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SMITH, RICHARD, (deceased), was born in Cheshire, England, on January 15, 1811, the son of Richard and Sarah Smith, natives of that country. In boyhood he received a good mental training, was reared to manhood on a farm and subsequently was employed as clerk in a store. After his marriage to Elizabeth Garrett he conducted a dairy farm. In 1854, being desirous of giving his invalid wife the benefit of a sea voyage, he came to America on a sailing vessel and landed at Quebec, Canada, after being seven weeks on the ocean. Both Mrs. Smith and her son, George, died on the voyage and were buried at sea. Mr. Smith preceded from Quebec to Morgan County, Ill., and shortly afterward bought the farm upon which he died in 1872. The property, which he purchased of James Garrett, consisted of 110 acres of timber land, on which stood a small frame house in a clearing of perhaps fifteen acres. He was possessed of some means when he settled in Morgan County. Mr. Smith's wife, whom he married in England, was formerly Elizabeth Garrett, and five children resulted from their union, namely: Sarah, who became the wife of Rev. James Boicourt, a Methodist minister; Jane, widow of George Robson; and Elizabeth, George and Peter, who died young. The only member of this family now living is Mrs. George Robson. Her husband was a native of Yorkshire, England, born in 1835, and her marriage to him took place in 1860. After that event, Mr. Robson rented land for two years, and then came to the farm of his wife's father, where he died June 15, 1902. Mrs. Robson, was nine years old when she came to Morgan County. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Smith was a member of the Wesleyan Church, and was active in religious and charitable work. He was an upright, conscientious man, and lived a blameless, useful life.