr. Smith has been twice married. In 1857 he was wedded to
Catherine R. Gittings, a daughter of B. B. Gittings, of Terre Haute,
Ind., a contractor and builder. Three children were born to our subject
by that marriage - Cora J., Mary Ellen and Catherine - all of whom are
living at home with the exception of Ellen, who is a Sister of Charity
and a teacher at St. Florisant Academy near St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Smith
departed this life in 1867, leaving a worthy record of a life well
spent, though cut off in its prime.
Mr. Smith was married to his present estimable wife in November,
1969. Her maiden name was Anna M. Robey, and she is a daughter of F. H.
Robey, of St. Augustine. Three children have blessed this union, named
as follows: Francis C., aged eighteen; Louis B., sixteen; and Elizabeth
L., fourteen, all at home with their parents. The family are all
members in high standing of the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Avon, and
are respected and esteemed by all about them.
Mr. Smith's course as a business man has demonstrated that he
has excellent financial talent and is cool-headed and clear-sighted in
the management of his affairs. These traits of character have attracted
the favorable notice of his fellow-citizens who have called him to the
important office of Supervisor, to represent Union Township on the
County Board, and he is zealously guarding its interests without regard
to personal or party considerations. In his political views he is
decidedly a Democrat. Our subject was Postmaster at Avon, under Grover
Cleveland's administration.
