BIO: John Smathers, Jefferson County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion, Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens. 
Chicago, Ill.: J. H. Beers, 1898, pages 1086-1087.
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JOHN SMATHERS, who passed away August 25, 1895, through his own 
exertions attained an honorable position and marked prestige among the 
representative men of Jefferson county, and with signal consistency it 
may be said that he was the architect of his own fortune, and one whose 
success amply justified the application of the somewhat hackneyed, but 
most expressive term, "a self-made man."
  Mr. Smathers was born in Clarion county, Penn., January 4, 1828, and 
was a son of Christian and Susan (Harriger) Smathers, who came from 
east of the mountains, and located in Clarion county at an early day.  
There they successfully engaged in farming, and reared their family of 
eight children, namely:  Sarah, who married Henry Milliron, but both 
are now deceased; Eliza, wife of John Nigh; Margaret, wife of John 
Jones; John, of this sketch; Susannah and Rosanna (twins), the former 
the wife of James Shirey, and the latter the wife of William 
Shingledecker; Jacob, a farmer of Clarion county; A. J. Smathers, of 
Stanton, Penn., deceased; and William Smathers, deceased, of Clarion 
county, Pennsylvania.
  Although John Smathers started out in life for himself in limited 
circumstances, by industry, economy and good business ability he became 
one of the most extensive farmers and stock dealers of Jefferson 
county, where  he located in 1853.  For a few years he resided in 
Oliver township, and then removed to the farm in Ringgold township, 
where his widow and son, Charles, are still living.  He gave each of 
his children a large and valuable farm, or its equivalent, all of which 
property he had acquired through his own unaided efforts and good 
management.  Enterprising and progressive, he was numbered among the 
valued citizens of the community, was a firm supporter of the 
Democratic party, and an active and consistent member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church.  On January 30, 1850, he was married to Miss Anna 
Jones and they became the parents of seven children, namely:  Wilson 
J., born March 28,1851, married Maggie Fulton, and is now a leading 
physician of Du Bois, Penn.; M. Filmore, born September 8, 1853, 
married Maggie Wilson, an ex-school teacher, and is engaged in farming 
and stock raising in Ringgold township; Emily A., born May 25, 1860, 
died at the age of two years and nine months; Winfield S. born April 1, 
1858, married Amanda Yaney, and is engaged in merchandising in 
Worthville, Jefferson county; J. Curtis, born June 23, 1863, married 
Mattie Campbell, and follows farming in Indiana county, Penn.; Charles, 
born September 10, 1866, wedded Mary Buck, and operates the old 
homestead farm; and Anna A., born March 7, 1870, died April 16, 1870.  
The family is one of prominence, its members holding high positions in 
social and business circles.
  Mrs. Smathers, a most estimable lady, was born in Beaver township, 
Jefferson county, March 9, 1829, and is a daughter of John and Lydia 
(Grinder) Jones, of Huntingdon county, Penn., who at an early day came 
to Beaver township, Jefferson county, where the father followed 
agricultural pursuits.  He was a son of Thomas Jones, a native of 
Ireland, who emigrated to the New World in early life, first locating 
in Maryland, whence he removed to Westmoreland county, Penn., and later 
to Beaver township, Jefferson county, where he was numbered among the 
early settlers.
  To John and Lydia (Grinder) Jones were born the following children:  
Doris, deceased wife of James Guthrie, a carpenter of Summerville, 
Penn.; Louisa, widow of Charles Jaycox, of the same place; Richard, 
deceased; John, a farmer of Beaver township; Anna, widow of our 
subject; Emily, widow of Abraham Flemming, of Shannondale, Penn.; 
Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Hand, an agriculturist of Nebraska; David, 
who was killed in the army; Thomas who is conducting a boarding house 
in Seigle, Penn.; Reilly, who also laid down his life on the altar of 
his county during the Civil war; and Elias, a prominent farmer of 
Beaver township.  The parents of these children have also passed away, 
the father dying in 1861, aged sixty-three years, the mother in 1892, 
aged eighty-seven, and both were interred in the Beaver township 
cemetery.  They were faithful members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church, and in politics Mr. Jones was an ardent Republican.