Thomas Jefferson Smull and Harriet Transue

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Husband Thomas Jefferson Smull ^{1 2}

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           Born: 24 May 1834 - Rebersburg, Centre Co, PA 2
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         Father: Henry Smull (1799-1879) 3
         Mother: Elizabeth Royer (      -Abt 1834) 4 5

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       Marriage: 13 Feb 1873 6

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Wife Harriet Transue ⁶

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           Born: 4 Nov 1842 - Hublersburg, Centre Co, PA 6
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         Father: Peter Transue (      -      ) 6
         Mother: Elizabeth Best (      -      ) 6

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Children

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1 F Lilly E. Smull ⁶

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           Born: 22 Jul 1874 6
     Christened: 
           Died: Abt Jan 1876
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         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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2 M Thomas J. Smull, Jr. ⁶

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           Born: 22 Sep 1875 6
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         Spouse: Mary C. Bennison (      -      ) 7
           Marr: 28 Mar 1894 6

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3 M James L. Smull ⁶

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           Born: 7 Jun 1879 6
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4 M Martin D. Smull ⁶

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           Born: 24 Aug 1871 6
     Christened: 
           Died: Abt Jun 1872
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         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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General Notes: Husband - Thomas Jefferson Smull

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When he was but a few days old his mother died, and he was taken to the home of his grandfather, Christopher Royer, in the vicinity of Rebersburg, Pennsylvania. He attended school in the latter town, and he managed to secure the rudiments of a practical education, and a good knowledge of the German language, English not being spoken. He remained in that locality until he was about fifteen years old, when, his grandfather having died, he went to the Nittany Valley to reside with a cousin, Samuel Royer. There he found the English language in common use, and for some time this was a handicap to him in his studies, but after six years' attendance (four months in each year) at the Clinton school he was qualified to teach. While in this school he made a yarn ball which he sold to a play-mate, who was later the Rev. Dr. Dornblaser, and in later years, believing that he had driven too hard a bargain, he returned the money with compound interest to the date of payment amounting to more than two dollars. The transaction illustrates well the strict integrity which characterized his business life. After leaving school he taught successfully for eleven terms, including a term in the "Clinton school," one in Mill Hall, and four in Madisonburg, Centre County. In 1857 he spent a few months near Valley Falls, Kansas, and in 1859 he went to Illinois, where he remained a year, during which he taught one term of school in Stephenson County. Before returning home in June, 1860, he spent some time in Ohio and in Philadelphia, where he visited an uncle. He had been reared as a farmer boy, but, having a desire to enter mercantile life, he secured a position as a clerk with Joseph H. Long in a store in Lamar township, Clinton County, on the pike, near the Porter township line. While there he gained a practical insight into the business, and in the spring of 1866 he formed a partnership known as Beck, Smull & Co., and engaged in mercantile business at Hamburg (later Mackeyville), Pennsylvania, continuing one year. Another firm, which had started at the same time, got tired before the end of the year, and Mr. Smull, with F. E. Hays as a partner, secured the store and carried on business there until 1870, when Mr. Smull became the sole owner. He met with success, and in 1874 built a new store house to accommodate his increasing trade, but in 1889 this was destroyed by a flood which carried away everything, causing a loss of $6,000. His safe was not found for more than two years, when it was discovered imbedded in the debris a short distance below Mackeyville. One week before the flood Mr. Smull had drawn his check to pay for a lot of flour, canceling his only indebtedness; but his satisfaction was of brief duration, as one week later he was practically penniless. He soon learned the value of a "good name," his reputation as a straightforward, honest business man bringing its own reward. It so happened that Mr. Smull, who has been an ardent Republican ever since the organization of the party, was in the habit of holding heated discussions on the topics of the day with Mr. Perry W. McDowell, an equally ardent Democrat. These tilts were always friendly, a fact which speaks volumes for the good sense of both the gentlemen, and Mr. McDowell had no sooner learned of Mr. Smull's misfortune than he determined to show his appreciation of the latter's worth by offering him sufficient ground for a store building. The land was at the opposite end of town from Mr. Smull's former location, and Mr. McDowell had refused numerous propositions from others who wished to buy it for business purposes. In 1889 Mr. Smull erected a new store and residence upon this site, and conducted his business there. He was obliged to make "a new start in life," but his credit was good, and he has had no trouble in sustaining an honorable place in business circles. Always jovial, he liked to perpetrate a joke, and would relish a joke from others, and no man in Nittany Valley had more or better friends than "Jeff Smull."
He was influential in securing the post office at Mackeyville, and he held the position of postmaster in his town for more than thirty years through all changes of administration.
For six years he served as school director.
During the Civil war he was a member of the 28th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, and for six weeks was engaged in "emergency service." He was later a member of the G. A. R.
The family was identified with the Methodist Church, of which Mrs. Smull was an active member.
Mr. Smull made many original printed speeches, seldom quoting from other speakers, and was always sufficiently humorous to do as the poet said: "Made many laugh that never laughed before, and those that laughed, laughed the more." His own productions of anecdotes were used, frequently with considerable effect, by younger speakers in the central part of Pennsylvania.

1 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 524.

2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 669.

3 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 297, 382, 524.

4 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 224.

5 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 297, 411.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 670.

7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 618, 670.