venango county homes 8

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8. James & Sarah Dunn Smith House

This beautiful Second Empire Italianate home on Elk Street was built in 1872 for James and Sarah A. Smith. Mr. Smith had purchased two lots with buildings from Margaret Plumer for $2,400. When building the new home the contractors were able to use part of the cellar and foundation from a structure that was demolished.

James Smith was born in 1839 in Brantford, Ontario and married Sarah A. Dunn of Buffalo, NY in 1863. The Smith Family came to Venango County in 1865, locating at Plumer where he worked for the firm of E.W. Cook & Co. By 1868 Mr. Smith bought out this firm that manufactured the sand pump. In 1871 he purchased the extensive foundry, forges and machine shops known as the Boston Iron Works that was located in the 1400 block of Otter Street in Franklin.

James and Sarah had seven children. Two young daughters, Sadie, aged 13 and Lottie, aged 11 died Aug. 24, 1885 in a carriage � train accident near the Big Rock Bridge. James died in 1906 and Sarah died in 1929. They were members of the First Presbyterian Church.

Submitted by: Penny Minnick
minnick862@verizon.net