History of Lawrence, Orange and Washington Counties, Indiana From the
Earliest Time to the Present; Together with Interesting Biographical
Sketches, Reminiscences, Notes, Etc.  Chicago, Goodspeed Bros., & Co.,
Publishers, 1884. Weston A. Goodspeed, Leroy C. Goodspeed, Charles L.
Goodspeed. Unknown County.

JOHN V. SMITH, a native of the township {Shawswick Township, Lawrence
County, Indiana) in which he now resides and the owner and editor of the
"Bedford Journal", was born November 6, 1831, the next to the youngest in
a family of three sons and six daughters, born to Peter and Margaret
(Ford) Smith.  The parents were natives of Kentucky and Tennessee
respectively; were married in the former State, as when Indiana was yet in
its infancy immigrated to Lawrence County, first settling in Indian Creek
Township, subsequently removing to Shawswick Township where the father
died in 1849, followed by the widow in 1867, at the home of our subject,
who then lived in Daviess County, Indiana.  John V. Smith was raised a
farmer, receiving such educational advantages in youth as were common at
that early day.  After the death of his father he began doing for himself,
and in July, 1851, was united in marriage with Miss Susan A. Collins, of
Monroe County, Indiana.  Until the war he followed farming, but in
January, 1864, became a private in Company I, One hundred and Twentieth
Indiana Volunteer Infantry, served the Atlanta campaign, but after the
reduction of Atlanta was detached from Sherman's army and sent in pursuit
of Hood.  After the war Mr. Smith was retained in the service for provost
duty in the South until January, 1866, when he received his discharge.  He
engaged in merchandising at Clarksburg, Indiana, continuing about ten
years, the last five years of his stay being also editor and proprietor of
the "Clarksburg Spy".  In 1877 he returned to Lawrence County, and in June
of that year established the "Bedford Journal", which he has since edited
with ability and managed with financial success.  Mr. Smith is a
Republican and a member of the Masonic and G. A. R. fraternities.  Both he
and wife belong to the Christian Church, and are the parents of eight
children, all of whom are now dead.  Mr. Smith has lately bought the
"Mitchell Commercial." 

Smith Ford Collins Sherman Hood
=
Shawswick-Lawrence-IN Daviess-IN Monroe-IN GA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/unknown/smith.jv.txt