Biography of William A. Smith

William A. Smith, a leading farmer and stockman of the vicinity of Westlake, is one of the heavy real estate holders of our County and a substantial and good business man.

William A. Smith was born in Orange New York, on September 28, 1856. His parents, Amzie L. and Rachel (Gray) Smith, were born in New York, in 1824. and died in,1896 and 1898 respectively. The father was colonel of the Home Guards in his County. Our subject grew to manhood in New York and was there educated.

When eighteen, he farmed for himself and in 1878 he journeyed to Illinois, where he engaged in farming and dairying in Kane County. He also shipped hay and stock. He continued there for a number of years, excepting 1882, when he traveled through the middle states. In 1888, Mr. Smith came to Seattle and engaged in logging. He sold out there in 1892 and came to Nez Perces County and took a portion of his present place. It is a fine estate of eight hundred acres and provided with fine barns, residence, outbuildings, and other improvements that make it a first class place.

Mr. Smith has been engaged in raising fine blooded hogs but is new turning his whole attention to raising cattle. He came here with twelve dollars cash and a pack animal and a riding cayuse but is now one of the prosperous men of the County.

At Lewiston, on October 13, 1902, Mr. Smith married Miss Harriet Paddock. She was born in Illinois and taught school in Chicago for eighteen years. She came west for a visit last summer and the result was a meeting with Mr. Smith and their acquaintance ripened into a courtship which resulted in the happy marriage mentioned. Mr. Smith has the following brothers and sisters: Martha, deceased, George S., Orville A., Virginia, Peter and Jesse, twins Mary, Doria and Charles. Politically Mr. Smith is liberal and an independent thinker, being unfettered by any party ties.

Back to: Nez Perce Biographies

Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903

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