Nevada
County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. SMITH
In the history of the commercial
progress and material development in the town of Grass Valley, William H. Smith
deserves mention, for during many years he has been an active factor in the
business interests of the town where he is now successfully engaged in
conducting a wholesale and retail confectionery establishment on Mill Street.
Mr. Smith is one of the native sons
of Grass Valley, his birth having occurred here on the 22nd of July,
1867. His father, William H. Smith, was
a native of England and an attorney by profession, who, on coming to America,
located in New Orleans, Louisiana, whence he removed to San Francisco in 1852. Here he engaged in the practice of law for a
time and later formed a partnership with Joseph Hamilton, at Auburn,
California. For many years he was a
justice of the peace in Grass Valley and discharged his duties without fear or
favor, winning the high commendation of all citizens who have regard for law
and order. He was married to Miss Jane
Trim, a lady of culture and refinement, who was born in New Orleans and is now
residing with one of her sons in Grass Valley.
In the family of this worthy couple
were eleven children, William H. being the tenth in order of birth. He was reared and educated in Nevada County
and at an early age entered upon the practical duties of life, since which time
he has depended solely upon his own efforts.
He is now at the head of one of the oldest candy factories in the state,
having established the business in 1889.
He successfully conducted this for a time and then sold out to W.
Williams, after which he removed to San Francisco, where he was connected with the
same line of trade. Later he became the
traveling representative for Robert Green, a soda fountain manufacturer of
Philadelphia, and subsequently he traveled for some time in the interest of the
firm of Scott & Gilbert, of San Francisco.
After resigning that position he returned to the home of his boyhood and
embarked in the real estate and insurance business, meeting with a high degree
of success. Within a short time he wrote
policies to the amount of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the Home
Fire Insurance Company, of New York; but in 1896 he returned to the
confectionery business, purchasing his old store. He employs two expert candy manufacturers and
has both a large wholesale and retail trade, making extensive shipments to
various towns in this section of the state.
The excellent quality of the products, his reasonable prices and his
thorough reliability has made his business a profitable one, and his trade is
steadily growing in volume and importance.
On the 12th of August,
1892, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Mattie Nile, a native
of Missouri, by whom he has one son, Caswell.
Mr. Smith is an advocate of Democracy, being allied with the progressive
wing of the party. He is a member of the
Native Sons of the Golden West, the B. P. O. E. and the Grass Valley fire
department. He withholds his support
from no movement or measure which he believes will contribute to the
substantial welfare and development of this section of the state. He is widely and favorably known by the
citizens of his native county and merits honorable mention among the leading
and representative businessmen of northern California.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 360-361. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Nevada County Biographies