“First Settlement—Big Grove
Coming of the squatters—Runnel Fielder first permanent dweller—the site of his home—William Tompkins—Elias Kirby—John Light—John Brownfield—Thomas Rowland—Robert and Joshua Trickle—Lackland Howard—Sarah Coe—Jacob Heater—Matthias Rhinehart—James Clements—John S. Beasley—Matthew and Isaac Busey—Col. M. W. Busey—William T. Webber—Nicholas Smith—Samuel Brumley—John Truman—Asahel Bruer—S. G. Brickley—Stephen Boyd—Elias Stamey—Pathetic Story of the Isham Cook family—Town of Lancaster—Town of Byron.”321, pg 664

“The year 1830 also brought to the settlement Nicholas Smith and his son Jacob, who, the same year, entered considerable land in Sections 9 and 15, east of Urbana, the most of which is still held by the children of the latter. Jacob Smith died in 1854.”321, pg 669

“...Neither Nicholas Smith, the father of Jacob; William Boyd, the father of Stephen; David Shepherd, the father of Paris; nor John Brownfield, the father of John, who was one of the early Probate Justices of the county, survived their residence here ten years; but, without reaching what is now recognized as a great age, succumbed to the noisome pestilence...”321, pg 691 [Nicholas died in Shelby County, Kentucky in 1854]

“(1) “Fountain J. Busey relates that one of their neighbors by the name of Smith, whether Nicholas or his son, Jacob, is not indicated, had a hand-mill which sometimes accommodated the family of his father; also that the pioneer, Runnel Fielder, had what was known as a “band mill,” which he says was the first in the county, which is quite probable. the description of this mill would justify the conclusion that it had some kind of gearing which would operate it more rapidly than the usual family mill.”—Matthews & McLean’s Early Pioneers of Champaign County, page 99.”321, pg 696

“Within the next few years the settlers increased in numbers rapidly, and the names of the Brownfields, Webbers, Trumans, Robertsons, Isham Cook, James T. Roe—also a son-in-law of Isaac Busey—Alexander Holbrook, Nicholas Smith, Charles Busey, and many others from the State of Kentucky, with Martin Rinehart, Anderson Rice, Charles Woodward, John Moss, and Elias Stamey from other States, were added to the settlement...”321, pg 713

“...Fever and ague, chills and fever, dysentery, flux and typhoid fever, not to speak of milk-sickness, annually made their requisitions upon the pioneers, and their drafts were promptly honored. Isaac Busey lost his wife within five years from coming here; William T. Webber, Nicholas Smith, Isham Cook, Thomas Rowland, Charles Busey, the wife of T. R. Webber, Col. M. W. Busey, and many others, early fell before the destroyer, and failed to realize their high hopes for the future of this country, as we have been permitted to do...”321, pg 716 [Nicholas died in Shelby County Kentucky in 1854]

“Nicholas Smith came to America from Scotland in 1772. [Note: Death record from Shelby County, Kentucky indicates he was born in 1772, so must have arrived earlier.] He was eight (8) years old. He stowed away in a boat bringing Hessians. His brother Jacob was with him, five years older. He remembered the boat had no lights - landed in Philadelphia. He (Nicholas) married Elizabeth Celene Potts. She was born March 17, 1784 - married 1804 (who) died 1854.” “Jacob Smith, who married Margaret Beatty, moved to Urbana, Illinois - homesteaded 640 acres at $1.25 in October 16, 1833. Grant signed by Andrew Jackson.”332, Research by Jane Gill Lawrence

“Simon Smith and his family, which included Nicholas, 8 and a brother Jacob, 13, came over on an emigrant boat as stowaways during the war time of Frederick the Great of Prussia [Celia’s note: ca 1778, so it was more likely about 1780 which would coincide with Nicholas’ stated age of 8]. Jacob remembered that the boat had no lights. They landed in America in 1772 [Note: Death record from Shelby County, Kentucky indicates he was born in 1772, so must have arrived earlier.] at Philadelphia. Nicholas married Elizabeth Celene Potts, Feb. 15, 1804. She was born March 17, 1784. Nicholas and Elizabeth are buried just across the line on the Tom Smith farm. Nicholas willed Berry, an old colored servant who helped raise all the Smiths, to his wife. Berry was not to work in the fields any more and was finally buried in the white folks graveyard. Nicholas came down to Kentucky through Pennsylvania and settled at Shelbyville, Kentucky. Cousin Tom Smith is on the original farm which was deeded to Nicholas Smith from Simon Smith in 1785. Cousin Tom has the original deed.”333

Land Grant Certificate No. 2832, dated 16 September, 1831 - 80 acres

Land Grant Certificate No. 7633, dated 1 November, 1839 - 40 acres

Land Grant Certificate No. 7916, dated 1 November, 1839 - 80 acres