SMYTHE - Ebenezer Watson
Source: Weik, Jesse W. Weik's History Of Putnam County, Indiana
Illustrated 1910: B. F. Bowen & Company, Publishers Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 310
Among the enterprising citizens and prominent and successful business men of Fillmore, Putnam county, Indiana, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. A lifelong resident of this county, he has so lived as to merit the unbounded respect and confidence of his neighbors and now as the golden sunset of his life draws near, he is enjoying that rest which he has so richly earned.
Ebenezer V. Smythe was born February 4. 183J, in this county, and is a son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Sill) Smythe. both of whom were natives of Shelby county, Kentucky, the father having descended from sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestry. He came to Putnam countv in 1824 and located on eightv acres of land which he had purchased near Greencastle. He lived on this land until his death, which occurred in 1861, when he was sixty-three years old. His wife had preceded him to the unseen land, dying in 1S56, at the age of fifty-two years. Their remains were interred in the family burying ground on their homestead farm. Ebenezer Smythe followed the occupation of farming during his active years and was numbered among the active and influential men of his community. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian, while his wife was a member of the Baptist church. They became the parents of nine children, of whom four are now living, namely: George V., a farmer in Green-
castle township, this county; Hannah R., the widow of John Clark Ridpath. The eminent historian, who for many years was one of the best known citizens of Greencastle; Harriet, of Illinois, the widow of the late Benjamin Coffeen: Ebenezer W.. the subject of this sketch.
Ebenezer Smythe spent his boyhood days on the paternal homestead and received his education in the common schools. He was reared to the life of a farmer and remained as his father's assistant until his marriage, in 1855 at which time he located at Fillmore and engaged in the contracting business. He was a careful and expert workman and a good business man and many of the best buildings, public and private, in and about Greencastle were erected by him. In 1865 Mr. Smythe removed to Greencastle, continuing his former line of work and at the same time engaging in the undertaking business, which line he followed for twelve years. He then moved to Chicago and engaged in the manufacture of cotton presses, in which he met with gratifying success so that four years later he retired from that business and returned to his former location at Fillmore, where he erected a neat and attractive residence, modern in every respect and in this comfortable home he is now living and enjoying life. He is not passing the time idly, however, but has recently superintended the erection of the new school house just completed at Fillmore, his sound judgment and integrity being generally recognized. He has at all times
taken a keen and intelligent interest in current events and gives an earnest support to all movements tending to the advancement of the best interests of the community.
On October 31, 1858, Mr. Smythe was united in marriage to Sarah Oliver, a daughter of Morris and Martha OHaver, of Marion township, this county. Mrs. Smythe died on February 14, 1885, and on October 31, 1888, Mr. Smythe married Louisa C. Knight, the daughter of Lloyd and Katherine Knight, of Marion township, the former having served as coroner of Putnam county for four years.
Mr. Smythe is the father of seven children, all by his first marriage, namely: Clara Belle, who is unmarried and is employed as a saleslady in Allen Brothers dry goods store in Greencastle; Jennie, the wife of Henry Pentenoy, of Chicago: Arthur L., who married Lola Snyder; Oliver H., of Chicago, married Kate Callahan, and they have one child. Clara : Wesley W. married
Mabel Kissinger and they have three children. Eban, Grace and Arthur; Frank R. married Bertha McFrase and they have four children, Jean Marie, Bertha, Frank R. J. and Freda E.; Harry B. married Susie B. Kissinger and they have three children. Royal, Allen and Sarah C.
Fraternally Mr. Smythe is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and the Foresters, as well as the Carpenters' Union. Religiously he is a member of the Christian church and his wife of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Source: Greencastle Star, 24 Jan 1880 p 8
Messrs. Smythe & Bowen, the contractors for building the County Poor House, expect to have the building completed next week.