his ability as a butter-maker, he is now at the head of a large and lucrative business, and is turning out daily from 900 to 1,200 pounds of first class creamery butter, which he ships to New York and other Eastern cities, and he always receives the top prices for his goods. He has recently put in a Sharpless Improved Centrifugal Separator, the only one known of in this State, and contemplates putting in another soon. In connection with his creamery he keeps a country store, and carries everything in the way of provisions, dry goods, boots and shoes, hardware and agricultural implements, and also a feed-mill and blacksmith and wagon repairing shop. He also runs a meat market, and delivers daily to the farmers, over a space of two or three townships, fresh meat and all household necessities. He has one of the best refrigerators in the county, it being eighteen feet square and divided into three compartments, with a capacity of sixty tons of ice and two car--loads of provisions. To give a better idea of the extent of Mr. Smay's business, it may be mentioned that he keeps seven wagons delivering goods and gathering cream constantly, besides the farmers' milk wagons. In addition to all these interests, Mr. Smay is a breeder of thoroughbred Holstein cattle, and his herd is headed by representatives of the best families of that breed. His marriage to Miss Frederica Kelley, of this county, was consummated in 1868, and the fruits of this union have been three children: Warren A., Grant H. and Jennie M., all of whom are living at home. The eldest son has an interest in the agricultural implement department of the business. Mr. and Mrs. Smay and their-two sons are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and in his political views the former is a Republican. He is probably as well acquainted with the development and resources of this county as any man residing here, and he is well known and highly respected by all in the community with which he has been so long and so prominently identified.
Thomas B. Smeltzer, proprietor of Maxwell House, Maxwell, Iowa. There is nothing adds so much to the prestige of a city in the estimation of a stranger as first-class hotel accommodations. First in Maxwell is the well-known house kept by Mr. Smeltzer. This gentleman was born in Pennsylvania, in Centre County, on April 29, 1852, and is a son of J. D. Smeltzer, also a native of the Keystone State. The mother, whose maiden name was Miss Anna M. Mingle, was a native of the same State and county. The family moved to Iowa in the fall of 1852, located at Davenport, remained there one year and then moved to Stephenson County, Ill., locating in Dakota, where Mr. Smeltzer engaged in merchandising and the stock business for some time. There his death occurred in June, 1888. He held many local positions of trust and honor. The mother still survives. Of the five children born to this union all are living and heads of families. Thomas B. Smeltzer grew to manhood in. Stephenson County, Ill., received his education in the common and higher schools of that State, and when twenty years of age entered the grain and elevator office of his father, with whom he remained until 1882. In March of that year he came to Story County, locating in Maxwell, where his father was in business under the title of Jacob Williams & Co., and built an elevator in that town directly after the building of the line of railway. Our subject took charge of the business at this place, and carried it on for five years, buying and shipping grain. He then embarked in the butcher business at Maxwell and Nevada, having a meat market at the former place for about one year, after which he moved to Nevada, where he ran