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MARTIN SMITH.
One of the well known and highly respected farmers of this county, now living retired, is Martin Smith, who was
born in County Galway, Ireland, on May 1, 1838, the son of Patrick and Anna (Lutney) Smith, the former of whom
was a road contractor and followed this business all his life, dying in Ireland in 1844. His wife, who was the
mother of five children, of whom Martin Smith is the only one now living, also died in 1844.
Martin Smith came to America with his sister when he was eleven years old and located in New York City, where he
attended school, selling newspapers to assist in paying his way. After leaving school he took up the carpenter
trade and followed that until the Civil War broke out. On August 17, 1861, Mr. Smith enlisted in Company E, Ninth
Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, and, serving in three different regiments, was in the service of the Union
army continuously until the close of the war. He was engaged in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg,
and a number of skirmishes, and when mustered out of the service was attached to the army of General Burnsides.
Mr. Smith has an honorable military record and performed brilliant services in behalf of his adopted country during
the period of civil strife. He was one of the guard during the execution at Washington of the conspirators connected
with the assassination of President Lincoln.
Returning to New York City at the close of the Civil War, Mr. Smith resumed work at his trade and was thus engaged
until 1867, in which year he moved to Aledo, Illinois. where he rented a farm, remaining there until 188o, when
he came to Audubon county, locating in Lincoln township, where he purchased eighty acres of virgin land at six
dollars and twenty five cents an acre. After breaking the sod, Mr. Smith moved to Melville township, where he bought
eighty acres of land at fourteen dollars an acre. He later increased his holding to one hundred and sixty acres
and was actively engaged in farming until 1899, when he retired and moved to Audubon, having acquired a substantial
competence for his declining years.
In 1860, Martin Smith was married to Julia McCarty, to which union two children were born, both of whom died early
in life. After the death of Mrs. Julia (McCarty) Smith, Mr. Smith married Anna Welsch, who died a few years later,
whereupon Mr. Smith married Mary Lowmer, daughter of John F. and Mary Lowmer, natives of Bavaria, Germany. No children
were born either to the second or third marriage.
Martin Smith is a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic and has served as commander and delegate to
state conventions several times. He has been officer of the guard in the local post for twenty years. Mr. and Mrs.
Smith are members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Smith is identified with the Republican party.
Few men deserve more credit for their part in the growth and development of this country than Martin Smith, who,
during the Civil War, gave four of the best years of his life to the service of his country, and who, since the
end of that great war, by his labors has assisted in the development of this great agricultural region. Martin
Smith is a good citizen, a credit to the community in which he has lived for so many years.
From:
History of Audubon County, Iowa
Its People, Industries and Instutions
H. F. Andrews, Editor
B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.
Indianapolis - 1915
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