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.
From History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people (1915)
G. L. SMITH.
G. L. Smith, one of the leading and successful building contractors of Waterloo, maintains his offices at No. 628 Washington street and during the four years of his business activity here has become widely known as a general contractor for all kinds of structures. He was born near West Union, Fayette county, Iowa, a son of George and Roxena (Butler) Smith, both of whom are deceased. The father was a pioneer settler of Fayette county and followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career.
G. L. Smith acquired his education in the country schools of his native county and after putting aside his textbooks followed farming until twenty-two years of age. Subsequently he served a five years' apprenticeship as a carpenter and afterward spent six years in the hardware business at West Union, Iowa. He next began working at his trade as a carpenter and contractor, being thus engaged there until 1910, when he came to Waterloo and continued the same activities on a more extensive scale. He has erected a large number of buildings in Waterloo and Cedar Falls and now enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the leading contractors of the former city. Through the able management of his interests he has contributed not only to his own prosperity, but his labors have proven an important element in the material upbuilding and development of his adopted county.
In 1896 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Holmes, a native of West Union, Iowa, and a daughter of James and Katurah Holmes. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children: Mildred L., a high-school student; and Warren H., who is also attending school.
Mr. Smith gives his political allegiance to the democracy but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for his party fealty. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Alodern Woodmen of America, while the religious faith of himself and his family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He possesses many qualities that have commended him to the friendship and kindly regard of all with whom he has come in contact, and he is numbered among the valued and representative residents of Waterloo and Black Hawk county.
As printed in History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people (1915). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1915. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.