Finding Our Warrick County, IN Ancestors
Submitted by Tamara Kincaide
Biographical History of North Eastern Ohio
Published 1893
WILBUR F SMITH a wholesale druggist and grocer of Painesville, Ohio,
Also Secretary and Treasurer of the Dollar Savings Bank of the same city
were born in Boonville, Indiana in 1846. He comes of hardy New England
ancestry, who was early and prominent settlers of Ohio. His grandfather
LEVI SMITH was born in Connecticut and in early life followed mercantile
pursuits, but in 1824 joined westward movement of emigration, making his
way overland with his family by wagon and driving a flock of sheep. In
this patriarchal way he arrived in Lake County Ohio and settle on land
in the woods near Little Mountain where he developed a farm which
continued to be his home until death at the age of forty-five and which
is now owned by Reuben Harmon. GEORGE SMITH the son of Levi and the
father of the subject of this sketch WILBUR F SMITH also born in
Connecticut in 1805. When nine years old GEORGE SMITH came with his
parents to Ohio where his early years passed. He was a well read man and
taught school some time near the old homestead and later engaging in
farming. He married in Kirtland Ohio to MARY KENDALL born 1804 in
Deerfield, Mass. In 1838 GEORGE SMITH went to Boonville, Indiana and
bought new land, which he cultivated for ten years and then sold. He
thence went to Marine, Illinois where he bought more land, which he
industriously cultivated until his death at age forty-five. His worthy
wife now in 1893 still survives at Age eighty-nine and resides with her
son WILBUR the subject of this sketch.
Wilbur was the fifth child and passed his earlier years in Boonville,
Indiana and at Marine, Illinois. At his father?s death when nine years
of age he came with his mother to Kirtland, Ohio where he lived until
thirteen years of age attending the district school of that vicinity. He
then entered a store at Unionville, Ohio where he remained three years.
Winning the confidence and esteem of his employers by his careful
industry and obliging disposition. At this early age his unusual mental
activity was evinced by his discovery and patenting a concentrated
writing compound which he sold throughout the west reaching Michigan,
but with one dollar in money and in two and a half years had accumulated
sufficient to return to Ohio and engage in business. He started in the
drug and grocery business in 1867 and in 1869 took possession of his
present quarters where he ahs been ever since and has successfully a
wholesale and retail business. On the organization of the Dollar Savings
Bank he was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the institution, He is
also one of the organizers of the Metallic Binding Company of
Painesville, Ohio. In October 1873 Mr. Smith married Miss FRANCES MILLER
an estimable lady and native of Austinburg Ohio. He is a member of the
Masonic Order, which he has belong for twenty years, He and his wife are
active members of the Congregational Church. He in his comfortable home
on Mentor Avenue has accumulated a comfortable income and a large circle
of friends he may be truly be said to have attained the acme of success
in life.
If you have questions or problems with this site, email the County Coordinator. Please to not ask for specfic research on your family. I am unable to do your personal research. I do not live in Indiana and do not have access to additional records.
If you have questions, contributions, or problems with this site, email:
Coordinator - Marsha Bryant