Sylvester Smith

Our subject, Sylvester Smith, is the son of a soldier of the War of 1812, and Sylvester Smith, Sr., laid his land warrant, received at that time, after he came to Iowa. He was an able man and one who aided largely in the culture and improvement of this community. Being a professed Christian, a member of the Congregational Church, the family were in attendance at the organization of the Crawfordsville Congregational Church the next Sunday after they came, and when sufficiently strong to organize a church in Wayne Township, both himself and wife aided in its establishment, Sylvester Smith, Sr., becoming its first Deacon, and remaining -in that capacity the remainder of his life. The death of that good man occurred Dec. 21, 1863. He was known far and wide as "Yankee Smith," and was one of the organizers of the Republican party in the county, being an avowed Abolitionist for years. His wife survived until Aug. 13, 1875, having lived to see the principles so long advocated by her husband fully established.

• Source - Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa. pages 175-176.