The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
April 28, 1880
Page 3
Column 4
SMITH --- Died, at his residence, in Carthage,
on Wednesday morning, April 21st, 1880,
Judge Dennis Smith, aged 72 years, 3 months
and 10 days, after an illness of 16 months.Dennis Smith, the subject of this sketch, was the son of Joseph and Hannah Smith, and was born January 10th, 1808, in Stonelich township, Clermont county, Ohio. He resided with his parents until Sept. 13th, 1824, at which time his father died, leaving his mother a widow with ten children, four boys and six girls; of which he was the second child; and the support of the family having fallen upon him, he resided with his mother until he was of age. On the 6th day of August, 1829, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Bigam, and they lived together until her death, on the 5th day of April 1843; she leaving surviving her, three living children, four having deceased. On the 25th day of July, 1843, he was united in marriage with Mary Boyd, with whom he lived until her death, Feb. 11th, 1880.
In 1836 he commenced the study of law with John Joliff, of Batavia, Clermont county, Ohio, and in 1837-8, he having completed the study of law, graduating at the law school of Cincinnati, Ohio, and immediately after was admitted to the bar in Batavia, Ohio, and commenced the practice of law. In 1842, and again in 1844, he was elected states attorney of Clermont Co., Ohio. In 1848, and again in 1849, he was elected to the legislature of Ohio. In 1851 he lost his eldest son, Joseph, aged 20 years. In 1852, being in his 48th year, he took a short trip to California. On the 12th day of April, 1856, he arrived in Carthage, Illinois, and resided there two years, then removed back to Ohio, and from there he again visited California for a short time, and returned to Carthage in April, 1859. In 1862 he was elected county judge of Hancock Co., Ill., and has at different times filled the various township and town offices, to which he was elected. In 1866 he commenced to speak as a minister of the gospel, and continued to preach from that time until his sickness prevented him. He united with the regular Baptist church about 1840, in Stonelich township, Clermont Co., Ohio, and after his arrival at Carthage, he united with the Baptist Church at Middle Creek, of which he remained a member until his death.
It would hardly seem necessary to speak of Judge Smith's exalted personal character and good citizenship in a community that has long known him and honored him for those qualities. He was a man of positive convictions and acted upon them with sincere motives of right. What he believed in regard to public matters or religious views he was always ready to maintain with earnestness in the defense of what he conceived to be the right. In his prime as a politician he was regarded as an excellent and forcible speaker. As a preacher of the faith which he believed and loved, he was remarkably well posted in scripture and doctrine, and was esteemed one of the ablest among the preachers of the Old School faith. In personal and neighborhood affairs Judge Smith was highly esteemed for all those qualities which make the kind, unvarying friend and neighbor, and good citizen.
The funeral of Judge Smith took place on Thursday afternoon last, from the late family residence to Moss Ridge cemetery. A brief religious service was held at the house by Elder Rice Harris, of Harmony township. The remains were followed to the grave by the bar of this city in a body, and by a goodly concourse of citizens.
A funeral discourse was preached at Bentley on Sunday last by Elder Rice Harris, from Acts iv: 12 "For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." The sermon was quite an able one, and was replete with fitting references to the history and character of the deceased.
Hancock County Historical Society
Carthage, IllinoisSiegfried I
Page 129Judge Dennis Smith died April 21, after a long illness, aged 72 years. He was born in Ohio and received a good education there. In 1824, his father died, leaving a family of ten children and it became his duty to care for them. In 1829, he married Elizabeth Bigham, who bore him seven children, three surviving. Mrs. Smith died in April, 1843. His second marriage was to May Boyd, who died in 1880. He studied law in Ohio and graduated from the law school of Cincinnati. He served two terms in the Ohio legislature. Mr. Smith located in Carthage in 1859 and in 1863 was elected county judge and thereafter filled various offices in the county. In 1866, Judge Smith commenced to preach, having joined the Baptist church in youth. He united with the Baptist church at Middle Creek and held the membership until his death. He believed in and loved his faith and was remarkably well posted in scripture and doctrine, considered one of the ablest preachers of the old school group. He was a man of exalted personal character and good citizenship.
