History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 177

N. JACOB SMITH

There are few foreign nations that have contributed to the complex composition of our American social fabric an element of more sterling worth or of greater value in fostering and supporting the national institutions than have the natives of the Scandinavian peninsula, who have come to and become citizens of the United States. The men of Scandinavia who have located in America are with very few exceptions persons of sturdy integrity, indomitable perseverance, high intelligence and possessed of much business sagacity. Through them there have been incorporated in our cosmopolitan population many elements of enduring strength. The subject of this review, N. Jacob Smith, is a native of Sweden, and there his childhood, youth and early manhood were spent. He is proud of the race whence he sprang and the dominating characteristics of that people, as disclosed in him, have won him the confidence and regard of his fellow citizens in the land of his adoption. N. Jacob Smith, of Cherry Grove township, was born in Sweden, January 21, 1842. His parents were agriculturists and the first fifteen years of his life were spent on a farm. In 1857 he crossed over into Denmark and resided there, following farming, until 1870, when he made a visit to the United States. I-le was so well pleased with all that he saw that he determined to make the great American republic his future home. Accordingly he returned to Sweden and in the fall of 1871 he was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Sophia Johnson, a native of Sweden, born in September, 1844, and soon thereafter they came to the United States, coming direct to Livingston county, and thence to Wexford county, Michigan, where he invested in forty acres of woodland, which he bought of the Grand Rapids & Indiana Railroad Company. It is a part of section 23, Cherry Grove township, and cost him three hundred and sixty dollars, or nine dollars per acre. He immediately erected good, substantial buildings and began clearing the land. Whenever he found an adjacent tract of land for sale at a reasonable figure he lost no time in purchasing it and in this way kept constantly adding to his real estate possessions, until at this time he is the owner of two hundred and eighty acres, eighty of which are cleared and under cultivation. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, six of them died in childhood. Those living are Edmund J., Frank O., Emma S. J., Charles N. and Nels A. In all public affairs, local, state and national, like every well educated, patriotic citizen, Mr. Smith takes much interest. In educational work he is particularly active, for he knows that enlightenment is a prerequisite to good citizenship. He has served in nearly every capacity on the school board, as director, moderator and inspector. Good roads is another favorite local topic with him and he served for a number of years as highway commissioner, during which time the good work accomplished by him was quite perceptible to every person making use of the public highways of the township. The finances of the township also always receive a good deal of consideration from him. He was treasurer of the township a number of terms and guarded the public funds in a manner to secure the approval of every taxpayer. The family belongs to the Swedish Mission church and are devout and zealous workers in the cause of religion and charity. He is an enterprising, public-spirited man who has done his full share toward the growth and development of the township and county of his residence.