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.
Born 1885
From History of Black Hawk County, Iowa, and its people (1915)
PAUL W. SMITH.
Paul W. Smith is a partner in the law firm of Edwards, Langley, Ransier & Smith and in this connection has won a creditable position at the bar of Black Hawk county. His life record stands in contradistinction to the old adage about a prophet being without honor in his own country, for Mr. Smith has won a creditable place at the bar of his native city, his birth having occurred in Waterloo in 1885. His father, E. B. Smith, now deceased, was a native of New York and at a very early day came to Waterloo, where the family home was established and has since been maintained. He married Agnes W. Williams, who still makes her home in Waterloo, although she is now residing in California. The children of this marriage are: Roger W.. a practicing attorney of Alaska; Margaret, the wife of L. G. Braun, of Los Angeles. California; Paul W., of this review; Lawrence L.. who is connected with the Waterloo Cement Machinery Corporation of Waterloo; and Merritt B., who is with his mother in California.
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.