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 704 & 707; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
William H. Smith, one of the leading agriculturists and stockmen
of Pleasant Township, is a native of the county and well known as a son
of an old pioneer. The prosperity of a place depends in such a
great measure upon the business men who reside there, that a sketch of
a prominent man is at all times an agreeable thing to read, especially
when he has won success in his chosen line of work.
Our subject was born in Fulton County, December 19, 1844, and is
the son of Samuel and Sarah Smith, natives of Virginia. The
mother died when our subject was in his seventh year, the father after
he was eighteen years of age. His parents moved from their native
State to Illinois as early as 1834, residing first at Rock Island, and
about the year 1840 came to Fulton County where they located on section
12, Pleasant Township. They were numbered among the pioneers of
that place, and did much to advance its business. To them were
born six children, of whom three are living at the present writing,
viz: Mary, wife of Henry Miller, of Pleasant Township; Wesley,
who makes his home in Oklahoma, and William H. subject of our
sketch. The father was a strong democrat, and being an
exceedingly public-spirited man, was interested in all worthy matters
that tended to the improvement of the county, or the elevation of
society. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
in his death the county lost one of its most prominent and respected
citizens.
The subject of our sketch passed the years intervening between
childhood and man’s estate in his native place, and is thus familiar
with every phase of pioneer life and the marvelous changes that a few
brief years have wrought in this section of the country. Being
reared on a farm, and at a time when the educational facilities were
poor, he received only a fairly good education, securing none of the
“higher education” given under our present school system alike to rich
and poor, throughout the length and breadth of the United States.
When nineteen years of age he went to Montana, where he engaged in
gold-mining, freighting and cattle-raising for a period of ten
years. His success was great from a financial stand point, but he
preferred his native place and returned to Pleasant Township where he
has since continued to reside.
The subject of our sketch was married on March 23, 1871, to Miss
Sarah Thompson, daughter of Anthony Thompson, who lived in Woodland
Township. This union has been blessed with five children,
viz: William, Addie, Harry, Clyde and Cora. Mrs. Smith was
born September 6, 1834; her parents were among the early settlers of
Woodland, where they made their home until the father died in
1870. They were the parents of nine children, of whom the
following are now living: Mary, wife of Enoch Thompson, of
Pleasant Township; Benjamin, who lives in Woodland Township; Nancy,
wife of John Hogan a resident of McDonough County, Ill.; Sarah, Mrs.
Smith; Jane, wife of Harvey Shelley, who lives in Woodland Township;
and Martha, wife of Thornton Burrel of McDonough County. Mrs.
Thompson was born in Indiana, and came with her parents, Kinzie and
Katie Shields, to Fulton County when only four years of age. Her
father was a native of Ohio, and came to this county at an early
date. They were both members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Our subject owns a valuable estate embracing three hundred and
twenty acres of highly cultivated land, and has a fine residence and
substantial barns. He commenced in life on his own account when
young and has had no assistance in fighting his way up to
prominence. He is a member of the Democratic party, and of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Ipava. He is one of the
representative farmers of Pleasant Township, and makes a specialty of
raising Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs. Indeed, as one
of the most intelligent and progressive agriculturists in this part of
the country, Mr. Smith is held in highest esteem, and has the
confidence of all who knew him.
