Santa
Clara County
Biographies
EDGAR FINLEY SMITH
Since coming to San Jose in 1888
Edgar Finley Smith has become one of the most successful and extensive brick
contractors in the city, and has aided in the erection of many of its most
substantial and artistic buildings. Among the structures for which he has
supplied the brick may be mentioned the Annex to St. Joseph’s College, the Hall
of Justice, the Annex to the St. James Hotel, the Hall of Music of Notre Dame
College, the Weinger, Knapp and Clark buildings, the
A. & C. ham factory, and many others of note. Nor has Mr. Smith’s
reputation been confined solely to his adopted town, for all over the state are
evidences of his thrift and enterprise, and his ability to enter the ranks of
rival competitors. He erected the brick work for the first brick structure at
the Stanford University, two brick residences at Mount Hamilton, the banks of
Monterey and Watsonville, and several buildings at Los Gatos. Mr. Smith has the
faculty of impressing people with his worth and business ability, and his work
is such as to insure not only commendation, but a continuation of the patronage
of all who have once profited by his comprehensive knowledge of his occupation.
Born in Springfield, Clark county,
Ohio, January 1, 1860, Mr. Smith is the second of four sons and four daughters
in the family of A. B. and Emeline (Anderson) Smith,
both of whom are now deceased, the former having died in 1893. Both the Smith and
Anderson families were among the pioneer settlers of Ohio, grandfather Peter
Smith and grandfather Robert Anderson having been born there, the former
enlisting from Ohio for service in the war of 1812. A. B. Smith learned the
brick mason’s trade in early life, later turning his attention to contracting
and building, and still later engaging in the brick manufacturing business in
Springfield. For a time he was general contractor of
railroads, streets, and paving in Cincinnati, and was prominent in the political
and general life of both cities. His yards in Springfield increased in
capacity every year, and he eventually did a large and paying business. For
twelve years he was a member of the city council of Springfield, and held other
positions of trust and responsibility. Mr. Smith learned his trade while
assisting with the erection of Wittenberg College, and after years of success
had passed over his head, and the humble apprentice had become the successful
brick manufacturer, he received the contract for erecting the new Wittenberg
College. He was a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Lutheran Church.
A strange coincidence in the life of
the elder Smith is that while his own apprenticeship was identified with old
Wittenberg College, the new building was associated with the apprenticeship of
his son, Edgar Finley. The lad became familiar with tools at a very early age,
and when sixteen was able to command wages as a steady employe.
For six months he worked in Bainbridge, Ohio, then in 1883 removed to Kansas
City, where he worked at contracting and building until 1886. A spirit of
adventure then led his steps to Dallas, Tex., and after a few months he
returned north to Lincoln, Neb., and from there came to Los Angeles in 1887.
The boom of that year proved a mine for his energy, and when it was over in
1888 he came to San Jose, and has since been connected with its building and
brick manufacturing interests. Like his father, Mr. Smith is a Democrat, but he
has never found time to seek or desire political honors. He is a member and
past noble grand of the Observatory Lodge, I. O. O. F., and a member of the
Encampment. In Los Gatos he married Luella Baumgardner,
a native of Ohio, and one child has been born of the union, Fay LeRoy. To a greater extent than the majority of builders
and manufacturers, Mr. Smith has realized his expectations in coming to the
coast, and has been singularly fortunate in locating in a center of activity
which not only rewards him financially, but which appreciates him as a man of exceptional
ability, integrity and public spirit.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 733. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.