OSCAR SMITH.

Oscar Smith was born May 6, 1855, in Eaton county, Michigan, and grew to maturity on his father's farm, with the rugged duties of which he early became familiar. He obtained     a public school education and remained at borne until his twenty-third year, working at intervals, the meanwhile, at any kind of honest labor he could find, but devoting the greater part of the time to the home farm. In 1878 he married the young lady of his choice whose name was Lovinia Favorite, and who, like himself, was a native of Eaton county, her home at the time she became his wife being at the town of Brookfield. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Favorite, was seventy-one years old at the time of her death, which occurred on April  15, 1911. Shortly after his marriage Mr. Smith moved to Lake Odessa, a new town which had just been laid out, where for about six years he was variously employed, working at odd jobs, hauling building material and doing general teaming. Before locating at the above place, he had purchased a small tract of land near Brookfield, which increased rapidly in value with the growth of the latter town and which he sold at a handsome profit a short time prior to transferring his residence to Lake Odessa.

Disposing of his interests in that place at the expiration of the period indicated, Mr. Smith moved to Isabella county and bought from a timber company eighty acres of land in Fremont township, the first growth of which had been cut off, leaving the stumps, trash and undergrowth, which required a great deal of hard labor to remove. With his characteristic energy, how- ever, he addressed himself to the task and in the course of a few years the obstructions disappeared and the virgin soil was in condition for tillage. Not long after moving to the next home, Mrs. Smith became quite ill and that she might have the treatment she so much needed her husband took her to the home of her parents, where, under the tender care and loving ministration of her mother, she gradually recovered her accustomed health and strength and in due time returned to her husband with health fully restored. During her absence Mr. Smith lived by himself and at times was very lonely, but hard labor being the best panacea for such a condition, he applied himself very diligently and by the time she was ready to return he had a goodly part of his farm ready for tillage and a number of improvements made.

Mr. Smith has sixty of his eighty acres in cultivation and his improvements are among the best in the neighborhood. The farm occupies a part of an elevated tract of land from which a splendid view of the surrounding country for many miles can be obtained, for which reason he calls his place "Fairview Farm," certainly a very appropriate name, as all who see it readily admit. Recently he erected a large barn, forty by sixty feet in size, with basement under the entire structure, this with a comfortable dwelling, good out- buildings,, substantial wire fences and various other improvements, adding greatly to the appearance and value of the farm and making it a home of which he feels deservedly proud, representing as it does the labor of his own hands. The first year of his marriage, Mr. Smith went to Kansas with the object of locating in that state, but the country not meeting his expectations, he returned after a few months, satisfied with his brief experience in the West. He is now well situated to enjoy the many material blessings with which he has surrounded himself and family and his present intention is to spend the remainder of his days at the pleasant home which he now occupies. He votes the Republican ticket, but is not a very active politician', neither has he any ambition to gratify in the way of holding office; nevertheless, he served his township nine years as school director, and proved a capable and judicious public servant.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, Ira, who is married to Iva Riggles and lives in Fremont township, and William, who is unmarried and a citizen of  Jackson township, both being farmers and greatly esteemed in their respective places of residence.