Richard Smith

Regions: Floyd, Oneida Co., NY; Walworth Co., WI

From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, Publ. 1912 - Page 874-875 RICHARD SMITH. The life of Richard SMITH, long a well known and industrious citizen of Walworth county, is well deserving of mention in a work of the nature of the one in hand, for it was led along honorable and conservative lines and resulted not only in good to himself and family but to the community as well. Mr. SMITH was born at Floyd, Oneida county, New York, November 5, 1838, and when ten years old he came with his parents to Wisconsin. His privations and hardships after the death of his father helped build his rugged character, and through a long and industrious life he continued to work with that zeal and energy that marked the days of his young manhood. He spent his life in agricultural pursuits, in which he met with large success, retiring from active life about 1894, selling his farm and moving to Harvard. However, he could not be contented with idleness, and he continued to work at various things until ill health prevented further labor. He had a wide and favorable acquaintance and was esteemed and respected for his many good qualities. He was a gentleman of the strictest integrity and loyal friendship. He was sick a year and a half prior to his death. Mr. SMITH was the son of James and Elizabeth (BAILEY) SMITH, both natives of England, where they grew to maturity and were married, probably near Ely in Cambridgeshire. When Richard SMITH was about eight or nine years old his parents brought him to Walworth county, locating on a farm in Linn township, first settling in section 29, later moving to section 26. He was about eleven or twelve years old when his father died, leaving the mother with seven children, none of whom were old enough to make their own way. Richard and his brother James, who was thirteen years old, and who now lives at Geneva, tried to care for the family, but finally found they were too young and the family was compelled to live among relatives. However, the two sons earned considerable money and assisted in the support of the mother and younger children. Richard worked out until he was married, in 1862, to Emma BRAND, daughter of William and Mary (HAWKES) BRAND and a native of Oneida county, New York, her parents and those of Mr. SMITH coming from the same place in Cambridgeshire, England, to America together and located in New York where the BRAND family remained until 1856. About 1851 her father bought a farm at Clinton, Wisconsin, and in 1856 moved the family there, the parents spending the rest of their lives on that place and there Mrs. SMITH's brother, Joseph BRAND, still lives. In the spring of 1862 Richard SMITH bought a farm in the northeast quarter of section 32, Linn township, and there resided for a period of thirty-two years. In 1894 he sold his farm and moved to the town of Harvard where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in June 1909. Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. SMTIH, Cora and Carrie, the latter being now the wife of Clarence E. BILYEA, of Walworth, a sketch of whom appears in this work. Cora married Rolland PIERCE, a brother of Delos PIERCE, of Walworth. One son, Clifford, was born to Mr. and Mrs. PIERCE, his birth occurring in August, 1892, in Hebron township, McHenry county, Illinois. His father died when he was about nine months old, and he was ten years old when his mother died. After his father's death he and his mother lived with Richard SMITH and wife, of this sketch, and after the death of the mother, Clifford PIERCE remained with his grandparents. In 1911 Mrs. Richard SMITH purchased a small farm in the south edge of Walworth township, this county, a mile and a half east of Big Foot, where she and her grandson, Clifford PIERCE, now reside. Submitted by Carol

See Also: Clarence Bilyea