Indiana and Indianans - a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana and the century of statehood (1919) (14577384470)

Identifier: indianaindianans04dunn (find matches)
Title: Indiana and Indianans : a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana and the century of statehood
Year: 1919 (1910s)
Authors: Dunn, Jacob Piatt, 1855-1924 Kemper, General William Harrison, 1839-
Subjects: Medicine
Publisher: Chicago and New York : The American historical society
Contributing Library: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
Digitizing Sponsor: Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center



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entucky. In December,1911, Mr. Dill married Mary Kinsey Ham-mond, daughter of Thaddeus Wright. Henry C. Smither, who is head of theoldest gravel roofing and modern fireproofroofing enterprise in Indianapolis, has beenan active business man in that city forhalf a century. He is a veteran of the Civilwar and member of a family that wasestablished in the capital of Indiana morethan ninety years ago. Some of the most interesting memoriesof the old days in and around Indianapolishave been preserved by Mr. Smither, andno one has studied early conditions morecarefully and can speak with more author-ity on the persons and events of the times. The Smither family in all generations1have been distinguished by sturdy Ameri-can characteristics, including a patriotismthat has never required propaganda or spe-cial urging to respond to every call bytheir country. Mr. Smithers grandparentswere James and Nancy Smither, and theirhome was in Owen County, Kentucky,where they lived to a good old age, Nancy
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INDIANA AND INDIANANS 1577 passing the century mark. Nine of theirsons and one daughter grew to matureyears, namely: Robert, William, Sarah,Lewis, James, John, Ezekiel, Willis, Wyattand Coalman. John and Elizabeth Smither, parents ofHenry C, were natives of Kentucky andcame to Indiana about the year 1825, set-tling in what is now Indianapolis. JohnSmither once owned the property wherenow stands the Claypool Hotel, also partof the State House grounds, the land atthe corner of Indiana Avenue and IllinoisStreet for half a square or more on theavenue, and constructed the first little one-story brick house on the avenue. He ownedseveral • other valuable properties in thecity. He was a gunsmith by trade andeven after he sold his shop and tools hisservices were sought to make some riflesfor special customers, and these rifles stoodevery test of accuracy and fine workman-ship. After selling his Indianapolis prop-erty John Smither moved to a farm on theold Michigan Road near New Bethel, eigh