J. F. Smith
J. F. Smith, general merchant, Holmesville, Holmes Co., is a native of Wayne County, Ohio, born April 14, 1834, a son of William and Mary (Zinn) Smith, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. Their family of six children are all living. The mother died in 1878; the father is still living on the farm in Wayne County.
J. F. Smith was reared a farmer and followed that vocation until twenty-nine years of age, when in 1863 he embarked in mercantile trade, coming in 1864 to Holmesville and opening his present place of business, where he has built up a good trade. He carries a full line of general merchandise, aiming to keep constantly on hand a complete stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc., to meet the wants of his customers. Mr. Smith was married in 1870 to Samantha Hartman, a native of Holmes County, born in 1850, a daughter of Uriah and Jane Hartman, and they have a family of four children, viz: Bertha E., Lulu B., and Byron G and Myron G (twins). Mr. Smith is a member of Millersburgh Lodge, No.126, F. & A, M. He has held the office of justice of the peace one year, assessor three terms, and township clerk four years. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party; in religion he is not a member of any denomination, but is liberal in his views..
From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Wayne and Holmes, Ohio, J. H. Beers & Co., Chicago, 1889