Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
John P. Smith
John P. Smith was born Oct. 5, 1817. in Bourbon County, Ky., a son of Peter and grandson of Nicholas Smith, who was born in Germany, and when a young man he emigrated to America and settled in Frederickstown, Md. He moved to Bourbon County, Ky., where he followed farming till his death, and where his wife also died. Their children were — Joseph, Peter, Jacob and Elizabeth.
Nicholas Smith served in the Indian war of 1795. Peter Smith, father of John P., was born in Maryland, and moved to Kentucky with his parents in 1800. He soon after married Margaret, daughter of Peter Smelser, who was born in Germany. They were the parents of ten children — Nicholas, who followed farming in Abington Township, Wayne County, till his death; Mary, wife of David Eailsback, of Wayne Township, Wayne County; Barbara, deceased, wife of C. C. Beeler, who is in partnership with our subject in pork-packing; John P.; George, farming part of the homestead in Abington Township; Martha J., deceased; James, farming in Union County, Ind.; Irvin, deceased; Joseph W., an extensive lumber-dealer in Tennessee; Margaret, deceased, wife of Nelson Crow.
In 1818 Peter Smith removed with his family to Wayne County, Ind., and entered a half section of land in Abington Township, which he cleared and improved, and resided there till his death. Although he voted for Andrew Jackson, his subsequent affiliations were with the Republican party. John P. Smith, whose name heads this sketch, has resided in Wayne County since he was two years old, and since 1855 has lived on his present farm. He was reared to farm life and has always followed agricultural pursuits, and since 1861 he has also carried on pork-packing in Richmond. He married Mary Sedgwick, who was born in Union County, Ind., and died near Richmond in 18—. She was a daughter of Richard Sedgwick. They had seven children — Martha J., Anna, Richard, Peter, Belle, Maggie, aud Clara (deceased).
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2