Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 1228. HON. IRVIN LUCAS SMITH A prominent business man of Forest Grove, is a native of Ohio, born May 16, 1827. His father, Thaddeus Smith, was born in New York, and his ancestors settled in that State previous to the Revolution. He married Miss Mary Ross, the daughter of the Rev. Alexander Ross. Of four children born to them, two survive; Manly Levi, and I.L., the latter being the subject of this sketch, who was born in the same State, and who was the eldest child. His mother died when he was six years old, and his father married Miss Margaret Schreve, of Illinois. To this union were added nine children, of whom seven are living. His father continued to reside on his farm until the time of his death, and Mr. Smith was reared and educated in that State. He learned the trade of carpenter and cabinet-maker, and in Illinois he engaged in contracting and building. Later he was in the furniture business, until the civil war burst upon the country; when the demand for men became great; in 1863, to fill up the broken ranks of the Union army, he enlisted in Company H, Ninety-fourth Volunteer Infantry, and he served in Missouri, and participated in the battle Springfield. He was at the taking of Vicksburg, was then sent to New Orleans, and from there to Brownsville, Texas, and assisted in the capture of Fort Morgan and Mobile. They then retired to Galveston, and were there when news of the surrender of Lee arrived. Mr. Smith was sick in the summer of this year, and the result of it was that his hearing was impaired, and he never fully regained it. When he was mustered out he returned home and resumed his business, and remained there until 1870. In that year he went to Forest Grove and engaged in contracting and building. He built the Ladies' Hall of the Pacific University, a splendid edifice, and also built many of the best residences in the city and all over that city may be seen creditable evidences of his industry and skill. In 1880 he engaged with Mr. Buxton in the furniture business, later Mr. Buxton retired, and he took his sons into the business with him. That same business has become a great business. He is also engaged with others in the sash and door factory, and he is also engaged in farming. In 1849 he married Miss Margaret Mathers, of Ohio and the daughter of James and Eliza Mathers. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had fourteen children, of whom four died in infancy. Their daughter Mary died in her twenty-second year. Of the nine still living there are: James L., in business with his father; Flora, now Mrs. Arvid Hinman; Gev. Q., resides at Tillamook; Elmer E., in Washington; Esther J., was the wife of Mr. Frank Kane, but she is now a widow and a teacher; Willie H., is in Forest Grove in business; Lillie Day is a successful teacher of music; Fred Ross is a clerk in his father's store, and Carrie is at her home with her parents. Mrs. Smith, who has been his faithful wife for forty-three years, is still living. Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics, and has served on the City Council, and has been twice elected to the State Legislature. He is a charter member of the G.A.R. Post in Forest Grove, and is also a worthy member of the Masonic order. He is a valued member of the Methodist Church of which he has been a Trustee, Steward, Class-leader, and Sunday-school Superintendent. He was one of the number who served on the building committee when they erected a new church. It cannot be said that Mr. Smith has lived for himself alone, as he has been all his life devoted to the best interests of the town in which he has lived for so long. He has made many friends by his upright, honest, many way of performing the business intrusted to him. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.