Biographies and Obituaries
In loving memory
Daniel J. Smith, M.D.
History of Daviess Counties
Goodspeed Publishing Company 1886
DANIEL J. SMITH, M. D., of Odon, Ind., was born in Lawrence County, Ind., May 13, 1829, and is one of nine children born to Peter and Margaret (Ford) Smith, The father was a German by birth, born in Kentucky. He was a farmer and came to Indiana about 1828, and located on a 160 acre farm in Indian Creek Township, Lawrence County. He soon afterward traded this farm for 160 acres near Bedford. He was a successful farmer, and owned at the time of his death 500 acres of land. He died in the spring of 1849. The mother was born in the State of Tennessee. After her husband's death she made her home with her children until her death. Subject remained at home and received his education in the district schools. At the early age of seventeen, on March 11, 1847, he married Catharine Woody., daughter of Robert and Mourner Woody. She was born February 13,1829. They became the parents of seven children, three of whom are living: Sarah Jane (wife of Capt. Z. V. Garten), Mary E. (wife of John Smiley), and Margaret E. (wife of John Crooke). Mrs. Smith was intelligent and well educated and her husband perceived the advantages of a good education, and accordingly received instruction from his wife and attended school a few terms. He learned very rapidly and at the age of twenty years entered the teacher's profession. About 1850 he commenced working at the carpenter's trade, at which he continued about eight years. In l859 he began the study of medicine under Dr. E. E. Rose. At the end of one year he took a course of lectures at the Eclectic Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and after completing his course commenced practicing, his profession at Fayetteville, Ind., where be remained two years. August 1, 1861, lie came to Clarksburg, now Odon, where he resumed his practice and has since resided. Dr. Smith lost his wife October 14, 1870, and May 14, 1871, he wedded Sarah J. Clinton, daughter of Henry and Delphia Clinton. Mrs. Smith was born in Daviess County, Ind., in 1839. To their union two children were born, one of whom is living, Arnley. His second wife died March 1, 1881, and October 3 of the same year be married Mrs. Catharine (Stoy) Crater, daughter of Rev. John and Sophronia Stoy, born December 25, 1844, in Ohio. Dr. Smith has been a resident of Odon twenty-four years, where, by his thorough knowledge of his profession, be has built up an extensive and paying practice. He graduated at the Medical College at Cincinnati in 1866. In politics he is independent. He is a member of the Christian Church, but is an Evolutionist in belief. He was for some time justice of the peace in Lawrence County, and was elected in 1880 to the Greenback National Convention at Chicago.
Contributed by: Michael L. Tedrow