Person:Nathaniel Smith (40)

Introducing Nathaniel Wilson Smith of Wheeling, Ohio Co, West Virginia_______________________

Nathaniel W. Smith is listed in 1813 along with Joseph Grate as being a silversmith in Franklinton; he is also listed in 1814 as an early silversmith who made a business in grandfather clocks and employed Stephen Berryhill, a schoolteacher, to set them up for him. Joseph Grate is another silversmith of the same time. Sometime around 1821 N. W. Smith was ordained as a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church in Columbus and the old records of the incorporators of the First presbyterian Society of Columbus, 20 June 1821 lists his name first. In 1826 N. W. Smith was listed as a householder in the Sixth District composed of Columbus and townships of Montgomery as lies south of Friend Street and as far east as eastern extremity of outlots attached to Hamilton Twp for school assessment. He was also on the 1826 chattel tax list for Montgomery Twp, Franklin Co, OH.

Notes on the newspaper extracts of the Pittsburgh Gazette, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co, PA

NW Smith, clock and watch-maker, and silversmith, has commenced the above business, on the west side of Wood St, between Diamond alley and 4th Str, where he will be happy to execute all orders in his line, in the best manner, and on the shortest notice. Phg. 25 Sept 1818 (2 Oct 1818)

Wanted, a Boy from 15 to 16 years of age, who can come well recommended, as an apprentice to the Watch-making and Silver-smithing business. /s/N. W. Smith, Wood st. between Diamond Alley & 4th st. 15 Dec 1818, p223

Dissolution of Partnership. The co-partnership heretofore existing under the firm of Smith & Park, Watchmakers and Silver-smiths, has this day been dissolved by mutual consent. Those indebted to the said firm will please make payment to John Park, who is authorised to settle the business, and those having claims against the firm, will please to call on him for payment. /s/ N. W. Smith, John Park. Pgh 10 Nov 1819 (12 Nov 1819, p330)

The above business will be carried on in the same place by /s/ John Park.

NW Smith and Rebecca Culbertson mar Franklin Co, OH 21 Dec 1819. Rev Francis Herron, who officiated at Nathaniel’s second marriage, was b in 1774 Shippenburg, PA; he came to Allegheny Co, PA in 1811; he took his D.D. degree from Dickinson College’ apparently he had money of his own as he bought the First Presbyterian Church when it was sold for taxes and donated it back to the congregation; he was pastor there for 49Y, helped to establish Western Theological Seminary, and was elected to state office.

On 15 Apr 1828 Nathaniel was appointed the guardian for his minor children as they were infant heirs of Joseph Smith, dec, of Perry Twp; securities were made by Andrew Dill and John Emmick.Joseph Smith’s will(Vol A p188) was signed 5 Dec 1825 and proven 11 Sept 1827; he was a resident of Perry Twp, Franklin Co, OH; his will was witnessed by David Smith, Elijah Smith; mentions wife and children one of whom was son, Abraham.

Nathaniel does not appear in the 1830 Federal Census for Franklin Co, OH as a head of house. Between May and June of 1849 N. W. was appointed to the Board of Health and was diligent in procuring medicine and other assistance and made daily reports during the chlorea attack.Another account states he was on the Board of Health in 1849 but not in 1850; this same account says he was appointed as steward to the Deaf and Dumb Asylum in 1852 but he retired later in 1852.

"The Silversmiths of Virginia, together with watchmakers and Jewelers, from 1694-1850." Written by George Barton Cutten. Pages 182 and 183.

NATHANIEL W. SMITH was the son of Henry and Mary Smith of Ohio County, Va. On August 22, 1829 he advertised that he had commenced watchmaking, silversmithing, &c. one door north of the court house in Wheeling, and that he had on hand "a neat assortment of jewelry, and fine steel chains and keys." On the following December he was grateful for past favors and had received a handsome assortment of jewelry and watches. He offered for sale "silver soup ladles and spoons."

Ten years previous to this, on November 25, 1819, as one of the heirs of Henry Smith, deceased, he sold for $650 to Nineon Bell a tract of land on Big Wheeling Creek, with buildings and improvements thereon, except the right of dower of Mary Smith, widow and relict of Henry Smith, and except also any other claim against the estate. On October 24, 1825, the hiers of Henry Smith, in which Nathaniel W. Smith and "Rebachah" his wife, and Nineon Bell and Harriet, his wife, are numbered, sold land on Big Grave Creek to John Potter.

But he had other responsibilities and cares beside his work as a silversmith and watchmaker; he had been in business only a little over three years when he advertised, on October 3, 1832, as follows: "In consequence of bereavement and the distressed condition of my family, together with my own bad state of health, has make it necessary for me to decline the business in which I have been engaged for the last three years." He returned thanks to his friends , the public, and his old customers, and introduced to them Mr. Nelson Whiteside, "an excellent workman and worhty of their encouragement and confidence. Mr. Whiteside has purchased my establishment and will conduct the business in the stand lately occupied by me. The dwelling house lately occupied by me on Quincy Street to let."

Evidently things changed for the better, for we find him advertising in May 1838 as a watch- and clockmaker. Grateful for many favors, he informed the citizens of Wheeling that he had again commenced business at his old stand opposite Mr. John Knote's saddlery shop on Main Street.

The Wheeling directory for 1839 lists "Smith, W. N. Clock and Watchmaker, Res. 140 Main St." This "W. N." was projbably a misprint for "N. W."

In 1846 he moved to Clarksburg, for on March 19, of that year he advertised there that he had opened a stock of jewelry, silverware, etc. in the room adjacent to Mr. Barnes' drugstore. He had for sale silver table and tea spoons, did watch and clock repaining, and paid highest prices for old gold and silver." This advertisement was repeated six months later. Whether or not he returned to Wheeling we do not know, but the Ohio County records show that on September 5, 1850 he and his wife, Jane E. Smith, sold to James Cornahan for $10 their interest in Lot 216, East Wheeling "one undivided seventh part of said lot."

Knittle lists Nathaniel W. Smith as a silversmith in Columbus, Ohio, in 1814. It is possible that these two were the same person, but not probable.

In the 1850 federal census NW Smith, Columbus, OH: a jeweler w/ wife Jane E, and ch Elizabeth, Chas, Marcus, Anthony, Clara as

1850 Columbus Ward 4 Franklin Co, OH 18 Oct 1850 p271 434/491 Smith NW 50 VA jeweler Jane E 40 PA Elizabeth 16 VA Charles 11 VA Marcus 9 VA Anthony 4 VA Clara 7 VA Johnson, George 24 OH student Liverpool, Jeanetta 17 VA (black) Solomon, Ben 34 OH laborer

In 1860 federal census NW Smith, Clinton, DeWitt Co, IL a jeweler w/ wife Jane and ch Chas L, Marcus D, Clarrie as

1860 Clinton, Dewitt Co, IL 23 June 1860 564/553 Smith, NW 60 VA silversmith Jane E 48 PA Charles L 21 VA jeweler Marcus D 18 VA Clarrie 15 VA

In 1870 Federal Census, Mattoon Twp, Coles Co, IL, 29 July 1870, p222B 501/484 Nathaniel Smith 73 VA watchmaker; 2500/800 w/wife Jane 60 OH Marcus 26 VA watchmaker Mary Gleason 12 IL; next door to 502/485 Charles Smith 30 VA jewelry store 3,000/2,000 w/wife Clarinda 30 OH Henry 8 IL Lena 5 IL Grace 1 IL

So Nathaniel W. Smith traveled from Columbus 1850 to Wheeling to Clinton, DeWitt Co, IL by 1854 to Matoon, Coles Co, IL 1865. and died and buried in Decatur, Macon Co, IL. Nathaniel died 21 Aug 1873 in Decatur, IL while visiting his daughter.

Nathaniel Wilson Smith's obit is paraphrased in the following: "A Blameless Life and a Happy Death"

The subject of this brief sketch, Nathaniel W. Smith, was b Wheeling, WVA 1797. In his early life he removed to Pittsburg, PA and in that city at age 17Y he united w/Presbyterian Church. In 1819 he removed to Columbus, OH where he was an elder in the church under Rev Dr Hoge. In 1854 he emigrated to Clinton, IL where he lived until 8Y ago when he removed to Mattoon, IL where he continued to reside until his death. Some days before he came to Decatur to visit his daughter, Mrs. WJ Brown and was soon stricken with paralysis which resulted in his death last Wed morning. He leaves a devoted wife and 8 children.

During the prevalence of cholera for two seasons in Columbus he dropped his business and devoted his whole time to the work of visiting and nursing the sick as he also did during the cholera visitation at Wheeling 1832. He was described as warm and had an energetic Christian spirit. Last sabbath morning while his wife and children surrounded his bed he desired to hear them sing "Nearer my God to Thee" and "Jesus Lover of my Soul". He said I expect to know what Nearer to God means and to sing these hymns with you all above. Soon after that he never rallied. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev JA Piper of Clinton. Evidentally the minister only met w/Nathaniel once but was greatly impressed by his Christian spirit.

Also on the same page was a brief write-up of the funeral. NW Smith, father of Mrs. Captain WJ Brown, died quite suddenly at her residence. The funeral was quite numerously attended at the Presbyterian Church at 10 AM under the care of Rev Mr. Piper of Clinton. Mr. Smith came here from Mattoon to visit his daughter a few days ago and was stricken w/paralysis.

NW Smith 9 Dec 1797 - 20 Aug 1873 Jane E. Smith wife of NW Smith "Our Mother" 10 May 1810 - 14 Mar 1890 Buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Decatur, IL