S. E. SMITH
Simon E. Smith, secretary of the board of directors of the independent school district of Atlantic, was born in Yates county, New York, November 8, 1818. When about thirteen years of age, his parents moved to Steuben county, New York, where he was educated in the district schools. He was married in that county In 1842, to Lucy A. Aldrich, a daughter of Rufus and Mary (Smith) Aldrich, her father being a native of Long Island, and her mother of Massachusetts, who moved to Broom county, New York, at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of six living children--Alice A., Clara, Belle J., Hattie E., Minnie L. and Georgiana M. In 1844, Mr. Smith went to Park county, Indiana, where he remained three years, after which he removed to Montezuma, on the Wabash River, and later, came to Illinois. After a residence in Coles and Whiteside counties, he went to Galva, Henry county, where he engaged in the harness business for several years, while his wife operated a dress-making and millinery establishment. In 1864, he came to Cass county, settling at Grove City, where he engaged in farming with his brother, purchasing two hundred acres of land, and residing here about ten years, when he came to Atlantic, where he has since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Smith and two daughters are members of the Baptist church. In early life, Mr. Smith was a Whig and cast a vote for William H. Harrison, but since the organization of the Republican Party, has affiliated with the same. He always manifested an active interest in education, and has held the office of secretary for nine years, and has also been township clerk and held other local offices. Mr. Smith is one of the upright men of Atlantic, honest in all his dealings, and whose word can be relied upon in every instance. He has been identified with the county for twenty years, and has seen the wild prairies, where the former rude log cabin stood, transformed into beautiful farms, with magnificent residences and buildings.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 891-892.
