Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The
Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams and Franklin counties,
State of Washington", published by Western Historical Publishing
Co., 1904.
MARSHALL R. SMITH is a prosperous
farmer residing two miles north from Downs. He is a native of Washington
county, Nebraska, born on January 15, 1869, and is the eldest of a family
of eight children, all of whom, with one exception, are now living.
His father was engaged in the livery business in the town of Blair, Nebraska,
and it was in this town that the boyhood and young manhood of our subject
was spent in assisting his father in the management of the barn when not
in school. In about the year 1894 he went to Fargo, North Dakota,
where he remained about two years. On January 23, 1896, Mr. Smith
was married to Miss May Allen, a native of Lafayette county, Wisconsin,
and daughter of Alonzo and Johanna (Michelson) Allen. Mrs. Smith's
father was born in Indiana, was a soldier during the Rebellion and is now
a farmer of Wisconsin. Her mother is dead.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith came
to Lincoln county, practically without means, during August, 1897, and
immediately both procured work in the harvests, Mr. Smith working in the
field and his wife cooking for the harvesting crew, of which he was a member.
The following year they rented a small farm and succeeded in clearing a
little money from their crop, with which to make a small payment on their
present farm, which they purchased the same year. They now have three
hundred and twenty acres of choice grain land in cultivation, and improved
with a new seven-room modern house, barns, windmill, orchard, etc.
He also has a full equipment of machinery and horses. The dwelling
house is situated directly on a country road and convenient to good market
for all their produce.
Marshall R. Smith is
the son of James and Sarah C. (Benner) Smith, natives respectively of Indiana
and Iowa. The father, upon the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisted
with the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, a member of Company M, and served during
the entire struggle. He was in the thickest of a great many bloody
battles and acquitted himself with credit and honor on every occasion when
put to the test. He was given an honorable discharge after the war.
Just prior to the war he removed to the state of Missouri, and he is now
living in Omaha, Nebraska, at the age of sixty-four years. The mother
is still living, and in point of age, is ten years her husband's junior.
Mr. Smith is a member
of the I. O. O. F., and also of the Encampment.
Great credit is due
both Mr. Smith and his energetic and faithful helpmate for the progress
they have made since coming to the Big Bend. As has been stated,
they had no means when coming here, in truth, Mr. Smith had only seven
dollars, and was in debt ten dollars in the east, which debt, however,
was soon paid. All they have has been gained by incessant and intelligent
effort on the part of both, but they are now situated so that the hardest
of their struggle is over.