My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM A. SMYTH was born in New York City in October, 1833. He is the second of a family of nine children born to John B. and Rebecca (Armstrong) Smyth, his father having been a native of Scotland and his mother coming of Scotch parentage. His father came to the United States when a comparatively young man and settled in New York city, leaving there in 1843 and moving West to Wisconsin, where he settled and subsequently lived and died. He was a stone and marble cutter and followed his trade exclusively in his earlier year, first in the old country and afterwards in New York. In Wisconsin he was engaged in the marble business and in farming. He was an industrious, enterprising man and succeeded well. He died in 1869. His wife, mother of the subject of this notice, survived him a few years, dying in 1874.

William A. Smyth was reared mainly in Wisconsin, his parents moving to that state when he was ten years of age. He grew up on the farm, receiving an ordinary common-school education and being trained to the habits of industry and usefulness common to farm life. He began life for himself on a farm in Wisconsin, and followed farming there till the spring of 1879, when he came to Nebraska and settled in Phelps county, locating at that date on the southeast quarter of section 20, township 7, range 20 west, taking that as a homestead. Being unmarried he began his career as a Nebraska farmer with the bachelor life common at that date, putting up a sod house and erecting a temporary sod barn. For a while he hauled water ten miles and “hustled” fuel where it was to be had. He “broke” only twenty acres the first year, which he seeded to sod corn, and then added to this each succeeding year. He has also added to his original homestead other tracts by purchase, until now he owns in Phelps county nine hundred and sixty acres, four hundred and fifty acres of which he has under cultivation. His sod buildings have been succeeded by others of a more substantial and sightly nature, he having now as well improved and handsomely ornamented place as there is in his vicinity, has been steadily engaged in farming and stock-raising and has been one of the most successful farmers in the county. He is a man of clear head and sound judgment, and these, coupled with industry, application and a strong determination to succeed have made him what he is. He still owns his old farm in Wisconsin, where he started in the world, and he may be set down as a well-to-do man. He is also a stockholder and director in the First State Bank of Bertrand, Nebr. He has never married, preferring to pursue the even tenor of his way in single blessedness. He has two excellent house-keepers in the persons of his sisters, who look after his domestic affairs and make his home pleasant for him and a cheerful retreat for friends and strangers who visit him.

Mr. Smyth votes the republican ticket and takes great interest in a general way in political matters, but he has never sought office for himself. He has no false ambition in that direction.