Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901 - page 269-270

MELFORD PRATT SMITH, of Fennimore, has been a prominent farmer in Grant county for nearly half a century, and in that time has made himself felt as a man of decided force of character and genuine integrity. He came here in 1853, and during his long residence in the county has proved himself a valuable citizen of the community, an honorable man, and a skillful and progressive farmer. He is now leading a retired life in the city of Fennimore.

Mr. SMITH was born in Wayne county, Penn., March 19, 1829, son of Jacob and Sophia (WHEELER) SMITH. His father was born east of the Green Mountains, in Vermont, in 1802, and his grandfather was a clergyman of the Methodist Church, and lived in New England al his life. Jacob SMITH was the youngest son in a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom were given Bible names, as was the fashion of the times. The sons were called Simeon, Reuben, Daniel, Abram, Isaac and Jacob. The names of the daughters cannot now be obtained, as that generation has passed from earth. In 1824 Jacob SMITH married Sophia WHEELER, who was born in Massachusetts, her birth occurring the same year as her husband's. She as a daughter of Simeon and Polly (NOBLE) WHEELER. Her mother was a daughter of Capt. Charles NOBLE, a Revolutionary soldier, who died before the close of the Revolution, from disease contracted in the service. Melford Pratt SMITH therefore is a great-grandson of a Revolutionary soldier. The NOBLE family was long prominent in Massachusetts. Four brothers came from England in early Colonial times, and from them are descended the greater part of the NOBLES in the United States.

In 1826 Jacob SMITH, with his wife and only child, removed to Wayne county, Penn., and in 1853 the parents, with their family, then consisting of six children, came to Grant county, Wis., and settled on a farm in the town of Fennimore. Within six years after their arrival five of the family had passed away. The parents and three of their children, Algernon and Celestial and Cecilia (twins), had succumbed to sickness, and gone on "to join the great majority," The children reached maturity before they died. The mother's death occurred in 1857, and the father's the following year. There are now living of this family, Esther (the wife of O.N. SMITH, of Eau Claire, Wis.), Melford P., and Alfica (of Iowa).

Melford P. SMITH obtained a good education in the common schools of his county, rather better than was the habit of the times. He taught two terms of school during the winter after coming to Grant county, and was regarded as a capable instructor. He was married, a few weeks before leaving Pennsylvania, to Miss Ada M. ADAMS, who was born in Luzerne county, Penn., April 19, 1831. Her parents came to Wisconsin, and died many years ago. Mr. SMITH bought State and government land in Section 32, of the town of Fennimore, and here he settled, and made a valuable farm, which he still owns. He resided on it until the fall of 1898, when he and his venerable spouse moved to their pleasant home in the city of Fennimore.

Mr. SMITH has long been one of the representative men of his section. He was town treasurer ten years, assessor for six years, and town clerk for eighteen years. He held the office of justice of the peace for a long period, and during the greater part of his active life held some local office.

Mr. and Mrs. SMITH have had three children: Ira, born in 1855, married Viola SHEARER, a daughter of John A. SHEARER, an early settler of the county. Charles, born in 1858, is a lawyer and lives in Viroqua. Ida, born in 1864, is the wife of Ambrose PETERSON, and lives at Hillsdale, Mich. There are two grandchildren in the family: Irl, the son of Ira, born in 1890 and Kenneth, the son of Charles, born in 1892. Mr.. SMITH has always taken a deep interest in the moral and educational progress of the community. His children have had good educational privileges. Charles was graduated at the Platteville Normal in 1881, and for three years was principal of the Viroqua schools. He was a successful teacher, but, determining to become a lawyer, entered the office of Judge WYMAN, read law under his instruction for one year, and then entered the law school at Albany, N.Y., from which he graduated in 1886. He immediately entered into practice at Viroqua, and has remained there up to the present time. Melford Pratt SMITH is a man of extensive reading and wide information. He is a Republican, and in religious connection both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church at Lancaster.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck