H. M. Smith

As printed in 1909

ENRY M. SMITH, who landed in America when a youth of seventeen years with a cash capital of five dollars, is today at the head of the extensive business of the H. M. Smith Produce Company of St. Louis. A native of Dissen, Germany, he was born December 3, 1848, of the marriage of William Smith and Kate Bohnameyer. The father was a carpenter and builder and both parents spent their entire lives in Germany.

It was in the public schools of that country that Henry M. Smith acquired his education and in 1866 he heard the call of the new world and heeded it. Coming to this country imbued with the hope of making more rapid advancement in the business world, he was employed for a short period at Union Hill, New Jersey, driving a brick wagon. The fact that he had but five dollars when he came to America made immediate employment a necessity. The voyage across the Atlantic had been made in a sailing vessel and he was forty-nine days en route. Ambitious to engage in a business that would give him better opportunities than driving a wagon, in 1867 he entered upon an apprenticeship to the carpenter’s trade and spent about four years in that line of activity.

On the 6th of May, 1870, he arrived in St. Louis and worked for a short period at carpentering in this city, but eagerly availed himself of an opportunity to engage in business on his own account and in the fall of 1870 made his initial step as a dealer in produce. From a small and inconsequential beginning the present large business has developed through the indefatigable energy and enterprising spirit of Mr. Smith. For a number of years this has ranked as one of the largest wholesale produce establishments in St. Louis, the company, incorporated under the name of the II. M. Smith Produce Company, enjoying a trade that annually brings them in between four and five hundred thousand dollars. This extensive concern is the visible evidence of the life of activity which Mr. Smith has led and which has brought him from humble surroundings to the plane of affluence, where he has broad outlook over the business world, with close connections with one of its profitable fields of income.

On the ist of February, 1872, in St. Louis, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Fredrica Hartmann and unto them were born ten children, of whom eight are vet living: Alvina, the wife of A. Linda, a dry-goods merchant of St. Louis; Paulina, the wife of Otto Hoyle, who is engaged in the roofing business; Minnie, the wife of Edward Miller, a member of the H. M. Smith Produce Company; William, who is engaged in business with his father; Harry, Edward, Freda and Viola, at home.

Mr. Smith is a member of and a deacon in the Evangelical Lutheran church, as well as one of the substantial contributors to the same. He was one of the original agitators in the movement for building the new church edifice at Nineteenth street and Newhouse avenue, and was one of the building committee. His political allegiance is gi\en to the republican party, but he does not feel bound by party ties, voting at local elections as his

Bfenrp judgment dictates. He came to America with the intention and purpose of becoming an American citizen in spirit as well as in name, and no native son of the new world is more loyal to the interests of this country or desires in greater measure its upbuilding and welfare. This is manifested in the aid which he gives to many projects for the public good in St. Louis. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to cross the water, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and which have been improved by him until he stands today as one of the substantial residents of his adopted city, having won notable and gratifying success through the legitimate channels of trade.

Charles g>ilas Bussell

As printed in St. Louis, the fourth city : pictorial and biographical (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.