Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 863
G. B. SMITH

G. B. SMITH, a successful dry goods merchant, doing buiness at Missouri Valley, and whose mercantile life there is almost as old as the town itself, coming as he did, in August, 1869. Mr. SMITH was born at Syracuse, NY, March 17, 1840. He is a son of Thomas S. and Mary (CALDWELL) SMITH, the father a native of Ireland, and the mother born on the Mohawk River, in New York. The father came to America, when about seventeen years of age, and in 1852, the father and his family came to Rochelle, IL, and in 1865, to Iowa, locating in Cass County. There the father embarked in the mercan- tile business, at Lewis, and in 1867 came to Missouri Valley, where he built the first store building in the place, the same standing a little east of Sixth Street, the ground now being used by the railroad company for switch yards. Our subject's father also built the first store building in Storm Lake, Iowa, where he erected what was known as the City Hotel. He died at Storm Lake, in June, 1885. His wife now resides in Chicago, with her daughter. They reared a family of nine children, seven of whom still survive, our subject being the fourth child of the famly. He obtained his education in New York and Illinois, and attended the high School at Albion, NY, and also an academy at Mr. Morris, IL.

Our subject first engaged in mercantile business at Rochelle, IL, where he remained aobut seven years, and in 1868 formed a partnership with W. P. BUMP, in Missouri Valley, under the firm name of BUMP & SMITH; this continued until May 1, 1885, at which time Mr. SMITH purchased his partner's interest, and is now the sole proprietor. In 1875 he built the brick block, located on the corner of Fifth and Erie Streets. Prior to that time he had been on Sixth Street, and later on Erie, between Fifth and Sixth.

Politically, our subject votes the Democratic ticket. He has served both on the Town Council and School Board several terms. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Valley Lodge, No. 232, A.F.&A.M.

Mr. SMITH was married December 31, 1868, to Katie L. BUMP, the daughter of W.P.BUMP, who was our subject's partner for so many years. They were married at Rochelle, IL, and are now the parents of six children�Leon B., Louis, deceased at the age of eight years; Hervey, deceased at the age of seven years. These two children died the same day and were laid away in the same grave in Rose Hill Cemetery. The next child born to our subject and his wife, was Ray, who died when eighteen months old. The next were Earl and Pearl, twins. Leon, is at present in his father's store.

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