George B. Smith
The gratifying success which has crowned the efforts of George B. Smith as head of a flourishing book store, is a bright prophecy as to his future in the business world. He has been identified with the book, stationery and news business only about two years but has fully demonstrated his ability in a line for which he seems especially adapted.
Born in Harrison county, Iowa, May 24, 1884, he is the son of Harrison and Sarah (Hammond) Smith, the former of whom was born in Vermont and the latter in Ohio. The father was reared in his native state and educated there, subsequently becoming a resident of Harrison county, Iowa. At the time of the Pikes Peak gold excitement he was attracted to the Rocky mountains and engaged for several years in prospecting and mining. He returned to Iowa and preempted land near Magnolia in Harrison county, becoming the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, which he brought to a high state of cultivation. He and his wife are now living retired at Woodbine, Iowa. They are greatly respected by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances and are earnest workers in the Methodist church. Our subject's grandfather Smith was a farmer of Vermont and reared four children: Mary, George, John and Harrison. John Hammond, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Ohio and also a farmer.
There were six children in the family of Harrison and Sarah Smith, namely: Orton, of Pisgah, Iowa; Carrie, now the wife of George H. Peyton, of Pisgah; Edna, now Mrs. O. L. Peyton, of Pisgah; John, deceased; Edith, who married Eugene Peyton, of Creighton, Nebraska; and George B., the subject of this review.
George B. Smith was reared on the paternal farm in Harrison county and attended the district schools, later becoming a student in the high school at Little Sioux. He continued his studies at the Woodbine Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1907. He taught for one year in that institution, but being attracted to mercantile life he came to Denison in 1908 and purchased the bookstore of U. G. Johnson, which he has since conducted under his own name. Under his management it has become one of the leading establishments of the city, the patronage from month to month showing a steady increase and attracting the best class of trade in the city.
On the 17th of January, 1909, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Edna Cater, a native of Carson, Iowa, and a daughter of Edward and Mary (Belknap) Cater, both of whom were born in Illinois. The mother died in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and the father is now living on a farm near Woodbine. Three children in their family grew to maturity, namely: Roy, Claude and Edna.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one daughter, Wilhelmina M., who was born January 25, 1911.
The success of Mr. Smith is mainly due to his energy and good judgment, which are indispensable elements in accomplishing any important undertaking. Being a man of pleasing address, he readily makes friends and the attractive appearance of his store indicates that he has excellent taste and understands the art of displaying goods to the best advantage. He and his wife are well known in social circles and in religious belief are identified with the Methodist church. Politically Mr. Smith gives his earnest support to the republican party.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.