As I look back through our family history there are many, many farmers. Let’s look at one of the Smiths. Avis’ father, Norval, was one of the children of Carey A Smith and Emma Jane Storer. Carey’s parents were Thomas R. Smith and Louisa Fry. Thomas’ parents were Jacob M Smith and Susannah Rusk.
Jacob M. Smith was born July 3, 1800 in Virginia, according to all the records I have found. I have found no clues to his parents. I have seen names attached to him in other peoples’ family trees, but no indication as to how they came to those conclusions, so for now, I will leave his parents names blank. Jacob married Susannah on September 22, 1831 in Morgan County, OH. How he came to be in Ohio is unknown to me at this time. While I was researching for this blog post, I found Jesse and Job listed right after Jacob, both of them had been born in Pennsylvania not Virginia, so I didn’t think I should add them to the family tree. I’ll keep searching for those elusive Smith ancestors though!
Jacob and Susannah had nine children. John Harry (1832-1920), Julia Ann (1834-1907), Cyrus J (1836-?), Asa W (1839-1850) Margaret Jane (1841-?), Thomas R (1844-1900), Mary Elizabeth (1846-1927), Jeremiah (1848-?) and Emmeline (1850-1872).
They were a farming family. During my research, I found two U.S Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, specifically for agriculture. The years were 1850 and 1860. I’ll compare the two and you will be able to see how much increase there was for the family within this 10 year time frame. In 1850, the value of the land was $2500, no personal estate is listed by the census that year. In 1860, the real estate is $4300 and Jacob’s personal estate is listed as $125. Look at how much more improved acreage Jacob had by 1860!
1850 1860
Acres Improved 65 750
Acres Unimproved 115 85
Cash Value of Farm 2500 3500
Value of Faming Implements and Machinery 100 100
Horses 4 3
Asses and Mules 0 0
Milch Cows 2 4
Working Oxen 0 0
Other Cattle 6 3
Sheep 14 16
Swine 5 13
Value of Livestock 230 300
Wheat, bushels of 100 30
Indian Corn, bushels of 500 500
Oats, bushels of 0 50
Wool, pounds of 50 60
Irish Potatoes, bushels of 5 0
Barley, bushels of 0 24
Buckwheat, bushels of 0 14
Butter, pounds of 150 450
Cheese, pounds of 75 0
Hay, tons of 3 10
Molasses, gallons of and what made from 0 3/30
Value of homemade manufactures 10 0
Value of animals slaughtered 30 85
I’m sure as the children got older, they were required to work on the farm. In 1850, John was 18, Julia 16, Cyrus 13, Margaret 8, Thomas 6, Mary 4 and Jeremiah was 1. By 1860, John and Julia were out of the house. Cyrus was 23, Thomas 16, Mary 13, Jeremiah 10 and Emmeline 8. Also by 1860, John has his own farm with his wife Mary and son, Alexander. In 1860, even though Cyrus is still in the household, he has his own real estate, listed as worth $800.
By 1868, Jacob and Susannah had moved to Rushcreek Township, Fairfield County, Ohio. I’m not sure exactly when or why that move took place. Jacob died September 8, 1868. His will is signed on August 31, 1868, so he must have known he was dying. His will was probated September 23, 1868 in Fairfield County, Ohio. His executors were his wife, Susannah and his son, Thomas. Eight of the nine children born to Jacob and Susannah are mentioned in the will, as one, Asa, had died as a child in 1850. Susannah received $5000 in limited States government bonds that were in the John D. Martin Bank in Lancaster, OH. She was also given the stock, household goods, furniture, provision and grain and other goods and chattle, with the exception of a yearling colt that Jacob had given to Jeremiah. His farmland was to be sold within the year and those monies divided equally amongst his eight children. Sometime in 1870, our great-grandfather, Thomas R. Smith with his wife Louisa Fry, moved to Wisconsin, probably using Thomas’ share of the money he received from his father’s estate. Jacob M. Smith is buried in the West Rushville Cemetery in Ohio.
