In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1872, Galva township
From History of Henry County, Illinois (1910)
ELMER WARREN SMITH.
Elmer Warren Smith, manager of the Kewanee Light & Power Company and one of the most progressive young business men of the city, is a product of the farm, having been born in Galva township, April 22, 1872, and reared upon his father's place. He is a son of Warren B. and Mira (Smith) Smith, farming people. The father died in 1900, but the mother survives and makes her home in Kewanee.
Mr. Smith was educated in the schools of Galva and when nineteen years of age came to Kewanee, where he entered the employ of what was then known as the Kewanee Electric Light & Motor Company as fireman. So proficient was he, that promotion followed rapidly and the young man was advanced through all the various positions until he is now its manager. He has effected some remarkable changes, completely revolutionizing the plant and methods. When he entered the estabHshment the capacity was less than one hundred kilowatts. but it is now twelve hundred kilowatts. Even the name has been changed to the Kewanee Light & Power Company, and the plant includes the lighting, gas and electric, power and steam heating as well as the manufacture of ice. The company furnish more then fifty buildings with artificial heat in the business district, supplying about forty-five thousand feet of radiation. The entire development of this plant is due to the efforts of Mr. Smith after he became manager, and to him is due the credit of estabHshing the heating and ice-manufacturing plants. The latter was established in response to a demand on the part of the people of Kewanee in 1906 and it has a capacity of thirty-five tons per day and in addition to the trade in Kewanee, five small towns are also supplied with the product of this plant. Mr. Smith is a director of the company and has been for some years. The people of Kewanee cannot give him too much credit for the business foresight and keen appreciation of possibilities which have resulted in the upbuilding of this company, which not only affords luxuries at low prices but gives employment to a number of men and thus increases the commercial activity of the city.
On December 4, 1902, Mr. Smith married Miss Katie Woolley, of Wyoming, Illinois, a daughter of the Rev. William Woolley, pastor of the Methodist church. Two sons have been born to them: Ormond Thomas and Morris Walter.
Mr. Smith belongs to the Illinois Electric Association, of which he is now president; is a member of the Illinois Gas Association and the National Gas Association, which connections he finds of value in his business. He also belongs to the Commercial Club, of which he is recording secretary; to the Kewanee Club; and fraternally he is a member of the Elks and the Masonic order. Prominent alike in business, social and public affairs, he is a citizen at once popular and useful, filling with credit to himself and with satisfaction to others the multiform duties and obligations imposed upon his willing shoulders by those who recognize his talents and abilities and who appreciate what he has done for the community and for private investors.
As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
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