- COLLIN SMITH, a retired farmer now residing in Milton, is
one of the honored pioneers of
- Rock County, of 1840. He was born near Port Dover, Norfolk
Co., Ont., on the 17th day of May, 1835. His paternal grandfather
was a native of England, and in 1776 emigrated to America to
avoid serving as a soldier in the British army. He settled in
the State of New York, where his son William, the father of our
subject, was born. In the Empire State William grew to manhood,
and learned to be a worker in iron. He sprang from a race of
mechanics, his great-grandfather having been a manufacturer of
nails in the days when they were made by hand. Like many of the
world's most successful men, William SMITH began life a poor
boy, but he was early inured to labor, and taught the lessons
of self-reliance. About 1830 he resolved to emigrate to Canada,
and on leaving his native State, his worldly possessions consisted
only of $1 in money and the clothes he wore. He made his way
to Norfolk County, Ont., then called Upper Canada, and there
found employment at his trade, making anchors and other such
heavy machinery as his skill enabled him to turn out. By untiring
industry and perseverance, and carefully saving his earnings
he soon found himself accumulating a little capital, which he
invested in land, and thus laid the foundation for his future
success. About 1833 or 1834 he was united in marriage with Mrs.
Elizabeth STUART, a native of that country, born of Irish parents.
After marriage he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits,
and began the improvement and cultivation of the eighty acres
of land he had previously bought. He had no knowledge of farming,
but possessing an observing eye, and being quick to catch an
idea and to apply scientific principles to practical life, he
soon had a good knowledge of the methods of farming, and became
one of the successful cultivators of the soil. He could truly
be called a self-made man.
- Three children came to gladden that little Canadian home
with their bright presence. Collin was the
- eldest; Freeman, the second son, was killed by a threshing
machine at the age of eighteen years, after the family had become
residents of the town of Johnstown, Rock County. William is practicing
law in Janesville.
- In 1840, accompanied by his wife and children, Mr. SMITH
left Canada, and emigrated to Rock
- County, locating on section 7, in the town of Johnstown,
where he purchased 200 acres of land, to which he subsequently
added seventeen acres more. He was compelled to borrow $400 to
complete the payment, and on that amount he had to pay twenty
per cent. interest. His first crop of winter wheat, however,
paid the indebtedness, and from that time prosperity attended
his efforts; harvests were abundant, and the grain brought good
prices; his efforts in other directions were also successful,
and his labors received their just reward. At the time of his
death he was numbered among the well-to-do farmers of the county,
and was a valued citizen of the community. He died in 1876, at
the age of sixty-six years, and his excellent wife departed this
life in 1854, in the sixty-first year of her age.
- The early education of our subject was received in the primitive
log schoolhouse in the town of
- Johnstown, with its puncheon floor, rude slab seats and immense
fire-place, which occupied one end of the building. He completed
his education, however, by a course in Milton College, and has
greatly supplemented it by subsequent reading and observation.
Reared to manhood on the western frontier, he knows what it is
to brave the hardships and trials of pioneer life. The smoke
of the Indian wigwam had scarcely cleared away, when the family
came to Rock County, and the few homes of the settlers were widely
scattered. Wild fowl of many different kinds were still plentiful
and furnished many a meal for the settlers; deer in large droves
roamed over the prairie, and the fierce howl of wolves was often
heard at night. Markets were far distant, and the journeys were
made with ox teams. In those early days the salary of the minister
consisted of such farm produce as his flock were pleased to bring
him. Often one might see a member of the congregation starting
for the house of worship Sunday morning with a bag of potatoes,
turnips or some other produce, which he deposited in the pastor's
sleigh or buggy. Throughout his life, Mr. SMITH has followed
the occupation of farming, and now owns the old homestead of
217 acres, situated in the town of Johnstown, having purchased
the interest of the other heirs. It is one of the best farms
in the community, and the entire surroundings indicate thrift
and enterprise. On the 28th day of August, 1867, he led to the
marriage altar miss Carrie L. BACON, a daughter of I. P. and
Helen (NETHAWAY) BACON, who became residents of Sauk County in
1850, but later removed to Dane County, where the mother is yet
living. Two children have been born of their union, Birdie and
Helen, two accomplished young ladies who are now students of
Milton College, where Miss Birdie will graduate in the class
of 1891.
- Mr. SMITH takes an active part in political affairs, and
since attaining his majority, has cast his
- ballot with the Republican party, of which he is a stalwart
advocate. He has ever been prominent in the promotion of public
interests, has contributed liberally to the support of social,
educational and moral interests, and has borne no inconsiderable
part in placing Rock County in its present advanced position
in this great commonwealth. Mrs. SMITH is a lady of culture and
high attainments; she possesses more than ordinary ability, and
as a writer displays marked talent. Many of her articles have
been published in the county and State papers, and in September,
1888, she received the second prize for the best essay on the
"Responsibility of Citizenship," offered by the Wisconsin
Woman's Suffrage Association. She is an ardent advocate of woman's
suffrage, and her articles written on that subject have received
the highest praise by those who have had the pleasure of reading
them. Much of her time and talents have been devoted to that
cause; her articles are well written, her arguments logical and
conclusive, and the thought displayed shows that her study of
the subject in all its bearings has been careful and thorough.
At one time, she was a regular contributor to the columns of
five different papers. Miss Birdie seems to have inherited her
mother's talent, and many of her poems and prose writings have
won high laurels.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 666-668.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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