In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. A few names of people born after 1905 are withheld for privacy. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1878
From An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910)
MORTON W. SMITH (1878), secretary of the St. John Grain company, is a native of Jackson county, having been born in Weimer township June 21, 1878, the son of John T. and Jennie (Weir) Smith. He was brought up on the farm and attended the graded schools of Heron Lake. He was graduated from the Waupun (Wisconsin) high school, and in 1901 received his diploma from the university of Wisconsin.
Returning to Heron Lake after his school days, Mr. Smith took a position as bookkeeper in the Bank of Heron Lake. In the fall of the same year he took a like position with B. P. St. John, grain dealer. The next year the St. John Grain company was incorporated, and Mr. Smith continued to serve the new corporation as bookkeeper. In 1905 Mr. Smith was made secretary of the company, a position he still holds. He owns land in Weimer township and residence property in Heron Lake. Fraternally he is associated with the MasoAic order.
Mr. Smith was married at Heron Lake February 26, 1907, to Ethel D. St. John, daughter of the late W. P. St. John and Minnie E. St. John, still living in Heron Lake. To this union has been born one child, [name withheld], born November 7, 1908.
As printed in An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.