A. Howard Smith represents family that has been identified with the agricultural community of Noble County for over half a century, and his own efforts as an agriculturist have given him a substantial reputation in several communities, chiefly in Perry Township, where he owns one of the good farms, located a mile and a half east of Ligonier.
He was born in Elkhart Township of Noble County, July 2, 1871, son of Abraham H. and Mary E. (Dumm) Smith. His father and mother were both born in Licking County, Ohio, the former on August 18, 1841, and the latter in 1843. They were married at Brownsville, Ohio, and in 1864 came to Noble County and located in Elkhary Township. They had their home in that community for many years, developed a good fram, and in 1901 retired and removed to Ligonier, where the mother died in 1911 and the father in 1915. They wre very active members of the Primitive Bptist zchutch, the father serving as clerk of the church. He was a democrat in politics. There were nine children in the family, one of whom died in infancy. Those to grow up were: Charles L.; Emma L., wife of Curtis Cole; Ella M., wife of Dr. A. J. Hostettler, of LaGrange; Frank R., deceased; A. Howard; Bruce, who is a conductor with the New York Central lines; Edwin D., of Ligonier; and Edith M., wif of Walter Robinson, of Ligonier.
A. Howard Smith grwe up on the home farm in Elkhart Township and had a district school education. After leaving school he remained with his fater helping to till the fields nd carry on the work of the farm until he was thirty years of age.
In October, 1894, Mr. Smith married Lillie Schwab. She died in 1895. On March 12, 1901, he married Minnie Burket. Mrs. Smith was born in Perry Township and had a common school education. After their marriage they lived for three years in Elkhart Township, and in 1911 moved to their present farm of 112 acres in Perry Township. They also own thirty-four acres in Elkhart Township. This is a valuable property, and represents to a large degree the earnest efforts of Mr. Smith since he started life on his own responsibility. He and his wife have one daughter, Mildred M., born May 15, 1905, and now attending school. Mr. Smith keeps good grdes of livestock of all kinds and is a stockholder in the Farmers Co-operative Elevator at Ligonier. He is affiliated with the knights of the Maccabees and the Eagles, and is a democrat.
A. Howard Black, History of Northeast Indiana, (c) 1884, Vol. 2, pg. 17.