Fred L. Smith

As printed in 1910

FRED L. SMITH.

Centuries ago the Greek philosopher, Epicharmus, said: "Earn thy reward; the gods give naught to cloth," and the truth of this admonition has been verified in all the ages which have since run their course. Early realizing this fact, Fred L. Smith resolutely set himself to the task of working his own way upward through diligence and perseverance, with the result that he is now proprietor of one of the leading shoe stores of Geneseo, having a trade that is constantly increasing. He was born in Lafayette, Illinois, June 22, 1862, and comes of an old southern family. His paternal grandfather was a native of Tennessee and became one of the earliest settlers of southern Illinois, taking up his above at Joliet, where he was a trade. He died when just past middle life, while his wife reached old age. They were the parents of five children, including William Smith, the father of Fred L, Smith. He, too, was a native of Tennessee and became a Methodist minister, connected during the greater part of his pastorate with the Rock River conference. He married Miss Lydia Harrington, a daughter of Mark T. Harrington, who was a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation. Coming to the middle west, he cast in his lot with the pioneer residents of Geneseo, owning and cultivating a farm on the south edge of the town. He died here when more than ninety years of age and his wife had also traveled far on life's journey when called to her final rest. They were the parents of six children, including Lydia Harrington who, as stated, became the wife of the Rev. William Smith. In his church work the father of our subject was a man of wide information, his consecration and zeal making him a strong creature in the denomination. He passed away in 1890 and is still survived by his widow. They were the parents of six children, three sons and three daughters: Lucretia

F., the wife of Joseph H. Simmons, of Rochester, New York; Lucy J., the wife of John Dunkle, residing near Los Angeles, California; Mary L., the wife of W. B. Foster, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Charles W., of Rockford, Illinois; Mark B., of Los Angeles, California; and Fred L.

Fred L. Smith was a lad of eleven years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Geneseo. His educational privileges were those afforded by the public-school system of the state, and later he engaged in bookkeeping for the Edward McCulloch Lumber Company at Little River, Kansas. He was next employed by the firm of Fain & Shock, of Sterling, Kansas, and was engaged in the shoe business in Lawrence, Kansas, for a year. He next went to West Superior, Wisconsin, where he engaged in bookkeeping for the Wentworth Heating Company and by the same company was sent to Great Falls, Montana. There he embarked in the same line of business for himself, continuing in the north until 1902, when he returned to Geneseo. The following year he invested his capital in a stock of shoes and now has one of the best equipped shoe stores of the city, carrying a large line of goods, for which he finds a ready sale owing to his reasonable prices, his fair dealing and his earnest efforts to please his patrons.

On the loth of April, 1895, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Emma E. Wilson, a native of Geneseo and a daughter of I. N. Wilson, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. They have become parents of four children: Maurine, Wilson, Florence and Laurel. Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Smith gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He does not seek nor desire office yet is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and is a cooperant factor in many measures for the public good. He and his family reside on East Park street, and their home is noted for its warm-hearted and generous hospitality. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are widely known here and are greatly esteemed. In his business life Mr. Smith has made steady progress, utilizing each opportunity that has come to hand and at all times conforming to a high standard of commercial ethics.

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.