1914 Delaware County History pgs. 87-88

 EDWIN  SMITH

Edwin Smith was a highly respected resident of Forestville and his demise was sincerely mourned by his many friends. He was born in Indiana on the 30th of April, 1845, a son of Jackson Smith, a native of England. The latter came to Iowa in the early '50s and was for several decades a resident of Delaware county. Mr. Smith of this review was reared by his grandparents until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he enlisted in the Sixth Iowa Cavalry and served in the Union army for over three years. Most of the time his command was engaged in fighting the Indians in the Dakotas. At the end of his military service he returned to Iowa and located in Manchester, where he learned the tinner's trade. He subsequently removed to Forestville and worked in a mill there for some time. His demise occurred there in November, 1911, when he was sixty-six years of age.

He was industrious and did well whatever he undertook to accomplish, his many admirable characteristics winning him loyal friends. He was for many years a resident of the county and was well known and respected.

Mr. Smith married on the 29th of August, 1867, Miss .Mary K. Gilbert, who was born in Boone county, Illinois, but came with her parents to Iowa when but seven years old. To this marriage were born two children: Lida, who was born December 20, 1869, and who died October 15, 1870; and L. Grace, who was born March 14, 1877, and is the wife of W. L. Pelley. She has two children: Bracell L., who is a high-school student; and Rex A., born March 27, 1907. Previous to her marriage Mrs. Pelley was a school teacher for several years and is a graduate of the state normal school at Cedar Falls.

Although Mrs. Smith owns a fine residence at Forestville, she is making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Pelley, who is in the hotel business in Dundee.

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