Rensselaer G. Smith and family were early Martin Township, Bradley settlers Contributed by Helen Ringer

 

From Whence We Come

Allegan County News & Gazette... October 30, 1975, Page 16

"From Whence We Come" is a series of biographical sketches about Allegan County's prominent pioneers--ancestors to many county residents today. The sketches--supplied to the News & Gazette by Alice L. Jones--are taken directly from a book about the county printed in May, 1892, by Chapman Brothers of Chicago, preserving the original lan­guage of the text as much as possible. The series will appear regularly in the News & Gazette until the supply is exhausted.

Rensselaer G. Smith, of Martin Township, is a fine type of the pioneer farmers of Allegan County, who have done so much for its upbuilding and have taken great pride in its growth, and we are pleased to represent him in this Biographical Record, which should preserve the annals of such lives, for in them we have much of the history of the county, especially in the earlier period of its settlement.

Our subject not only helped to develop the re­sources of this region, but used his influence to establish schools in his township at an early day, and has been particularly active in advancing its moral and religious status.

Mr. Smith was born in the city of Troy, Rensselaer County, N.Y., Dec. 24, 1820.

His father, Jesse C. Smith, was a native of New York, and supposed to have been born in Otsego County. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and plied his calling in Canada, Vermont, and other places, finally dying in Otsego, N.Y., at the age of 52. He was the son of Gideon Smith, who is supposed to have been a native of Wales. He was an early settler of Otsego County, N.Y.

The mother of our subject, who bore the name of Zady Brown, was born in the vicinity of the beautiful Hudson River, in New York. Of her nine children, seven grew to mature years and five are still living, namely: Cleopatra, widow of Amos Rouse, and a resi­dent of Dowagiac; Cortlandt B., a resident of Leroy, Mich.; our subject; Emily, wife of L.H. Johnson, of Minnesota; and Elizabeth, a resident of Dowagiac. Ranavalina, now deceased, was the wife of Roswell Tucker.

Our subject was the sixth child and second son of his parents. His early life was passed in Otsego County, and at the age of nine years, he left home to live with an uncle with whom he remained three years. At the youthful age of 12 years the inde­pendent, self-reliant little lad started out in life for himself, by working on a farm by the month, and he managed to go to school in the winter season.

He worked for three years in a blacksmith shop, and until he was 17 all his earnings were given to the support of the family, as his father had unfortunately contracted the habit of drinking strong liquor, and was unable to provide both for his appetite and his wife and children.

In 1838, at the age just mentioned, our subject came to Michigan, thinking that he would have a better opportunity to make money in a newly-settled country where there was a great demand for laborers. He came directly to Allegan County, and on his arrival had a capital of 25 cents with which to be­gin his new life here. Nothing daunted by this lack of funds, he went to work to secure more, obtaining a situation at Gun Plains, where he was employed by the month at dairying and chopping wood, and also in farm work.

The first $10 that this devoted son earned in Michigan, he sent back to his mother and she, too, worked hard to earn the means to join him. By untiring industry and close economy, he was enabled to buy 80 acres of land on section 10, Martin Town­ship, and to provide a home for his mother and the three younger children of the family. He built a block house, and his mother presided over the household and looked carefully after his comfort while he busied himself in clearing away the timber that stood on his land, and in a short time he had 20 acres ready for cultivation.

In 1847, he sold that place and removed to the farm on section 21, where he has lived for the past 40 years. He sold three acres for a burying-ground, and his farm now contains 157 acres of choice land.

He first erected a log house, 16x24 feet in dimen­sions, and as the family moved into it before it was provided with door or windows, the first morning after their arrival they found the snow a foot and a half deep on the floor. In this typical pioneer home, the furniture was of the most primitive kind and con­sisted of a half-dozen chairs, one table and a very small cooking stove that could be carried around.

Their only conveyance to church, five miles away, was a rude sled drawn by oxen, and this vehicle had to do duty even in summer, as they had no wagons or horses. In those times there were no regularly con­structed roads, but the way was marked by blazed trees.

Mr. Smith cut away the woods to build his house, and in time cleared a farm, which is considered one of the finest in the township. He has erected substantial buildings, including a commodious dwelling and good barns.

His son Charles has been managing the farm for some eight years, and our subject and his wife have been living in Wayland, where he and his son Bradley had a general store. On Bradley's death, he sold the business. He is now contemplating returning to the old homestead to resume farming.

He has always taken a marked interest in all that concerns the well-being of his adopted township, and has been potent in advancing its interests. The chil­dren of his fellow-pioneers had great cause to be grateful to him for his efforts to secure them the privileges of an education, as for three years the first school established in this district was held in his house and he paid the teacher nearly all her salary for her services out of his own pocket, and boarded her.

He has been prominent in public life as an incum­bent of various offices. He was a Justice of the Peace 24 years, has been Highway Commissioner, School 'Director and School Inspector, and has held other civic positions.

In politics, our subject has been identified with three parties: the Whigs first gained his support, then the Republicans, and lastly the Prohibitionists claim his allegiance.

He and his good wife have done as much as anybody to advance the growth of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they have been connected for a long period of time. He has been Steward and Class - Leader for many years, and also Trustee. He has been foremost in perfecting  the Sun­day-school, of which he has been Superintendent for over thirty years. He helped to organize the first Sun­day school in Martin Township, and was an attendant of the first one in Wayland, of which his father-in-law was Superintendent.

Our subject was married in Wayland Township, Feb. 25, 184b, to Miss Mary E., the eldest daughter of Dr. David and Eliza A. (Gregg) Bradley.

Her father was a native of New York, and was the only child of his parents. His father was a ship carpenter and was killed while at work on a ship. The doctor game to Michigan in 1842 was prominent as a pioneer physician and as a public-spirited citizen of Allegan County.

He located on the Plank Road, in Wayland Township, and was the first Postmaster there. When the railroad came through, the post office was moved to the station on that road and the town and post of­fice were named Bradley in his honor.

His wife was also a native of New York, her birth­place in Orange County. They were the parents of six children. Their daughter, Mrs. Smith, was born in Orange County, N.Y., Nov. 25, 1829.

For 40 years she has shared the joys and sorrows of life with our subject, and in that time two daughters and two sons have been born unto them, of whom but one survives, Charles N., who was born Dec. 20, 1850.

Their eldest child, Eliza, died in infancy; their son Bradley D., who was born in May, 1848, died in 1886; and their daughter Eliza A., who was born Jan. 19, 1854, died Feb. 28, 1861.