Person:James Smith (345)

James Smith was the son of James Smith (1790-1852) and Sarah Grogan and grandson of John Smith (1760-1812) and Sarah Spencer (1764-1851). The latter a Revolutionary soldier serving from Buckingham County, Virginia and died in Henry County, Virginia and son Henry Smith. James Smith and family belonged to the Methodist church having been members of "ole Bethel" church of Mercer County, Ohio. He died while teaching Sunday School class in this church. Mahala Jane Exline was left with three small children, the younger 6 weeks old. She marred William Shell and took her children to Green Lake, Minnesota to be near her brother George Exline. Among the early homesteaders listed in the History of Kandiyohi County, Minn was "Mahala Jane Shell in section 10 on 15 Nov 1870." Listed among the first scholars in the district 28 in 1872 was William and Ira Shell. Lizzie Cable cousin was listed in 1875. Section 10 is on beautiful Green Lake in Kandiyohi County. George Exline moved near Bunkerhill, Russell County, Kansas and in 1872, Mahala Lucina Smith and husband Edgar Nichols followed. In 1874 Mahala Jane Shell removed with her children to the same location. In 1884 she went with her sons, William and Ira Shell to Winfield Kansas and here she died during the summer of 1885.