HIRAM SMITH was born in Union County, Penn., October 12, 1839, and is the ninth of the eleven children born to George and Mary (Buffington) Smith. Hiram lived on the home farm and attended school until fourteen years of age, and then worked as a farm laborer until eighteen, when he served an apprenticeship at blacksmithing for eighteen months, and then for three years worked as a journeyman. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty- first Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, for nine months ; served on detailed duty as blacksmith in the Army of the Potomac, and was discharged at Harrisburg, leaving his regiment at Fredericksburg, Va. October 29, 1863, he married Miss Emma J. Mertz, who was born in Union County, Penn., July 3, 1838, and was the daughter of Philip and Lydia Mertz. Nine children were the fruit of this union, five now living, viz., Ella, Laura, Philip, Ida May and Harry W. Mr. Smith worked at his trade in Pennsylvania until October, 1864, when he came to Burnettsville, where he worked for six years, then moved to a farm north of the town, on which he lived five years, and then returned to town and resumed his trade. Mr. Smith is a Republican, and has served as Town Treasurer and Road Supervisor, and he and wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

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