WILLIAM SMITH, of Winslow Township , was born in Little Valley, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Nov. 23, 1843. His father, William T. Smith, was born Nov. 8, 1815, in Susquehanna County, Pa., and the grandfather, John Smith, in Schenectady County, N. Y. His great-grandfather, Jabez Smith, was a farmer, and removed from New York State to Pennsylvania , settling in Susquehanna County , where he was a pioneer, and there died. The father of our subject grew to manhood, was married, and lived there until about 1837, and then moved to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., where he bought a tract of timber land and built a log house, in which our subject was born. He resided there until 1854, in which year he came to Stephenson County , and located in Winslow Township . He had learned the trade of a mason in his younger days, and after coming to Illinois , followed that occupation the greater portion of the time. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Sarah A. Gage; she was born in Pennsylvania , and died in 1865.

William Smith, the subject of our sketch, was only ten years of age when he came with his parents to Stephenson County . In his eighteenth year, on Oct. 9, 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, 46th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served until after the close of the war. The most important engagements in which he participated were Ft. Donelson , Shiloh, Hatchie and Vicksburg . During the remainder of his service he was detached on special duty most of the time. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and to Goldsboro, N. C., whence he went to New York, and from there to New Orleans, Shreveport and Texas, where he remained until the winter of 1865, when he went to Baton Rouge, and was there discharged Jan. 20, 1866. After his discharge he returned to Winslow, working by the month on a farm for a few months, when he rented and cultivated a farm for one year. He then purchased the land on which he now resides, consisting of 120 acres highly cultivated and well improved.

On May 19, 1867, Mr. Smith was married to Louis B. Howe, who was born in Monroe , Green Co., Wis. , Jan. 5, 1848. Her parents were Michael T. and Anna (Bowen) Howe. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born two children – Sarah and Emily. Emily married Wilfred Kennedy, and lives in Geneva , Neb. Mrs. Smith and her elder daughter are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p.729 - 730