Marion Grant Smith

SMITH WATKINS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/16/2010 at 23:27:04

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Marion Grant Smith
By Irene Adams

Marion Grant Smith was born near Council Bluffs, Iowa, May 4, 1864. Lucy Ellen Watkins was born August 8, 1868, near Neola, Iowa. They were married and farmed in that area for a short time. Their first son, Oliver Joseph, was born there. When Oliver was tiny, they took a covered wagon and traveled through Nebraska and South Dakota looking for a new place to settle. They found nothing to their liking, so returned. A few years later they came by wagon to Woodbury County and farmed for a few years south of the present town of Bronson. Two daughter, Irene Annetta and Lillian Eleanor, and a son, Eugene Franklin, were born during this time.

In 1901 Marion and his brother built a general mercantile store in Bronson. This was the first building to be completed in the town. The railroad was already in operation, the town had been platted, and an elevator was under construction.

Marion and a partner, Bruce Semple, operated the general store which included the Bronson Post Office. The Smith family lived above the store. After Mr Semple left the partnership, Lucy, Marion’s wife, worked with him in the store. A hired girl helped with the Smith children.

The general store carried a complete line of supplies for the families in the area: clothing, groceries, bolts of dry goods, light hardware, kerosene, barrels of salt, etc. All supplies for the store were ordered from traveling salesmen. Many carried their goods in large trunks. They would arrive by train and bring them from the train to the store in a horse-drawn dray. Marion and Lucy would make their selections and the order would come from Sioux City or Omaha by train.

The Smith children attended the Carlson rural school as there was no school in Bronson. As the town prospered and grew, the Carlson school became crowded . One winter classes were held over the hardware store. The children eventually finished the 10th grade at the new schoolhouse on the hill, northwest of the present Bronson church. The school only went through the 10th grade. Irene and Lillian then went to the Morningside Academy in Sioux City for further training.

Marion was interested in the development of the town. He bought the land where the present ball field is located and donated it for use as a ball park. He was also instrumental in bringing telephone service to the town and was president of the telephone company for some time.

The Smith family had one of the first automobiles in Bronson. It was an Overland and was used for picnics and Sunday rides, which almost always included a flat tire.

Mr Smith eventually retired from the store and he and Lucy spent their retirement years on an acreage on the edge of Bronson. Olive, Irene and Lillian all married and established homes in Bronson. Eugene also married and lived his final years in California.