Robert J. Smith
A most exemplary citizen and an honored hero of the war of the Rebellion is Robert J. Smith who conducts a successful coal and transfer business in the city of Wooster, Ohio. During his army career he was ever found faithful to the duties imposed upon him, thus winning the confidence and high regard of his comrades and superior officers, while in his business life and social relations he has ever manifested the same justice, integrity and reliability, because of which he has won and retains the high regard of all who know him.
R. J. Smith is a native son of the Keystone state and is of Irish antecedents. His birth occurred in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of August, 1847, and he is the son of John M. Smith, also a native of the same county. In his native county, the father lived his entire life, following the honorable pursuit of a tiller of the soil, and there he died in 1901, in his eightieth year. He married Nancy Matthews, also a native of Westmoreland county, and her death, in her eightieth year, occurred two years before that of her husband. They were parents of the following children; Hiram M., who lives in the state of Colorado; Robert J., subject of this sketch; William M., who resides in Kansas; Jennie (Mrs.Johnson), residing at Greensburg, Pennsylvania; James H., of Seattle, Washington; Edward J., who resides at the old family homestead at New Florence, Pennsylvania; Sarah Agnes, also residing at New Florence; Thomas Watson and Mary Ellen are both deceased. The subject's paternal grandfather, Robert Smith came to America from Ireland in 1801. He married before emigrating and on arrival here he and his wife settled on land in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, which he cultivated for many years, dying at a ripe old age.
Robert J. Smith remained on the home farm with his mother until he was twenty-six years old. Then, feeling that larger opportunities for an ambitious man lay farther to the west, he came to Wooster, Ohio, arriving here in 1874. In that year he sustained a heavy loss in the destruction of his mill by fire, but he at once went to work to recoup his finances and engaged in the coal and ice business, which he continued until 1907, when he sold the ice business, since which time he has confined his attention to the coal and transfer business. He has been fairly successful in his business affairs and is today considered one of the substantial business men of Wooster, where he has been identified with business interests for so many years. During recent years he has been assisted by his son Robert, who is an able and efficient business man.
It would be unjust to complete this sketch without making specific mention of the service which Mr. Smith rendered to his country in the hour of its extremity. In February, 1864, he enlisted in the Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry and thereafter took part in a number of severe engagements, one of the most sanguinary of which was the battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864. He was with General Grant in all his campaigns up to White House Landing, and at the battle of St. Mary'schurch, June 26, 1864, he received a severe gunshot wound in the left leg. From the effects of this wound he was confined in hospital until August of the following year, when he was discharged and returned to his home. Because of his military service, Mr. Smith is now an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
On the 28th of December, 1868, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Elizabeth H. Pollock, who was born and reared in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. To this union were born three children namely; Arnett Pollock who died at the age of two years; Thomas Watson, who died at the age of seventeen years, and Robert H., who is associated with his father in business. He married Vina L. Mackey and they have two children, Elizabeth H. and Lucy.
Mr. Smith is an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of the Republican party and has taken somewhat active part in public affairs. On that ticket he was elected mayor of the city of Wooster, serving from 1898 to 1902, and he was also trustee of Wooster township for fifteen years, being re-elected continuously for eleven years. In religion, he belongs with his wife to the United Presbyterian church and they are faithful attendants and generous supporters of that society..
From The History of Wayne County, Ohio, B. E. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis, 1910