Lawrence Smith

As printed in 1905

LAWRENCE SMITH.

A young man who has within a few years attained for himself an enviable position in the financial circles of Lee county is Lawrence Smith, of West Point. Mr. Smith was born in Hancock county, Illinois, October I, 1874, the son of Riley Smith. He received his early education in the district school, and later attended college at Quincy, Illinois, from which he was graduated in the classical and commercial courses in the class of '93. Shortly after his graduation he began his independent career by removing to West Point, Iowa, and identifying himself with the private bank known as the Bank of West Point, having a capital of $15,000, with Riley Smith as president, Frederick Kriekenbaum vice-president and Mr. Smith as bookkeeper and assistant cashier, acting in this capacity until November, 1896, when he became the cashier and has since filled this position.

In 1896 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hutchinson, a native of 'est Point, and they have one daughter, Muriel. Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Smith is a member. In matters pertaining to politics Mr. Smith maintains an independent attitude, never casting his vote according to partisan distinctions, but giving his support to those who in his opinion are individually best qualified for the public service. He enjoys the general esteem in the county and town of his adoption, and in 1904 was elected to the office of Mayor of West Point on an independent ticket. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Smith devotes his entire time during office hours to the banking business, and his experience here has been one of unbroken success. This being the only bank in the northwestern part of Lee county, it draws from a very extensive and resourceful tributary territory, and the choice of location reflects credit upon the founder. Mr. Smith's residence in West Point is an artistically designed edifice of impressive proportions, modern in its appointments and of pleasant surroundings, and is the center of a refined and cultured social circle. He possesses talents of no mean order, and by virtue of his well-known character of high-minded integrity and frankness, qualities which mark his contact with others in all relations of life, he is accorded respect wherever known, and is just considered one of the rising young men of Lee county.

As printed in Biographical review of Lee County, Iowa; (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.