Collection #:
SC 0070

JEREMIAH SMITH
PAPERS, 1844–1868

Collection Information

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Cataloging Information

Processed by
Chris Harter
20 January 1998
Updated 7 July 2004

Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269

www.indianahistory.org

collection INFORMATION

VOLUME OF COLLECTION: 1 folder

COLLECTION DATES: 1844-1868

PROVENANCE: Copied from typescripts loaned by Mrs. Heber Fitgerald through the Union County Public Library, 1962.

RESTRICTIONS: None

REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical Society.

ALTERNATE FORMATS: None

OTHER FINDING AIDS: None

RELATED HOLDINGS: M 0477, Smith-Holliday Family Papers; Smith, Jeremiah. Is Slavery Sinful? (E449.S644 1863)

ACCESSION NUMBERS: 1962.0020

NOTES:

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Jeremiah "Jere" Smith (1805-1874) was born in South Carolina. He came to Indiana with his father, William Smith, in 1817. The Smiths stopped in Wayne County for a short time before moving to Randolph County. Jeremiah was probably educated in that county. He taught school for one term in Richmond (Wayne Co.) before settling in Winchester (Randolph Co.). There he studied law, and began practicing in 1837. Jeremiah Smith was a Democrat and a well-known public official in Randolph County, at times serving as prosecuting attorney, surveyor, school examiner, and circuit judge. He built the Franklin House in Winchester, which served as a hotel for many years, and he helped plan Union City, Indiana. Jeremiah also authored several works, including two histories of Randolph County.

He married Cynthia Dye. They had ten children, eight of which lived to adulthood. The surviving children were: William H., John Dye, Charles C., Mary E., Henry B., Charlotte, J. Giles, and Oliver H. Henry married Nancy Holliday, daughter of Joseph W. Holliday. Cynthia was killed in 1872 after she was hit by a train.

Source: Tucker, Ebenezer. History of Randolph County (1882).

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

This collection consists of typescripts of a memorandum book and diary kept by Jeremiah Smith. The memorandum book (9p.) describes an eastern trip Smith made in May and June of 1844. Smith passed through Cincinnati, Wheeling, and Pittsburgh on his way to Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The book details his expenses and activities during his trip. Smith visited the United States Patent Office twice, and mentions his negative opinions after witnessing speeches made in Congress.

Smith also kept a diary (6p.) for a trip he made in the winter of 1867-1868 to visit his sister, Sarah Proctor, near Dalby Springs, Texas. He describes the boat ride on the Mississippi and Red Rivers to Shreveport, Louisiana. He then crossed into Texas, where he spent two weeks with his sister and her family, before returning home. As with his memorandum book, Smith details his expenses and activities while traveling.

CATALOGING INFORMATION

For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:

1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://opac.indianahistory.org/

2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.

3. Select  "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.

4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, SC 0070).

5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.