Robert Smith
Robert Smith, lumber dealer, Ravenna, was born June 19, 1833, in Ravenna Township, this county. His father, Moses D. Smith, of the neighborhood of Canandaigua, N. Y., a miller by trade, came to Ohio in very early times and married Miss Mary Reed at Parkman, Geauga County. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served with distinction to the close of the struggle. One year after their marriage our subject's parents came to Ravenna Township, this county, where the father carried on for several years the mill on Mahoning Creek east of Ravenna, and after about two years' residence in Brimfield Township, this county, they finally located permanently in Ravenna. Moses D. Smith had learned the trade of carpenter while in his native State, which trade he followed here. He was an excellent mechanic, and many buildings now standing testify to his superior skill. He died here in November, 1853. His widow survived him until February, 1867. Of their six children, Robert is the second. Our subject married, May 2, 1855, Miss Elvira B. McMannus, daughter of Philip and Harriet McMannus, who came here from Erie County, Penn., when she was but seven years of age. They were well-known and highly respected residents of Ravenna, where they died, the mother December 8, 1863, and the father June 24, 1872. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children: Frank F., Mrs. Addie E. Swain and Harriet E. Our subject learned his father's trade, that of carpenter, which he has followed about twenty years. He established a lumber yard in the place in 1873, and had as a partner, for about eight months, his brother-in-law, Edwin Smith, who sold his interest to J. S. Marvin in July, 1874. The firm is now known as R. Smith & Co. They do a general trade in lumber, and manufacture the "Common-sense Wooden Bed Spring." Mr. Smith served seven months in 1865 in the One Hundred and Ninety-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He is a Master Mason; a member of the A. L. of H., the R. A. and G. A. R.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885