SMITH Bros. - 1890 Bios - Harlan C. (1866-1944) and Chester Young (1868-1941)

SMITH, ROCK

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/26/2007 at 20:23:04

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 331-332

SMITH Bros. is one of the leading business firms of Fairfield, Iowa, being composed of Harlan C. and Chester Y. SMITH, who are the publishers and editors of the Fairfield "Journal", a daily and weekly paper, which, as its name indicates, is published in the county seat of Jefferson County. As the "Journal" is one of the leading papers of the county, if not the leading, we are glad to give a short sketch of it in this work. It was first established in 1880 with R. H. Moore, now of the Ottumwa "Democrat", as proprietor and publisher. He conducted it up to the time of its transfer to its present proprietors March 15, 1889, during which time it gained a good reputation and liberal patronage, neither of which has in any wise diminished since it came under the control of the present publishers. The "Journal" is the only daily published in the county. The weekly edition is an eight-column quarto and the daily a seven-column folio. The paper is independent in politics and is devoted to general and local news and the discussion of all public events of interests to the people. It has a good circulation and a steady growth, and is well worthy the patronage accorded it.

The senior member of the firm of SMITH Bros. was graduated from the High School, of Bloomfield, and afterward took a special course in the Iowa Wesleyan University, of Mt. Pleasant. He also learned his trade in Bloomfield, Iowa, and subsequently engaged in the publication of the Winston "Enterprise", of Winston, Mo., until his removal to Fairfield on the 15th of March, 1889, when he purchased the "Journal" interest. The younger brother, who, prior to his advent into journalism, followed the profession of school-teaching and was married, on the 18th of January, 1890, to Miss Etta ROCK, a student of Parsons College, is also a graduate of the Bloomfield High School, and for a time was a student in Parsons College, of Fairfield. It will be seen that the brothers are well fitted for the publication of the paper, and combining industry and enterprise with their ability in this line, their efforts will doubtless be crowned with success.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.