William H. Smith

As printed in 1908

WILLIAM H. SMITH, a leading contractor and lumber dealer of Clinton, and one of the substantial business men of the locality, was born at the home farm east of Clinton, Franklin Town.hip, Summit County,

Oliio, March 17, 1854, and is a son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Croft) Smith.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

LeA-is Smith, father of William H., being the only son of hls parents, was compelled to spend his youth in hard labor on the home farms, a.nd his schooling was vei'y limited, la.sting in all about eighteen months. After his [marriage he lived for several years on a rented farm north of Canal Fulton. He then purcha.sed eighty-one acres of fine land cast of Clinton, Franklin Township, Summit County, where he resided for about thirty-three years. His next and last purchase was a farm of 160 acres west of Clinton, where his death occurred after twenty years, when he was in his eighty-first year. His wife, Elizabeth Croft Smith, was born in Stark County, Ohio, and died at the age of fifty-seven years. To them were born eight children: Adam, who lives on the home place in Franklin ToT\-n?hip; AYilliam H., whose name begins this sketch:.Tacob, who died in 1901; David C, of CHnton. Ohio, and four who died in infancy. After the death of his first wife, Lewis Smith was married to Loui.sa Fritz, who died in 1903; there were no children of this second moon.

William H. Smith secured his education in dLstiiot school No. 8, in his native township, and was reared on his father's farm, Avhere he remained until his marriage, in 1881. In that year he removed to Clinton, and for a number of years was engaged in the hardwood lumber business with his brother, David C. In 1889 they opened a planing-mill, which Mr. Smith has operated ever since, having purchased his brother's interests therein about six months after entering into business. He also engage in all kinds of contracting and building, and has various other business interests which include a directorship in the Clinton Savings Bank and the Franklin Industrial Company of Warwdck. Mr. Smith's fine home, a frame residence of fourteen rooms, was erected by him in 1901.

On November 31, 1881, Mr. Smith was married to Annie Mueller, who is a daughter of Peter and Mary Mueller, and three children have been born to this union, namely: Elsie, Jessie, who married Archie Dunmead, and resides at Barbcrton, Ohio, and Effie.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.