Thomas R. Smith
Hon. Thomas R. Smith, one of Delaware County's leading citizens, who represented the county in the seventy-third and seventy-fourth sessions of the Ohio General Assembly, and is prominently identified with large public and private interests of this section, resides on his well-cultivated farm of 225 acres, which is favorably located on the Sunbury Turnpike Road, in Berlin Township. He was born on this farm, in 1838, and is a son of Rodney and Delilah (Reynolds) Smith. The grandparents of Mr. Smith were William and Luanda (Witter) Smith, natives of Massachusetts, who came to Ohio and settled in 1816 on the farm now owned by him.
Rodney Smith was about fifteen years of age when his parents settled here, and he assisted to clear the farm, which then contained 320 acres. He erected the present residence, it taking the place of the log cabin built by the grandparents. For a number of years Rodney Smith kept a country tavern, and his son remembers seeing the road in front of the house filled with wagons and teams, and sometimes the guests would he so numerous that women would frequently be obliged to sleep on the floors of the inn, while the men would take up their night quarters in the wagons. Rodney Smith lived to be 81 years of age, dying in 1882. His wife, Delilah, died in 1866, at the age of 57. They were parents of 11 children—ten sons and one daughter.
Thomas R. Smith was the fifth of the above family in order of birth, and he remained under the parental roof-tree until he was 17 years of age, being absent only during one term of school, which he spent at Berkshire. By teaching school during the winter seasons he obtained the means to attend the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he was graduated in 1863. From there he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he taught school for one year, and then to Cleveland, Ohio, where he taught one year in the Military Institute. He subsequently returned to Delaware, where he read law under Hon. James R. Hubbell and was admitted to the Bar in 1866. After two years of law practice at Delaware, he removed to Marion County, where he operated a cattle ranch for fifteen years. While residing in that county he served one term as county school examiner, but accepted no other public office.
When Mr. Smith's father died, he bought the homestead and took possession and has continued to reside in Berlin Township ever since. In addition to carrying on agricultural operations on a large scale, he is extensively engaged in raising fine Delaine Merino sheep, keeping a flock of 400 head. From early manhood he has taken an active interest in politics and has always been influential in the Republican party. For many years he served as justice of the peace and during his presence at Colubus, as a member of the seventy-third and seventy-fourth General Assembly, he took part in the memorable contest which gave the late Senator Hanna his seat in the United States Senate. From its date of organization, Mr. Smith has been identified with the Patrons of Husbandry, for many years served as master of the subordinate lodge, for ten years was secretary of the State organization, and for four years was master of the same body.
In 1867, Mr. Smith was married to Camelia Gooding, of Marion County, Ohio, who died in 1880, aged forty years. In 1881 Mr. Smith was married (second) to Lucy A. Gooding, a cousin of his former wife. Not having any children of his own. Mr. Smith reared two girls and adopted a boy, the latter, Clinton Smith, being now a resident of Arizona. Of the two girls who found a home and protection with Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Anna Bluhm died aged 22 years. Mary Bluhm married and now resides near Madison, Maine.
At certain times in the proper season Mr. Smith's friends and neighbors may find him busily engaged with his lawn mower, an implement he greatly values. He takes a landscape gardener's delight in his beautifully kept lawn and has been heard to say that in his opinion, a utensil of this kind should closely follow the purchase of a plow. He was the first one in the vicinity to make use of a lawn mower and his example has been followed to a large extent, so that along Sunbury Road beautiful lawns are the rule, instead, as formerly, the exception. The public is greatly indebted to men like Mr. Smith, whose care and love for the beautiful provide almost park-like highways along which to travel. Mr. Smith takes a good citizen's interest in the cause of education, and is at present president of the local School Board.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908