My Genealogy Hound

SMITH, JOSEPH A., DR., Cashier of the Fort Madison Bank; was born in Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn., Feb. 27, 1821; his father was a native of Boston, Mass., and was a graduate of Yale College, and took a degree at Harvard; he removed to Pittsburgh, Penn., and published The Hesperus, the first literary paper published west of the Alleghanies, and was the first editor of The Saturday Evening Visitor, which is still published there. Dr. Smith was brought up and attended school in Pittsburgh; took his classical course and completed his education at Danville, Ky.; he studied medicine and graduated in 1844; practiced medicine in Ohio until the spring of 1851, then came to Iowa, and located in Farmington and practiced his profession for some years; then engaged in the mercantile business, also, in the packing and provision business; he carried on this business very successfully; in the fall of 1868, he removed to Fort Madison; in 1875, he associated with him Mr. Charles Brewster, engaged in banking; they are men of large property and sterling integrity, and enjoy the confidence of the citizens of Lee Co. and the whole State; when Dr. Smith began life, he had nothing, and owes his success in life to his own efforts. He married Miss Ellen E. Laws, from Barnesville, Belmont Co., Ohio, Dec. 3, 1845; they have one adopted child, Ellen E. P. Smith.