My Genealogy Hound

Alex. Smith, cashier of the La Belle Savings Bank, was born in Miller County, Mo., in 1833, the son of Scudder and Elizabeth (Miller) Smith, the former a native of Scotland, born about 1770, and the latter of German stock born in St. Charles County in 1805. When about three years old the father came to Rhode Island with his parents, and when of age moved to St. Charles County, where he married. In 1825 he moved to Polk County, where he died in 1849, and the mother ten years previously. Our subject, the fourth of nine children, educated himself at home, and was self dependent at a very early age. In 1857 he married Lucretia West, who was born near Indianapolis, about 1836. Their children are Belle, the wife of O. H. Allen, and Lucretia, the wife of S. D. Mattingly, Jr. He became a carpenter after his father’s death, and two years later took up cabinet-making. In 1868 he came to this county, and became a merchant at Jeddo. He continued this, together with farming, until 1876, when he became president of the bank of which since 1878 he has been cashier. His wife died in 1861, and in October, 1865, he married Catharine Huse, a native of Iowa, born in 1843; their children are Charles F., Lillie, Catharine, Alexander, Horace, Carrie D. and Laura D. Our subject is a skillful financier, and in politics is a Democrat. He is a Mason, and his wife is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.