Jay Smiley
The family of Mr. Smiley are of Scottish origin; his grandfather, Wm. Smiley, being born in Scotland, and emigrating to America in the first half of the last century, settling in the colony of New Hampshire. John Smiley was born in Jeffrey, N.H., August 21st., 1754, but removed in 1785 to Rutland Co., Vermont, where Jay Smiley, his twelfth child, was born, on the 4th. of October, 1794. Soon after this, in the same year, he moved to Augusta, Oneida Co., N.Y., where another child was born. Out of this large family of thirteen, all but one lived until years of maturity. In 1807 the family again removed to Jefferson County, N.Y., where the death of Mr. John Smiley occurred in March, 1813. The subject of our sketch remained at home until 1817, when he was twenty-two years of age, and then, in company with his brother David, he started out to seek his fortunes in the undeveloped western country. Their first stop was made in Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, and their first engagement was made with William and George Reynolds, who lived in Mifflin Township, half a mile south of the present town of Windsor. Here David remained two years, and Jay three years and a half, during which time they purchased the S.W. quarter of Section 5, Township 22, Range 19, and in 1820 Jay bought out his brother's interest in the property.
We next learn of Mr. Smiley returning on a visit to the old home in Jefferson County, N.Y., and there he was married on the 10th. of April, 1822, to Miss Dolly Johnson, of that county. In May of that same year they came out to Ohio, stopped in Stark County until November, 1823, then moved to Sharon Township, Richland County, and on the 1st. of January, 1824, they took possession of their new log cabin on section five, and on the 15th. of February following, their first child was born there. This place has been their home ever since. Here have been born to them seven children, four sons and three daughters, named in the order of their birth, Rosanna, Henry J., Sarah J., David, Louisa, Andress E. and John Jay, of whom two sons and two daughters are still living, in 1873. On the 11th of May, 1873, Mrs. Smiley departed this life, in the 73d. year of her age, after more than half a century of wedded life, of joys and sorrows, of early privations and later competence.
In the year 1825, Mr. Smiley was elected Justice of the Peace, at the fifth election ever held in this township. He held this office six years at that time, and in 1848, being again elected, continued to serve for nine years. Among other acts of Mr. Smiley's official life, he reports the marriage by him of forty couples. He is passing his declining years in ease and comfort, upon the spot that first became his home at Shelby nearly fifty years ago. His powers of mind remain almost unimpaired, as is shown by his furnishing us, in his seventy-ninth year, the circumstances and the dates of this article with readiness and accuracy, entirely from memory.
Henry J., the eldest son, was married November, 1856, to Miss Cordelia Craig, who died February, 1864, leaving him one daughter, Mary. He now resides in Marion County.
Rosanna, the eldest daughter, was married in December, 1845, to George W. Moore, who was engaged in the drug business in Shelby for some years, and who died in August, 1858, leaving two sons, Albert and Wallace, who live in Shelby at the present writing, in 1873.
His daughter, Louisa, was married October 22d., 1858, to Lemuel Fite, now living in Marion County, Ohio.
Sarah J., the second daughter, died in the 23d. year of her age. She was educated at Berea, Ohio, and prepared in mind and heart for a sphere of usefulness. She is now remembered among her friends chiefly for the modest purity that adorned her daily life, and endeared her to all.
David, the second son, was married to Miss Jennie Mickey, in September, 1855, and died April 8th., 1857. He was educated at Baldwin Institute, Berea, and at the Ohio Wesleyan University. In the Fall of 1856, he took a great interest in the political campaign, and his Republican friends availed themselves of his talents as a speaker, and put him forward in the canvass of the county. His exertions in this direction probably laid the foundation of the malady which attacked him shortly after, followed him through the Winter, and ended his life in the following Spring. His friends and enemies, in politics (for he had no enemies outside of politics), mourned his loss, as the taking off of the most promising young man in the community, and to this day he is named as the most talented of the sons of Shelby.
John Jay, the fourth son, was married to Miss Amelia Tucker, December 2d., 1865, and they are now living on the old home place.
The closing lines of this brief sketch we dedicate to the memory of one who gave his life to his country.
Andress E. Smiley, third son of Jay Smiley, graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University in June, 1858. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company "I", 15th. Regiment Ohio Vols., and on the 24th. June, 1863, was killed at Liberty Gap, Tennessee, while acting as Lieutenant of Company "A", to which office he was appointed in April, 1863. His remains were brought home in March, 1864, and interred in the old cemetery. He was prepared by nature and education for a useful and honorable life; alas! he is numbered now among --
* * * * The brave,
"Who sink to rest,
"By all their country's wishes blest."
From Atlas Map of Richland County, Ohio By A.T. Andreas. Chicago, Ill., 1873, p. 23