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Smith, Mrs. Zidana. - The subject of this sketch was born September 18, 1827, on the homestead farm, which was
settled by his grandfather, Andrew Smith, who had come to this country from Scotland in 1791, and who was associated
with Captain Williamson in the clearing of land for cultivation, and the construction of roads. Jackson Smith was
the son of Charles, the second son of the early pioneer. His early life was passed at home on his father's farm,
during which time he spent several months at Lima Academy (Livingston county), where he learned the science of
land surveying. This art he put into practice a great deal, and a very large number of the roads and boundary lines
of the surrounding country were laid out by him. In 1858 he married Zidana, the daughter of Samuel Le Gro. Mr.
Le Gro was a ship carpenter in Maine in his younger days, but had. come to Bath in 1814, where he helped erect
some of the first houses in the village. He married Betsey, daughter of Jeremiah Dudley for his first wife, by
which union seven children were born, Mrs. Smith being the third eldest. For his second wife Mr. Le Gro married
Almira Tiffany. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born nine children, seven of whom are living: Mrs. Jeannie A. Downing,
William C., Sherman T., Hoxie W. Fred D., Nellie L., J. Lee. In 1863 Mr. Smith purchased the Alexander Freeman
property, a few miles below Bath and adjoining the old homestead farm, where he passed the remainder of his life,
engaged in the occupation of farming. Besides adding many acres to his original purchase he expended a large portion
of his income and wealth in the education of his children, five of whom have graduated from Cornell University.
He was a man of a very quiet and reserved disposition, caring nothing for public office or public mention. He believed
in training his sons and daughters by his own example of hard labor, strict honesty in all dealings and charity
to the poor, and realized that he could leave them no more valuable legacy than these traits and a thorough education.
Thopgh directly connected with no religious circle, he always had a strong leaning towards the Universalist faith,
trusting fully in the kindness and mercy of his Maker and believing that "by your works, ye shall be judged."
In his home and family circle, only. was he satisfied to be, and although he took no part in public affairs, yet
he was well read and conversant with the topics of the day, being always found on the side of Americanism and temperance.
In politics, he was a Republican, having always voted with the party of his first belief. He died of strangulated
hernia, November 26, 1889, in his sixty third year.
From:
Landmarks of Steuben County, New York
Edited by: Hon. Harlo Hakes
Assisted by: L. C. Aldrich and others
D. Mason & Co., Publishers
Syracuse, N. Y. 1896
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