Smith Family - Ourfolk

James Douglas Smith, one of the owners of the Arc Amusement Company of Sullivan, Indiana, and the tonsorial artist whose finely equipped parlor is at the Davis House, is James D. Smith, who was born June 24, 1864, in Vigo county, Indiana, in Fayette township, son of James and Nancy (Posey) Smith. The father, a native of Sullivan county, was born in Jefferson township in 1832, in the month of November, and died in Oklahoma in May, 1906. The mother was born in the same township as her husband, and they were united in marriage in Sullivan county. The grandfather of James D. Smith was among the early settlers of Sullivan county, who took government land and resided there the remainder of his life.

James Smith, the father, made agriculture his occupation. He farmed in Vigo county one or two seasons, then moved back to Farmer s Prairie in Hamilton township, Sullivan county, where he purchased sixty acres of land. After residing there for nineteen years he sold out and moved to Shelburn, Indiana, where he lived a retired life for two years. He the moved to his farm in Curry township, where his wife died. He married Mrs. Thomas Chambers, of Cass township, Sullivan county, but subsequently they separated and he moved to Dugger, where he was engaged at various business enterprises for a time, but about 1902 he went to Oklahoma, bought a farm there and remained there until his death. Politically he was a Democrat. Both he and his first wife were members of the Christian church. They were the parents of the following children: Homer, deceased; Marshal B., a barber of Hymera; Emma A., of Oklahoma; Charles, of Sullivan; James D., of this notice; William, of Washington, North Dakota; and two who died in their infancy.

James D. Smith was reared on the farm and obtained a common-school education. He remained at home with his father until twenty years of age, when he engaged in the barber business, learning his trade at Dugger, Indiana, after which he conducted a shop there himself for about ten years, and then went to Sullivan, where he has since been engaged in the barber business. In September, 1898, he opened his shop in the New Davis hotel, where he makes use of four barber chairs and conducts a first-class shop. He is also a half owner in the Arc Amusement Company, which is located on North Court street, opposite the Davis Hotel.

In his political views, Mr. Smith is in accord with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias orders at Sullivan. He was married May 18, 1889, to Lavina Campbell, born in Hamilton township, Sullivan county, Indiana, October 22, 1872, a daughter of Thomas M. and Jane (Spence) Campbell. She received her education in her native township at the public schools. One daughter has been born of this union: Dorothy, born May 10, 1900. Mr. Smith is a member of the Christian church, while his wife is connected with the Presbyterian. Mr. Smith s paternal grandfather was twice married and was the father of twenty-one children.
Transcribed by Katherine Haggerty

(A History of Sullivan County Indiana Thomas J. Wolfe Volume 1 1909)