J.G. SMITH, merchant Wayne City, was born March 7, 1847, in Wisconsin, son of J. G. Smith, Sr., a native of England, where he received his medical education, and after graduating he emigrated to the United States, settling in Wisconsin, where he followed his profession.
Our subject went to school in different counties in Illinois, but is mainly self-educated, having traveled a great deal in different parts of the United States. Having lost his mother when quite young, and his father, who it is supposed returned to England and was probably lost at sea, he, our subject, at the age of thirteen commenced to work for himself.
His brother, William B. Smith, is living in Kansas; another brother, Lewis K. Smith, is living in Illinois at present, but up to a late date our subject had not heard from him for eighteen years. His two sisters, Mary Magdalena and Juniana Smith, he lost track of when two years old.
Our subject came to Wayne City, Wayne Co., IL., in or about 1869; here he farmed almost five years, and learned the blacksmith's trade himself, and followed it eight years with success, and finally entered the mercantile career, and now keeps a general store.
Mr. Smith was married in Jefferson County, Ill., to Miss M. A. E. Frazier, a native of North Carolina; she died in this county in 1880. She was a daughter of William and Margaret Frazier, and left two children, viz.:
Mr. Smith has a farm of seventy acres of land joining the town. In polities, he is a Democrat. His life so far has had many sad stories, made mainly by the separation from those he loved and held dear.
| Visit Our Neighbors | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion | Clay | Richland | |
| Jefferson |
 |
Edwards | |
| Franklin | Hamilton | White | |
