John Vestal Smith
birth: 6 Nov 1831, Lawrence Co., IN to Peter Smith and Margaret (Ford) Smith
death: Odon, Daviess Co., IN
burial: Odon Cemetery, Odon, Daviess Co., IN

marriage: 24 Jun 1851, Lawrence Co., IN
Susan A. Collins
birth: Oct 1834, Monroe Co., IN or possibly in TN, to Samuel Collins and an unknown mother
death: 22 or 27 May 1908, perhaps in Mitchell, Lawrence Co., IN
burial: Mitchell, Lawrence Co., IN

Children of John Vestal Smith and Susan A. Collins:

• Eva M Smith, 1853-1876
• Erma Smith, 1853-1974
• Josephine Smith, 1856?
• Charles Smith, 1863?
• Margaret Emmeline Smith, 1852-1874

John Vestal Smith lived In:

Near Bedford in Lawrence County and also in Mitchell, Lawrence County, Indiana.

Other Information:

“John V. SMITH, editor of the Prairie Scorcher, of Odon, Ind., was born November 7, 1831, in Lawrence Co., Ind.,near Bedford. He is one of a family of three sons and six daughters of Peter and Margaret(Ford) SMITH. John attended the district schools about three months during the year, and remained at home with his parents as long as he remained single. July 24, 1851, he wedded Susan A. Collins, daughter of Samuel Collins. Mrs. SMITH was born in Monroe County, Ind., about 1831. To their union nine children were born, all of whom are deceased. During the war Mr. SMITH became one of the “boys in blue”, enlisting in…” —History of Knox and Daviess County Indiana (Goodspeed Publishing: Chicago, 1886), p. 854-5.

“JOHN V. SMITH: Death of This Well-known Gentleman at His Home at Mitchell
The death of John V. Smith of Mitchell, which has been expected for many weeks occurred Monday afternoon. He had been ailing for a number of years with diseases contracted while serving in the late war, and recently the affliction fastened upon him that dread destroyer consumption. He had been confined to bed about one month previous to his death.

Mr. Smith was a native of Lawrence county, and was fifty-six years of age. He belonged to a large and prominent family in Lawrence county. In 1866, he removed to this county, settling at Odon, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for many years, and conducted a newspaper — the Clarksburg Spy. He continued in the newspaper business until his death.

The deceased was an untiring worker, and always was hopeful that he would recover from his illness. He was a genial gentleman and an honorable citizen. Many an eye in the village of Odon was filled with tears at the announcement that John V. Smith had passed away. He was a member of the 120th Indiana; belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic, and also was a Mason.
Of his immediate relatives who survive him, there are his wife, and brother Dr. D. J. Smith, of Odon. All the children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith preceeded their father to their eternal home.

The remains of John V. Smith were placed in a vault at Mitchell, Tuesday. He was laid to rest with Masonic honors, of which order he was long a member. In about one week, the body will be taken to Odon, and buried in the graveyard near the village so long his home.”  —”JOHN V. SMITH: Death of This Well-known Gentleman at His Home at Mitchell,” Daviess County (Indiana) Democrat, 31 December 1887, p.1.
Submitted by:
Linda Farbry
Email: lfarbry@gmail.com