Bedford County PA Archives Biographies.....Smith, John W. 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Banja jbanja@msn.com May 2003


JOHN W. SMITH, who at one time represented Bedford County in 
the State legislature, is a prosperous merchant and one of 
the prominent citizens of Yellow Creek, Hopewell township.  
He was born in October, 1841, in Muskingum County, Ohio, a 
son of John P. Smith.  He comes of thrifty pioneer stock, 
being the grandson of John Wheeler Smith, who settled in 
Hopewell township, Pa., in the early part of the present 
century, and as a man of industry and ability greatly 
assisted in developing and improving this section of Bedford 
County.
  John P. Smith was born and reared in Hopewell township, 
where for several years he was engaged in agricultural 
pursuits.  He lived a few years in Muskingum County, Ohio, 
and afterward returned to Bedford County, which he made his 
permanent home.  For a time he was a clerk in a general 
merchandise store in Everett, Pa., but he spent the larger 
part of his active business career in Hopewell township.  He 
died during the Civil War.  He was a leading politician, and 
served most ably in many of the local offices of Hopewell 
township.  He married Maria Eachus, a native of Franklin 
County, Pennsylvania, and they reared the following 
children: Mary, wife of Thomas J. Kay, of Kansas; Amanda, 
wife of John W. Steele, of Hopewell township, Pa.; John W., 
the subject of this sketch; Rufus E., of Hopewell township; 
William P., also of Hopewell township; James V., of Everett, 
Pa.; and Eliza, deceased.
  John W. Smith remembers nothing of his life in Ohio, as he 
was but a small boy when his parents returned to Bedford 
County.  He received a substantial education in the schools 
of Hopewell township and village, and afterward taught 
school several terms in different districts.  In 1861 he 
enlisted as a private in Company C, One Hundred and Tenth 
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to an 
independent division at first, under Generals Lander and 
Shields, but was afterward a part of the Army of the 
Potomac.  Mr. Smith with his comrades was at the battles of 
Winchester, Kelly's Ford, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, 
and the Wilderness, where during the second day's fight a 
ball passed through his left elbow, inflicting a serious 
wound that incapacitated him from duty for a while.  
Subsequently, at the battle of Port Republic, he was wounded 
in the hip, and, being captured by the enemy, was taken to 
Belle Island Prison, where he remained a short time.  He was 
captured at Chancellorsville, also, and was confined first 
in Libby Prison and then in Belle Island, where on this 
second occasion he was kept about a month.  During the three 
and one-half years in which he served, he was promoted to 
the rank of Corporal, and was discharged as such at the 
expiration of his term of enlistment.
  After his return from the army Mr. Smith was employed for 
a while in a wholesale house in Philadelphia, Pa., and was 
subsequently clerk in a store in Everett, Pa.  In 1870, in 
company with Rufus E. Smith, he established a mercantile 
business at Yellow Creek, Hopewell township, becoming head 
of the firm of J. W. Smith & Brother.  A few years later he 
purchased the interest of the junior member of the firm, and 
has since carried on the business alone.  As a merchant, by 
his honest and upright methods he has secured an extensive 
and lucrative patronage, and has met with excellent 
financial success.
  A Republican in his political affiliations, enterprising 
and progressive, he has long held a place of influence in 
the community, and has filled nearly every office within the 
gift of his fellow-men.  For years he has been a School 
Director of Hopewell township, and is now treasurer of the 
School Board.  He has been township Auditor, and under a 
former law was Assistant Assessor.  At the present time he 
is serving as Justice of the Peace.  In 1890 and 1891 he 
served as a Representative from Bedford County to the 
Pennsylvania State legislature.  Fraternally, Mr. Smith 
belongs to L. R. Piper Post, G.A.R., of Hopewell; to the 
Everett Lodge, F. & A.M.; and the Everett Lodge, I.O.O.F.  
He is a member of the Reformed church, which he is serving 
with fidelity as an Elder.
  Mr. Smith married in 1877 Rebecca Gorsuch, of Hopewell 
township.  They have three children, namely: Marjorie, who 
is the wife of D. M. Byers, of Loysburg, Pa.; Martha; and 
William G.


Source: Bedford Biographical Review, 1899, Bedford Co., Pa