Smith, Wilbur F.

Submitted by Tamara Kincaide

Biographical History of North Eastern Ohio
Published 1893

WILBUR F SMITH a wholesale druggist and grocer of Painesville, Ohio, Also Secretary and Treasurer of the Dollar Savings Bank of the same city were born in Boonville, Indiana in 1846. He comes of hardy New England ancestry, who was early and prominent settlers of Ohio. His grandfather LEVI SMITH was born in Connecticut and in early life followed mercantile pursuits, but in 1824 joined westward movement of emigration, making his way overland with his family by wagon and driving a flock of sheep. In this patriarchal way he arrived in Lake County Ohio and settle on land in the woods near Little Mountain where he developed a farm which continued to be his home until death at the age of forty-five and which is now owned by Reuben Harmon. GEORGE SMITH the son of Levi and the father of the subject of this sketch WILBUR F SMITH also born in Connecticut in 1805. When nine years old GEORGE SMITH came with his parents to Ohio where his early years passed. He was a well read man and taught school some time near the old homestead and later engaging in farming. He married in Kirtland Ohio to MARY KENDALL born 1804 in Deerfield, Mass. In 1838 GEORGE SMITH went to Boonville, Indiana and bought new land, which he cultivated for ten years and then sold. He thence went to Marine, Illinois where he bought more land, which he industriously cultivated until his death at age forty-five. His worthy wife now in 1893 still survives at Age eighty-nine and resides with her son WILBUR the subject of this sketch.

Wilbur was the fifth child and passed his earlier years in Boonville, Indiana and at Marine, Illinois. At his father?s death when nine years of age he came with his mother to Kirtland, Ohio where he lived until thirteen years of age attending the district school of that vicinity. He then entered a store at Unionville, Ohio where he remained three years. Winning the confidence and esteem of his employers by his careful industry and obliging disposition. At this early age his unusual mental activity was evinced by his discovery and patenting a concentrated writing compound which he sold throughout the west reaching Michigan, but with one dollar in money and in two and a half years had accumulated sufficient to return to Ohio and engage in business. He started in the drug and grocery business in 1867 and in 1869 took possession of his present quarters where he ahs been ever since and has successfully a wholesale and retail business. On the organization of the Dollar Savings Bank he was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the institution, He is also one of the organizers of the Metallic Binding Company of Painesville, Ohio. In October 1873 Mr. Smith married Miss FRANCES MILLER an estimable lady and native of Austinburg Ohio. He is a member of the Masonic Order, which he has belong for twenty years, He and his wife are active members of the Congregational Church. He in his comfortable home on Mentor Avenue has accumulated a comfortable income and a large circle of friends he may be truly be said to have attained the acme of success in life.