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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 590]

    JAMES D. SMITH, one of the representatives of the legal profession
    of Cherokee, Iowa, is a native of the prairie State of Illinois,
    and was born in Peoria County, November 22, 1844.  His father,
    JOSEPH SMITH, a cooper by trade, was a native of Pennsylvania.
    He married Miss MARIA T. BARNES, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and
    soon after their marriage located in Peoria County, Illinois,
    where he followed the cooper's trade for many years; later on
    in life he turned his attention to farming in Fulton County of
    the same State.  He finally removed to La Salle County where he
    died November 24, 1854.  His wife died in Brookfield, Missouri,
    in October, 1880; her second husband also died in that State.  By
    her first husband she reared nine children, of whom JAMES D. F.
    was the sixth child.  He attended school in La Salle County and
    later at Aurora, Illinois.  He began life's realities by teaching
    school during the winter and employing his time in agricultural
    pursuits in the summer season.  In 186* he entered the law office
    of DICKEY & RICE, at Ottawa, Illinois, with whom he studied for
    the legal profession, and was admitted to the bar before the Sup-
    reme Court of that State in May, 1870.  In November of the same
    year he cast his lot with the people of Cherokee County, Iowa; in
    May, 1871, he built an office on the lot now occupied by his two-
    story business block, erected in 1880.  He now has his office on
    the second floor of this building, and rents the first floor for
    a store-room.  In 1870 Mr. SMITH married Miss ADELIA R. GILLETT,
    a daughter of D. S. and SUSAN GILLETT.  Mrs. SMITH was born and
    reared in La Salle County, Illinois, and removed with her parents
    to Cherokee in June, 1870.  By this union eight children have been
    born: CLAUD M., GEORGE D., EFFIE A., HENRIETTA (deceased), GERTRUDE E.,
    ADDISON J., BLANCHE and FANNIE S.  Politically our esteemed subject is
    conservative, always reserving the right to vote for the best man,
    regardless of party lines.  On the State and National ticket he votes
    with the Democratic party.  He has served on the Cherokee School Board,
    first by appointment and next by election; he was also elected justice
    of the peace in 1871 and 1872.  He is an honored member of the
    Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 188, Cherokee, Iowa.

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