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 1869
From The Daily news' history of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. From the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1898. Preceded by a short history of Missouri. Supplemented by biographical s (1898)
ERNEST L. SMITH, machinist, was born in Charlottsville, Va., August 12, 1869. When a youth he came to Missouri and attended the Pilot Grove (Mo.) Collegiate Institute, from which he graduated in 1887. A year later he came to St. Joseph and learned the machinist trade. He has for many years been bookkeeper for the Bielhen Foundry and Machine Company. Mr. Smith was married April 18, 1890, to Miss Mary Salmon, who has borne him two children, a girl and a boy.
As printed in The Daily news' history of Buchanan County and St. Joseph, Mo. From the time of the Platte purchase to the end of the year 1898. Preceded by a short history of Missouri. Supplemented by biographical s (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1898. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.