business. while at the same time he
became familiar with subjects of common interest to
intelligent men.
The mother of our subject was three
times married, and out of a large family of children
eight survive. Martha, the eldest daughter living, is
the wife of Levi Dell, of Chicago, Ill.; Adam R., our
subject, is the next eldest; John is a resident of
Pennsylvania; Benjamin F. is carrying on farming in
Yankee Hill Precinct, this county; Catherine is the
wife of David Ditch, of Stark County, Ohio; Elizabeth,
Mrs. James States, continues a resident of Blair
County, Pa., where also reside Zachariah T. and
Wesley, the two younger sons.
Our subject before reaching his
majority was married, Oct. 25, 1854, in his native
county. to Miss Mary A. Shinefelt, and they are now
the parents of four children: Jacob E., their eldest
son, is carrying on farming in Colorado; Catherine is
the wife of W. H. Craig, of Kearney County, this
State; Flora C., Mrs. John Shaner, is a resident of
Lincoln; Bertha M. died when about three months old.
The mother passed away at her home in Pennsylvania in
1876.
Mr. Smith, on the 4th of January,
1877, contracted a second marriage, with Miss Sarah
Bateman, who was born in York County, Pa., and is the
daughter of John and Christina (Hollar) Bateman, also
natives of the Keystone State. Her paternal
grandfather was of English birth and parentage, and on
her mother's side her ancestors were from Germany. Her
maternal grandfather was Phillip Hollar, and spent his
last years in Pennsylvania. The mother, Mrs. Bateman,
was twice married, and her family included eight
children, namely: Samuel, deceased; John, a resident
of York County, Pa.; Sarah and George, deceased;
William, living in Blair County, Pa.; Daniel, who
yielded up his life as a Union soldier in Libby Prison
during the Civil War; Susan, Mrs. Henry Miller, of
York County, Pa., and Eliza, the wife of Alexander
McGalligher, of that State.
Mr. Adam Smith in 1879 crossed the
Mississippi River and purchased 100 acres of land in
Yankee Hill Precinct, this county. Then returning to
Pennsylvania he spent the winter there, and in
February, 1880, prepared to locate in his new home,
coming hither by himself, his wife following about two
months later. The land which he had secured was
practically in its primitive condition, and on it
there were some small buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Smith
for a number of years labored industriously and lived
economically until they began to realize a solid
foothold. They gradually gathered around them those
comforts and conveniences which are the pleasing
features of their home, and where are made welcome
both friend and stranger, after the old-time
Pennsylvania hospitality.
OHN
H. SEVERIN, whose farm is situated upon section 26,
Buda Precinct, is a native of Prussia. He was born
Dec. 22, 1844, to John C. and Elizabeth Severin. While
he was still but a boy, his parents determined to
emigrate to this country, and when they did so he, of
course, accompanied them. They settled in Clayton
County, Iowa, where he was brought up, and made his
home until he was twenty years of age, when he went to
Colorado, and followed teaming and mining for a time;
while thus engaged he drove across the plains from
Council Bluffs with four yoke of oxen, taking a load
of machinery for the use of the people in
Colorado.
After leaving the above employment
our subject resided for some time in Council Bluffs,
following various occupations, and in the spring of
1867 went to work on the Union Pacific Railroad in
Wyoming, where he was engaged for about six months,
grading for that company. Then he went to Black Hawk,
Col., where he engaged in teaming; thence he came to
Lancaster County in the summer of 1869, and took up
eighty acres of land under the Homestead Law, and
subsequently a similar tract under the Pre-emption
Act; this he has brought to a high state of
cultivation.
The maiden name of the wife of our
subject was Margaret Clasen, a lady of German
parentage, by whom he has become the parent of ten
children, seven of whom survive; these are: Lora,
Rosa, Henry, Emile, Alfreda, Lydia and Pauline. Mr.
Severin enjoys the confidence and esteem of his
fellow-citizens, and has several times been called
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