Canyon County ID Archives Biographies.....Smeed, J. W. 1881 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 23, 2012, 12:30 am Source: See below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher J. W. SMEED, president of the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company and thus prominently connected with live stock activities in Canyon county, was born in Phillips county, Kansas, October 14, 1881, and there he attended the common schools while spending his youthful days in the home of his parents, Henry and Harriet Jane (Watson) Smeed, both of whom were natives of England, where they were married before coming to the United States in 1870. They settled first in Iowa and afterward removed to Illinois, while they finally established themselves on a farm in western Kansas, where they remained until 1893. At that date they came to Idaho, the father taking up farming and stock raising near Boise and continuing active in the work until his death in 1911. J. W. Smeed made his first venture in the business world with his brother, C. R. Smeed, as a partner in Boise in February, 1906, at which time they opened a livery stable called the Front Street Livery, which at that time was the smallest stable in Boise. However, when they disposed of their business in 1912, they were conducting the finest and largest stables in the city, the business being carried on under the name of the Smeed Brothers Livery. In March of that year they came to Caldwell and purchased the Turner Horse Market and two years later, in connection with six others, bought the Union Stock Yards and merged the two enterprises. These interests are now controlled by the four men: J. W. and C. R. Smeed, J. A. Haley and Robert Dundheimer, with J. W. Smeed as president of the company, Mr. Haley as vice president and the other members as directors and stockholders. In this connection an extensive business has been developed, the corporation being one of the foremost concerns of the kind in the state. Mr. Smeed's brother, who has always been associated with him in business, is not married and it is an interesting fact that although partners for years there have never been any papers to establish their connection or position, their interests being most harmoniously conducted. Mr. Smeed has two other brothers: L. A., of Cincinnati, Ohio, who has a stable of race horses; and J. E., of Caldwell, who owns two ranches near Boise and is engaged in buying stock for the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company. The latter married Alice Matchim, of Boise valley, and they are the parents of four children: Ross, Hazel, Lillian and Kenneth. It is a notable fact that the three brothers have remained so closely associated in their business affairs. In 1914 the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company was organized and while this company and the Union Stock Yards Company are operated under their respective names, they are controlled and owned by the same officers and directors and the Union Stock Yards are leased to the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company. Their earnings and profits are kept separately, although all business of both institutions is done through the latter company. Since November, 1914, their sales have amounted to approximately ten million dollars and they have handled twenty-five thousand head of war horses and mules and in 1918 shipped fifteen thousand head of cattle, two hundred and fifty head of pure bred bulls and ten thousand head of sheep. Until 1918 their business was the handling of horses and mules exclusively but with changing conditions they extended their efforts into other branches of stock dealing. Within the last four years they have bought twenty thousand tons of hay, most of which was fed in the Union Stock Yards of Caldwell. These yards are located about a mile from the city on the Oregon Short Line Railroad and have splendid trackage and an abundance of pure water for the stock. The yards cover one hundred and ten acres and represent an investment of forty thousand dollars. They are the best equipped and cleanest yards in the west and the company intends to make this the largest market west of Kansas City for the buying and selling of stock. Figuring on a basis of the prosperity which these yards have already brought to Caldwell, it is not difficult to prophesy that they will make Caldwell the Kansas City of the west. F. G. Huffman is the able secretary and treasurer of the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company. All business interests are most systematically and progressively conducted and results have indeed been most gratifying. In addition to his connection with the Union Stock Yards and the Caldwell Horse & Mule Company, J. W. Smeed is the owner of a valuable farm property of six hundred acres west of Caldwell and a farm of one hundred and sixty acres east of Caldwell, together with a fine residence property on Kimball avenue in the city. On the 26th of May, 1909, Mr. Smeed was united in marriage to Miss Florence Beckman, a daughter of Emil Beckman, of Leadville, Colorado, and they have one child, Jack, now four years of age. Mr. Smeed has a host of warm friends, ranging from bankers to cow punchers, is a gentleman of the most affable manner and pleasing personality, who rates his friends not by wealth but by worth, and true worth can always win his regard. Additional Comments: Extracted from: IDAHO DELUXE SUPPLEMENT CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/canyon/photos/bios/smeed60gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/canyon/bios/smeed60gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/idfiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb