SAMUEL C. SMOCK, who is farming in Curry township, traces his descent to his great-grandfather on the paternal side, Barnett Smock, whose son, Henry Smock, Sr., and his wife, Anna De Baun, were born in Kentucky and there followed agricultural pursuits. Among their children was Henry Smock, Jr., who was born in Kentucky, June 5, 1806, and before his marriage he came to Sullivan county, Indiana, with his parents, and located in Curry township, where they entered land from the government. He continued as a farmer throughout his entire life and owned at the time of his death one hundred and ten acres of land. From the Whigs he transferred his political allegiance to the Republican party at the time of the organization of that division, and was a faithful and earnest member of the Christian church. In his early life he married Elizabeth Carruthers, who was born in Kentucky, August 18, 1807, and died on the 4th of February, 1888, in Sullivan county, surviving her husband but three years, for his death occurred on the 30th of April, 1885. He was of Holland descent. In their family were nine children, namely: Nancy J. Nelson, who was born June 11, 1832, and died January 31, 1887; Francis M., born February 1, 1835, died May 22, 1872; William H., born July 27, 1837, went out during the Civil war as a recruit, but did not reach his regiment, and his death occurred on the 10th of April, 1865; Sarah A. Pittman, born November 1, 1841, died June 15, 1891; James B. and John A., twins, born October 29, 1840, died in infancy; Mary A., born December 1, 1839, died in infancy; Samuel C., whose name introduces this review; and Abraham, born August 26, 1846, died February 26, 1905.
On the 11th of August, 1862, Samuel C. Smock enlisted with Company H, Eighty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served as a private until the 12th of June, 1865, in the meantime participating in many of the hard fought battles of the war, including those of Resaca, New Hope Church, Thomson Station, Culp's Farm and Peach Tree Creek. After the war had ended he returned to his home, and after his marriage he rented his father's farm, thus continuing until the death of his father, when he rented fifty-three acres and now owns an estate of ninety-one acres three-quarters of a mile southwest of Farmersburg.
Mr. Smock married, February 1, 1871, Elizabeth Collins, who was born in Hancock county, Indiana, May 28, 1852, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Snyder) Collins, both now deceased. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Smock are: Ida E. Heck, born November 20, 1871, resides in Jackson township, Sullivan county; Maggy and Mary, twins, born October 5, 1874, but the former died in infancy and the latter is the wife of Ben Gaskins, of Farmersburg; Clella, born July 19, 1878, is the wife of William V. Allen, and is living in Terre Haute; Dora Criss, born June 13, 1881, resides in Farmersburg; and Roy, born December 19, 1885, is teaching school. Mr. Smock votes with the Republican party, and fraternally is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Lodge No. 622, at Farmersburg, in which he has filled all the offices and has represented the order as a delegate to the Grand Lodge. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.