Joseph S. Smith
In this popular resident of Circleville Township, Pickaway County, we have the largest breeder of standard-bred horses in the county, and one of the largest in the Scioto Valley. He is a native of Circleville and was born June 10, 1861. His father, Edward Smith, is mentioned elsewhere at length in this volume. After attending the public schools of his native home, young Smith entered, in 1877, the Notre Dame University at South Bend, Ind., where he passed nearly four years, pursuing a scientific course, and also completing his studies in the commercial line.
After returning from college, the young man devoted himself to farming for some time, and after coming into possession of his present fine stock farm made his home east of and adjoining the corporation line of Circleville. His one hundred and sixty-five acres of land are situated on the borders of the famous Pickaway Plains and are watered by the stream known as Hominy Creek. The soil is a rich, sandy loam and is one of the best in the rich Scioto Valley. The care bestowed upon it keeps it up to the highest standards of that locality, which has so fair a reputation in agriculture and stock-raising.
In 1890, Mr. Smith erected one of the most beautiful and commodious farm residences in the county, which he fitted up with all modern conveniences. His barn is of unique construction, being built seventy-two feet in diameter, with sixteen sides. In this can be stored fully one hundred tons of hay and straw, and it provides for the accommodation of a large number of horses. Nothing has been left undone to make this stockfarm a suitable home for the noble strains of horses which belong to Mr. Smith's stud. The most noted of his animals are ''Montjoy," "Winmont," "Col. Wilkes," and "Placidus," and their pedigree is such as to make their owner justly proud.
The grounds about the residence of this prosperous man are handsomely laid out, and are to be shaded by elegant young maple, elm, and horsechestnut trees. A half-mile regulation race track is kept in elegant shape, and there the speed of the young animals is developed. He does his own training, and gets all the speed out of the animal that horse nature and good breeding have endowed him with. A specialty is made of breaking colts to harness, and plentiful accommodations are furnished for the animals of other breeders during the season.
The famous " Montjoy," who is registered as No. 13,003, stands at the head of the "Sunnyside" stock farm. He is a bay horse, and was foaled May 15, 1887, his sire being " Gen. Withers" and his dam "Alice Medium." liike all of the horses upon this farm, "Montjoy" is of the Hambletonian strain, and Mr. Smith is the proud possessor of about fifty of these excellent standard-bred animals, counting horses and colts. From his earliest boyhood, he has evinced an inborn love of and appreciation for a fine horse, and he has shown exceptional ability in their care and breeding.
Other branches of business have not been overlooked by this enterprising young man, as he is a stockholder in the Circleville Electric Light and Power Company, of which corporation he is also a Director and Vice-president. In 1888, he established the Esmeralda Cornmeal Mills, which are now owned and operated by the firm of J. S. Smith & Brothers, a firm of which he is the senior member. These mills have a capacity of two hundred and fifty barrels per day and their entire product is shipped to foreign countries. In his political views, our subject is a Democrat, but is not an aspirant for office, and no more active in public affairs than is always becoming in a man who takes a genuine interest in the prosperity of his home and State. Mr. Smith was married in Corning, Ohio, January 2, 1890, to Miss Mary Corcoran, who is a native of Frostburgh, Md., and a daughter of Thomas Corcoran, who was for some years Superintendent of the Sunday Creek Coal Company, and is now Superintendent of the H. D. Turney & Co. Mining Company, of Shawnee. This gentleman is an expert miner, and thoroughly understands prospecting for coal. He educated his daughter at the St. Mary's Academy at Columbus, Ohio. This young couple are the happy parents of one daughter, Mary, whom they are bringing up in the faith of their fathers, that of the Roman Catholic Church, both being members of St. Joseph's Church at Circleville. Few men are doing more for the development of Pickaway County than Joseph S. Smith, and he is keeping pace with the older and better known stock farmers in developing the American trotter.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]