Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County, Michigan Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884 [216] RICHARD SMITH, real-estate broker and dealer in books and sta- tionery, also abstractor, located at Bad Axe, was born Aug. 23, 1840, in Roxburghshire, Scotland. He is the son of PETER and MARGARET (RUTHERFORD) SMITH, and obtained a good education in his native country. He taught school there a short time, and when he was 17 years old he came to Peterborough, Ont. In 1858 he decided to become a maker of carriages and wagons, and he served three years in acquiring a knowledge of the trade. He made it his busi-ness in the Dominion for three and a half years after serving his time, when he proceeded to Auburn, N.Y. The war was in progress, and soon after reaching that city MR. SMITH enrolled himself among the nation's defenders, enlisting Feb. 26, 1865, in Co. H, 169th N.Y. Inf. His command was sent to Raleigh, N.C., where it was stationed at the time of JOHNSTON'S surrender. He was discharged from the military service of the United States in August, 1865. In the autumn of the same year, in company with a comrade in the war, he came to Port Austin, Huron County, with whom he purchased 120 acres of land, on which they spent the winter. In the spring of 1866 MR. SMITH went to the village of Port Austin, and worked two months as a carpenter. He entered the employment of CHARLES B. COTTRELL, County Surveyor and Deputy Register of Deeds, and engaged in the duties of both positions, assisting both in surveying and in the registration duties. In the fall of 1866 he was elected County Surveyor, and was the incumbent of the office two years. In January, 1867, he was appointed Deputy County Register and County Clerk, by the recently elected official, and assisted in the duties of the offices two years. In the fall election of 1868, he was elected to the offices of which he had been deputy, and continued to discharge the obli- gations of the positions eight years, being three times re- elected. In 1873 he came to Bad Axe and removed his family hither in 1874. He went thence in 1877 to Port Austin, where he opened an abstract office. He had previously opened a set of those important papers, and he devoted himself with energy to their completion. With the duties belonging to the office he combined the sale of books and stationery. In December, 1883, he established a permanent business at Bad Axe. From the spring of 1881 to that of 1882 MR. SMITH was a partner in the Huron County News, in connection with which he conducted a stationery business. He disposed of both by sale in the year last named, and devoted his attention to his real- estate and abstract business. He has been Supervisor of Port Austin Township two years, and Clerk of the same several years. He owns his place of business and several town lots in Bad Axe, and also 400 acres of farming land in Huron County. MR. SMITH was married in Port Austin Township, May 19, 1870, to ABBIE, daughter of ROBERT MERRICK. She was born Oct. 23, 1851, in Huron Co., Ont. NETTIE M., born Nov. 18, 1871; WILLIAM R., May 12, 1875; and RICHARD SCOTT, Dec. 11, 1876, — are the names of the three children of Mr. and Mrs. SMITH. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================