Michael Frick Smith
MICHAEL FRICK SMITH, who for over twelve years has served as postmaster at Oak Ridge, Armstrong Co., Pa., was born Feb. 23, 1842, son of Robert and Susanna (Frick) Smith. His grandfather was Church Smith, a native of Ireland and among the first settlers in Armstrong county. He located near Elderton, in Plum Creek township, where he lived and died. His children who grew to maturity were: James, George, Robert and Betsey (married David Berkey).
Robert Smith, son of Church Smith, was born in 1808, in Plum Creek township, Armstrong county, and was there reared. He spent all his life in this county, living for upward of a quarter of a century in Washington township, where he engaged in farming. Later in life he removed to Mahoning township, where his death occurred in 1882, when he was seventy-four years old. He was twice married, first to Miss McCoy, by whom he had two sons, George and James. Later he married (second Susanna Frick, daughter of Jacob Frick, a pioneer of Armstrong county. Eleven children were born to this marriage, seven of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Church; Jacob; Alexander; Michael F.; Polly Jane, who married Andrew Wolf; Christopher; and Nancy J., who married Edward Wilson. The mother of this family was a native of Northumberland county.
Michael F. Smith was born in Washington township, and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in the public schools. He located with his parents in Mahoning township in 1860, working at farming until Oct. 1, 1861, when he enlisted in Company M, 2d Pennsylvania Cavalry, and took part in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Rappahannock Station, second Bull Run, Todd�s Tavern, Beaver Dam, operations in front of Richmond, and engagements at Old Church Tavern, Cold Harbor, Malvern Hill, White Oak Swamp, Deep Bottom, Charles City Cross Roads, Reams Station, Wyatt House, Boydton Plank Road, Stony Creek, and Petersburg, as well as minor affairs. His service extended over three years and nine months, and he was honorably discharged at Clouds Mills, Va., June 28, 1865. After his return home he engaged in farming in Mahoning and Wayne townships, and later in the lumber business. Since 1884, he has been a resident of Red Bank township, Armstrong county, where for ten years he was engaged in the mercantile business. Since 1900 he has efficiently filled the office of postmaster at Oak Ridge.
Mr. Smith married Nov. 28, 1865, Christiana, daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Gould) Clever, of Wayne township. They have had ten children, seven of whom are living as follows: Edward; Nancy Jane, wife of S. L. Barger; Margaret, wife of George Neese; Hortense, wife of William Gerheim; J. Park; Mary, wife of Emil Johnson; and Della, wife of Edward Shaffer. Mr. Smith belongs to the M. E. Church. Socially he is a member of the New Bethlehem G. A. R. post. In politics he unites with the Republican party.
Source: Page 931, Armstrong County, Pa., Her People, Past and Present, J.H. Beers & Co., 1914
Transcribed November 1998 by Jeffrey Bish for the Armstrong County Beers Project
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