Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-06
Venerable Minister, Pioneer
Teacher and Farmer, Passes
Away at Eldora
ONE OF FIRST COUNTY JUDGES
Taught the First School in Marshall
County, Was the First Postmaster
and in oIden Days Was One of tho
Most Prominent Figures in the
county-sketch of His Career.

Rev. William G. smith, pioneer
judge, teacher and farmer of Marshall
county, the first postmaster of the
county, and an old resident of Albion.
died this morning at 2:30 at the
home of his daughter, Mrs.
w. e. Marsh, at Eldora. Judge
Smiths end came as the result
of no special ailment, altho he has
been failing in health all winter. His
death was due TO a gradual decline,
owing to his advanced years. MI.
Smith had been spending the winter
in Eldora, at his daughters home, ow-
ing to his poor health.
Judge Smith, in an early day, was
one of the most prominent figures in
the public life of the county. He
helped erect the first house built in
Timber Creek township, taught the
first school in the county, was the first
postmaster in the county. and was
one of the first of the county judges.
Besides these public offices he held
several others, including the clerkship
of the district court, and a two-years'
membership on the board of supervis-
ors of the county.
Judge Smith was especially promi-
nent during the Marietta war; and
was one of the staunch supporters Of
Marietta as against Marshalltown in
the county seat fight. 1t was his work
that thwarted the plans of the Mar
shalltown sympathizers on so many
different occa sions, and came near, for
time, resulting in Marietta remaining
the county seat.
William c. Smith, was born in Bel
mont county, Ohio, December 10, 1928,
being the third son of John B. and
Hester Smith. His father was native
Virginian, and his mother, nee Met
calf. was from Pennsylvania. His ma
ternal grandfather was James Metcalf.
brother of Ex-Governor Metcalf OF
henrucky. He received his primary
education at school in Georgetown,
Harrison county, Ohio, and was reared
to farm life He taught several terms
of school in his early life. and upon
attaining his manhood was married, on
October Is, 1S45, to Miss Amanda j
Cooper, in Owen county, Indiana.
In lS47 Mr. Smith came west and
settled in Jasper county, Iowa. He
taught the first school ever taught in
that county, in the winter of lS47-a.
He moved to this county in the spring
of 1S4S and began the breaking of the
virgin soil He built a small dwelling
house during the summer and returned
4. 70 SaPOn1
term of school in the winter of 1883.
In the spring of 40 he returned to this
county.
In the fall of 1s49 Marshall county
was duly organized under the forms of
law, electing full set of officers, J.
M. Ferguson acting as organizing sher-
iff At this election Mr.. Smith was
elected clerk of the board of county
commissioners, and served in that ca
pacity until the creation of the Office
of county Judge. He also served part
of the time as clerk of the district
court. He taught the first school ever
taught in Marshall county, in the win
ter Of 1S49-'50. He was the first post
master in Marshall county, in Timber
Creek receiving his appointment In
January, 1850, from Nathan K. Hall,
who was postmaster-general under
President Fillmore. He served as post
master at Timber Creek until April,
1853. at which time he was elected to
the office of county Judge. Upon re-
signing the postmastership to assume
his new duties he moved to Marietta.
He served as county judge until Jan.
1, 1860.
- ~, 1F Nv h
chased a farm in Timber Creek town
ship and moved there. He farmed,
taught school several terms, served as
assessor and justice of the peace two
years, and for two years was mem
Der Of the board of supervisors. Dur
ing the civil war, for two years, he was
in the employ of the government, act
ing as enrolling officer for draft in
the townships of Greencastle and Tim
her Creek
In the year 1870 Judge Smith re-
ceived a government appointment to
take the census of the south half of
Marshall county, which he accom-
plished in what he has always said
were sixty of the hardest days work
he ever did in his life, receiving there
for $3.50. In April, 1875, he sold his
farm and moved to Albion, where he
has since made his home. There he
served as postmaster for almost five
years, and for many years has been
more or less actively engaged as min
lister of the Christian church. Judge
Smith has grown old gracefully, and
last October, in a happy gathering,
by his relatives and friends,
he celebrated the sixtieth anniversary
of his marriage. He was very active
for his age and his end came only from
a gradual decline owing to his adj
vanced years.
Judge and Mrs Smith were parents
of five children, four of whom grew to
manhood and womanhood. The eldest,
Newton F., who was teacher in the
Neb., schools for number
of years, died there seven years ago,
and George, the youngest, died in Tim
Der Creek in 1874. Beside the wife,
the living children are Albert w, who
Is pastor of the Methodist church at
Rockford, Iowa; Mrs. Bennett, of
Champlin, Mimi, and Mrs W. e
Marsh, of Eldora. Judge Smith
Is also survived by three brothers and
one sister, B. f. Smith, of Timber
Creek township, Edward Smith, of
D. c., Washington Smith,
Of Idaho, and Mrs. Sarah Alexander, of |
Ferguson.
The funeral services will be held |
Thursday morning at 1880 at Albion.