Sacramento County
Biographies
ROBERT M. SMITH
ROBERT M. SMITH.--An expert builder who has come to have a valuable experience in his extensive operations as a general contractor, is Robert M. Smith, of 2633 Thirtieth Street, Sacramento, a native of Ontario who adds one more to the imposing list of Canadians doing well for themselves and well for California. His parents were James R. and Margaret (Edmondson) Smith, and they came into the States, and to California, and settled in Oakland; and there our subject's father died.
Robert M. Smith was born December 19, 1864, and he had the advantages of both the lower and the high school courses, and then was apprenticed to the watch-making trade; but when he had been a year in San Francisco and Oakland, he learned the carpenter trade, and for seven years he worked as a journeyman. In 1890, he came to Sacramento, and as foreman he had charge of construction on several buildings, being five years active in that responsible work; and as long ago as 1895, he undertook contracting on his own responsibility, and he has since built many of the finer homes of the city, according to the architectural styles of the period, and in keeping with the increasing costs, adding appreciably to the attractiveness of Sacramento. He belongs to the Master Builders and is a Republican.
On March 25, 1891, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Louisa E. Goess, a native daughter born in Sonoma County, California; and they have one child, a son, Robert Earl, who has a tire shop at 1228 K Street. Mr. Smith is an Elk, and belongs to Lodge No. 6, in the capital. He takes a live interest in civic affairs, although never an office-seeker, and also a keen interest in sports, being in particular a baseball fan.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 834. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Taylor.