Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 779 - 780 

NAPOLEON B. SMITH, a representative citizen of Clearwater, is favorably known along the southern line of this county, to which he came in the spring of 1874. A native of Rock Island. Ill., he was born on the 2d of July, 1853, and is the son of John L. and Lucinda (West) Smith, who were natives of Pennsylvania, but are at present residents of Meade County, this State.

            Our subject on the paternal side is of Scotch ancestry. John L. Smith left his native State about 1848, and located in Rock Island County, Ill., where he resided a number of years, and then took up his residence in Mercer County. He came with his family to Meade County, Kan., about 1878, and engaged in stock-raising. The household included eleven children, of whom the following survive, namely: Napoleon B., our subject; Sarah A., the wife of William T. Bristol, of Sac County, Iowa; Mary L., Mrs. J. B. McLaughlin, of Sac County; Lovina, Mrs. Henry Briggs, of Reno County, this State; Huldah E., Mrs. Lewis, of Meade County; Norah, the wife of William Muckslaw, of Meade County, and Freeman L., who resides with his parents in Meade County.

            John L. Smith was for a number of years City Marshal of Rock Island, Ill., and with his excellent wife, a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He voted the straight Democratic ticket, and in his later years is in the enjoyment of a comfortable home, having by a life of industry and economy accumulated a competency. He has also been a public-spirited and liberal citizen, contributing of his time and means to the various enterprises inaugurated for the welfare of his community.

            The subject of this sketch was a lad of eleven years when he left his native county, and took up his residence with his parents in Mercer County, Ill., where he continued until the spring of 1874. Then crossing the Father of Waters, he came into Ninnescah Township, this county, and pre-empted the southeast quarter of section 15, upon which he settled, and has now, by the exercise of industry and perseverance, transformed it from an uncultivated tract into one of the finest farms of the township. As time passed on he added to his first purchase, and has now a half-section all in one body. He has, like his brother pioneers, endured hardships and privations, but feels well repaid for his toils and sacrifices.

            In addition to his farm property Mr. Smith is proprietor of the Ross Avenue Hotel, at Clearwater, besides other property in the village. He came to this county absolutely without means, having even to borrow the $2 required to file his claim, and his present condition, socially and financially, is a forcible illustration of what may be accomplished by the exercise of a resolute will and good judgment. His course has not by any means been unnoticed by the people around him, whose confidence he has secured in a marked degree, and by whom he has been given the office of Trustee of Ninnescah Township, the duties of which he has discharged for a period of six years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Since becoming a voter he has been a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, and has always taken a lively interest in the prosperity of his county.

            The wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Wichita, on the 15th of March, 1879, was Miss Jennie E. Hart, born Feb. 20, 1859, in Berkshire County, Mass., and is the daughter of Edson S. and Fanny J. (Fargo) Hart, the father deceased and the mother now a resident of Wichita. The parents of Mrs. Smith were natives of New England, and the father of English descent. Their family included three children, of whom but two are living: Cora, the wife of George S. Freeman, of Wichita, and Jennie E. Mr. Hart departed this life at his home in Hartsville in April, 1870. Jennie E., after the death of her father was taken into the home of her paternal grandfather, Milan Hart, of New Haven, Conn., where she was reared to womanhood. She came to this county in 1878. She is a very excellent lady and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

            To our subject and his wife there have been born four children: Cora B., April 27, 1880; Edson L., Oct. 15, 1881; Freeman B., Sept. 8, 1884, and Bessie P., March 24, 1886. Their snug home is pleasantly located, and forms a delightful resort for the many friends who surround them.

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