Michael Smith was born August 18, 1842 in Fairfield Co. Ohio. He was the sixth child of Martin Smith and Catharine Siple-Lowery. As a young man, Michael lived on his fathers farm until he was twenty-one. Then he worked for his brother in his blacksmith shop of another 15 years until his parent's failing health caused him to move back home where he cared for them until they died. When he was sixteen years old he injured himself while cutting logs for a house and from then on walked with a limp as one leg became shorter than the other. This injury probably kept him out of serving with his bothers in the civil war.

Michael Smith married Catharine Ramler of Shelby Township on July 1, 1867. Catharine's sister also married Michael's brother Frederick. Both weddings were performed by Justice of the Peace, J.N. Howe. Michael and Catherine had five sons: William M., Llewellyn, Robert Ramler, Franklin Pierce, and one who died in infancy. When their youngest child was eighteen months old, for reasons that are not clear, Catharine died of a heat stroke while collecting coal from a neighbor for cooking. Michael's mother Catharine Siple Smith agreed to come live with Michael and the boys if he would build an addition to the log cabin they were living in.

Because of Grandmother Siple's advanced age, she was not able to keep up with the four boys of Michael and Catharine. She hired Hannah Summers, a neighbor, as a housekeeper to help cook and clean . She became an important part of their lives and in 1880 Michael married Hannah. They were married by renowned preacher, Reverend Jasper Douthit. (Relation to Thomas Douthit Tennery? I don't know of any connection yet. But I intend to research it.) Michael and Hannah had twelve (you heard me), children. Harvey Lloyd, Clyde Everett, Claude Leverett, Mabel Grace, Nettie May, Lucinda Belle, Wallace Clifton, Noah Elgin, Sylvia Quay, Della Loretta, Walter Glenn and Lilian Rose. The family attended the Free Methodist Church. 

Michael Smith was a farmer. His skills also included carpentry, blacksmithing and masonry. In addition to being a successful farmer, at one time he was an acting Justice of the Peace. He also fancied himself an amateur dentist and kept a pair of pulling forceps. He was very progressive for his time and an ardent reader of many publications. He is mentioned in The History of Shelby County (1910) which gives a very good lineage of his family. Even after he retired, he still put out a garden as long as he was able. He was dearly loved by his children and grandchildren. Michael Smith died in July of 1921 and was buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery beside his wives.