1901 Bio - Smith Oscar J., Larimer County, Colorado Transcribed by Marta Norton January 30, 2000 The Berthoud Bulletin Newspaper Saturday, September 7, 1901 (The following is a small portion of a big news article about Berthoud. I am only transcribing the bio part). In the following columns we are pleased to give the pictures and personal sketches of a number of the people who assisted in making this beautiful and prosperous county what it is: Oscar J. Smith One of the extremely successful farmers of Berthoud is Oscar J. Smith. Beginning his career in the state at zero- or rather with no other resource than that of hands there were ever ready to work, backed by energy and a determination to win in any undertaking, has steadily risen to prominence in the agricultural interests of the vicinity. Good judgment is manifested in every business transaction which he makes. In Livingston County, Missouri, December 22, 1855, Mr. Smith was born. John Smith, a well-to-do and prominent farmer of his locality was his father, and Oscar was educated to farming pursuits. At the age of eighteen he left home and went to central Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand three years. Returning to Missouri, he farmed for himself one year. The he resolved to come to Colorado and did so landing in Longmont in July 1878. In the vicinity of Longmont he worked on a farm at a stat3d salary, with the exception of one season which he put in as a laborer in the construction of a new railroad in the southern part of the state, until he undertook farming on his own account. He rented a farm one season and next purchased a quarter-section east of Highland Lake. Selling it he invested in a bunch of cattle. This was his first business venture-outside of business transactions incidental to exclusive soil tilling. This was in 1882. He finally sold his cattle and (unreadable) for a farm, but the deal was never closed, so he hired out as a farm hand two years longer. In the spring of 1889 he purchased a half-section of slightly improved land three miles southeast of town and in the fall moved his family to it. (unreadable) move was a practically permanent one. Though he was almost completely hailed out the two previous years 1887-88 he pushed ahead and made his new farm pay good returns. Considering the sheep- feeding industry profitable, he began feeding in the fall of 1896. That year he fed 1,100 head, in 1898 1,700head, in 1899 2,500 head, and in 1900 1,900 head. He was successful each year- exceptionally so in 1899-except last season, which he did not consider a financial success. To vary his interests he purchased the harness establishment of J. Beal in January of 1899 and moved his family to town. The following spring he sold the business to G.O. Vigar, and later the building to the publisher of the Bulletin. In August of 1900 he purchased the R.M. Hubbell farm in the east edge of town. It consists of sixty acres on which is a fine residence house and other convenient and valuable improvements. For the last three years he has leased his land, he working with the tenants. Going to the domestic side of Mr. Smith’s life we find he was united in marriage to Miss Janey Smith, who is the daughter of W.J. Smith, a prominent farmer of Chillicothe, Missouri, where the marriage took place. Their marriage was January 27, 1885. The are the parents of three children: Virgle M., born December 1885; Myrtle, December 13, 1886; Orval, January 3, 1894. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.