Fred E. Smith

As printed in 1908

FRED E. SMITH, president of the South Akron Banking Company, has been a resident of Akron for the past thirty years, and is prominently identified with many of her leading interests. He was born in Portage County, Ohio, September 4, 1857, came to Akron in 1877, and in point of service is the oldest banker still active in the business in this city.

Mr. Smith was reared in Portage County through boyhood and attended the common schools and later the Akron schools and Hiram College. When eighteen years of age he started out on the road as salesman and collector for a Cleveland firm, traveling for three years over Ohio and the northea.stern States. He then came to Akron, where he was connected with a millinery store for three months, and then was engaged for three years in a real estate and insurance business with John H. Alible. Since then Mr. Smith has been continuously connected with the banking business. For thirteen years he was vice president and cashier of the Second National Bank. The South Akron Bank was organized in May, 1906, and Mr. Smith has been its president since. The banking institutions of Akron have an established reputation tbrnughont the Stale, and the South Akron

Bank is no exception, Mr. Smith's name lending it assurance of stability and fidelity. On account of the confidence felt by his fellow citizens, he is frequently called upon to act as receiver, and satisfactorily performed the duties of this position for the Aultman-Miller and other companies.

In 1882, Mr. Smith was married to Addie E. Tuttle, who is a daughter of Seth Tuttle, who, for forty years was identified with the Taplen Rice Stove and Furnace Company. Ir. and Mrs. Smith have three children, viz: Jessie M., who is the wife of H. M. Eaton, residing at Akron, and Howard R. and Gertrude M., who are students in the Akron High School.

Mr. Smith belongs to numerous fraternal, benevolent and business organizations, and has been frequently elected treasurer of the same. He takes a patriot's interest in public affairs and has often been honored by election to positions of trust and responsibility. He has served both as city treasurer and a' a member of the board of Education, also as county treasurer. Personally, he is a man held in very high esteem. His public spirit has helped the city and his benevolence has frequently prompted him to extend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself.

As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.