Biographical Sketch of W. B. Smith, Franklin County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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W. B. Smith, of the firm of Koppitz & Smith, proprietors of the "Banner
Roller Mills" of Pacific, was born in Columbia, Monroe Co., Ill., Nov-
ember 11, 1848 and is the second of four children born to Valentine J.
and Mahala M. (Johnson) Smith, natives, respectively, of Maine and Ill-
inois.  Valentine J. Smith was a son of John and Hannah (Jordan) Smith,
natives of Holland, who immigrated to the United States, settling first
in Bangor, Me. and in 1818 removed to Portsmouth, Ohio where they spent
the winter, thence moving to Georgetown, St. Clair Co., Ill., where 
they remained until the father's death in 1831, which was the first
death of an adult of the family of which they have any account.  He
married in Maine, and of the five sons and three daughters born to him,
Benjamin J. Smith is the only son now living; and the only daughter
living is Sarah, wife of W. W. Johnson.  Valentine J. Smith, father of
our subject, was born in 1812, and died in September, 1856.  When 
twelve years old, W. B. Smith was employed on the farm of his uncle.
November 16, 1863, he went to assist his step-father, who was foreman
of Warnock & Wilson's flouring-mill, where he remained five years.  He
then went to East St. Louis, and for three months worked in the "Dyke
Mill," he was next employed in Jacksonville, Ill., in the "Morgan Mill"
eighteen months, and subsequently worked in the "Columbia Star Mills"
one year, when he took charge of the "Gardner Mills," at that place, 
two and one half years.  He was again engaged at the Columbia Star
Mills, where he remained until May 1, 1885 when he engaged in milling
at his present location.  Beside his interest in the mill and elevator
at Pacific, Mr. Smith owns a residence in Columbia, Ill.  He was marr-
ied May 27, 1875 to Matilda A. Proctor, a native of Monroe County, Ill.
They have three children: George, Roy and Burdella.  Mrs. Smith is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Mr. Smith is a Republican
in politics and a Master Mason, being a charter member of Columbia 
Lodge, No. 534, of Pacific, of which he is Worshipful Master.  He is
also a member of the A. O. U. W.

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