James Smith

James "Old Jimmie" Smith was one of Washington's most important early residents.  What follows is an article written for the Washington Historical Society in 2010 by Kit Zinser:

James Smith (1809-1871?) was born in Scotland and at the urging of his mother came to the United States.  She was sure the climate would be healthier.  He emigrated bringing his wife Ann Cargill Smith (1809-1898).  Arriving in New York in October, she gave birth to her first child on Christmas Day 1834.  James moved his little family west.  He arrived at Fort Clark (Peoria) where he met Mr. William Holland who urged him to bring his architectural, carpentry, and contracting skills to Washington.

Their first home was a one-room log cabin at the northeast corner of North High and East Jefferson streets.  Desiring more land and to accommodate his growing family, James bought property at the northeast part of Washington settlement (now 601 East Adams Street) and built a home where their third child was born in 1837.  James farmed and crafted a fine orchard.

With James' woodworking skills and architect's mind, he parlayed his talents into a livelihood.  He built a sawmill along Farm Creek just below what is now 215 West Jefferson Street, and soon had a booming business which included carpentry, masonry, plastering, and painting.  As his sons matured, they joined their father in his business.  James built many homes, schools, and churches, as well as all the stations on the T.P. & W. between Bushnell, Illinois, and Effner, Indiana.  In Washington, James' craftsmanship resulted in the erection of the Christian Church in 1869.  The Henry Danforth home (corner of East Holland and South Main Streets), the Eureka College Administration Building, the Eureka College Chapel, and the Presbyterian Church were all accomplishments of James Smith & Sons.  Describing his workmanship as eminently expressive of his architectural skills, James made his mark upon the thriving community and surrounding villages.

For a time, he served as Washington's undertaker and most likely made his own coffins.  His furniture factory was on the north side of Washington Street (now Zinser Place) between North Market and the alley to the east.  James held title to considerable real estate, as land sold for $1.25 an acre.  Soon, a time came when he wanted to divest himself of some of the property; but Ann, his wife, would not sign the deeds to liquidate.  She didn't quite understand the economic hardship and felt she was protecting her family.  Times were hard.

James' mother, Susan, came to live with the family, and he drove a horse-pulled wagon to Chicago to pick her up and bring her back to Washington to live with the family.

In 1858, the business was hit by a tornado and the carpenter shop was moved four inches off its base, doors and windows looked like "oblique parallelograms" and the gabled roof burst and landed on the sawmill below.  Following that, a complete crop failure.  His fortune ingrained, however, he went on to build the Methodist Church in 1866.

An honorable, well-liked and respected man in the community, he held true to his business details.

James mysteriously disappeared in 1871.  With gold upon his person, he drove his wagon to Chicago to buy a load of lumber and was never seen again.

His mother grieved; his wife Ann kept the home fires burning for him at the Adams place until her death in 1898.