Levi A. Smith, one of Unity’s representative farmers, was born in this town, August 13, 1843, son of Joseph G. and Elizabeth (Young) Smith. The father, born October 24, 1797, was a prosperous farmer throughout the active period of his life, owning the farm which his son now occupies, and died May 3, 1882. His first marriage was contracted with Lucy Howe, who, born in Acworth, N.H., August 14, 1799, died December 9, 1833. His second wife, Elizabeth Young smith, who was born September 14, 1812, died in May, 1888. He had sixteen children, nine by his first union and seven by his second. Those of his first wife were born as follows: Lineas S., November 7, 1820; Sidney, January 10, 1822; Joseph G., May 4, 1823; Alonzo A., December 2, 1824; Jefferson, August 5, 1826; Thomas J., April 17, 1828; David L., August 12, 1829; Lucy Ann, May 2, 1831; and George W. A., September 28, 1832. Of the children by his second marriage two died in infancy. The others were: Izanna E., born May 31, 1838, and residing in Goshen, who is now the widow of Dr. Wheeler, formerly a prominent physician of Goshen; Emily M., born September 1, 1840, who married Edward Gates, a native of Gilson, and resides with him in Gardner, Mass.; Levi A., the subject of this sketch; Freeman H., born December 16, 1844, who died February 25, 1846; James F., born November 23, 1848, now a chair manufacturer in Gardner, Mass., who married Della Gates, of Gardner.
Levi A. Smith attended school in Unity, and assisted upon the home farm until after his first marriage. He then settled upon a farm in the northern part of the town, and tilled the soil industriously for eighteen years. After the death of his father he returned to the homestead, and has since resided there. He owns one hundred and fifty acres of well-improved land. He has the reputation of a capable and successful general farmer. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, and he served with ability as a Selectman for three years. He has carried the United States mail between Unity and Charlestown since 1872. He is a member of the Advent church.
On September 15, 1864, Mr. Smith married Abbie E. Johnson, daughter of Edward and Mary (Marshall) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Unity. She died in June, 1887. Of that union were born four children, namely: Freeman J., on September 16, 1867, who is no longer living; Fred L., November 4, 1868, who is a prosperous farmer of Unity; Arthur W., May 30, 1877, who is still under the parental roof-tree; and Listina E., August 28, 1880, Fred L. Smith married Anna Walker, and has two children-Elvis C. and Arthur W. On January 1, 1891, Mr. Smith, Sr., wedded for his second wife Emma Davis, who was born in Unity, December 5, 1861, daughter of Samuel Davis. By this marriage there are no children.