Lake-La Porte County IN Archives Biographies.....Smith, Fred J. 1862 - 
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Author: T. H. Ball (1904)

FRED J. SMITH.

    Varied and extensive business interests have claimed the attention, energy
and business foresight of Fred J. Smith, who is now the senior member of the
firm of Smith & Bader, real estate and land agents of Whiting. He is also
identified with other financial and commercial interests here, and his labors
have contributed in no small degree to the upbuilding of the town, for the
advancement of any community is dependent in large measure upon its business
men. Mr. Smith is a native son of Indiana, his birth having occurred in LaPorte
county on the 25th of March, 1862.

    His father, Louis Smith, was born in Europe, and when a young man crossed
the Atlantic to the new world. He married Miss Sophia Hider, who was also of
European birth, but was brought to the new world when but two years old. Mr. and
Mrs. Louis Smith became residents of LaPorte county, Indiana, at an early period
in the development of that portion of the state, and the subject of this review
is their eldest son and second child. He was reared under the parental roof and
is indebted to the public schools of LaPorte, Indiana, for the educational
privileges he enjoyed. After putting aside his text books he learned the baker's
trade and subsequently, in 1890, he came to Whiting, where he became a member of
the firm of Smith & Bader as proprietors of a bakery and restaurant. While in
that business they began purchasing real estate and laid out several additions
to the town, the first being what is known as the Smith & Bader Addition. They
afterward laid out the Sheridan Park addition, and in this wray have contributed
much to the improvement and substantial upbuilding of the place. They organized
the Whiting Land Company, formed under the state laws of Indiana, Mr. Smith
becoming its president. This company now owns and controls much of the best
residence property of Whiting in the western part of the city. This has been
greatly improved, involving the investment of one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars. The first addition has all been sold. Sheridan Park has also been
improved, some of the best streets of the city have been laid there and many of
the finest residences have been there built. The lots are forty feet front, and
some of the houses have been erected at a cost of forty-five hundred dollars.
Mr. Smith has perhaps been more closely identified with the upbuilding and
improvement of Whiting than any other man, and while conducting his private
business affairs he has also contributed in full measure to the general welfare.
He is one of the directors of the First National Bank and is now treasurer of
the Petrolene, Paint & Roofing Company of Whiting. He is continually studying so
as to introduce improved methods for the benefit of the town, and is now
president of the Business Men's Association.

    In 1888 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Helen Maas, and to them
have been born three sons, Russell, Walter and Lawrence. In his political views
Mr. Smith is a Democrat and was one of the first aldermen of Whiting and one of
the first trustees of the town after its organization. He has also been
president of the board of education, and he is a trustee of the Lutheran church,
in which he holds membership. He belongs to the little group of distinctively
representative business men who have been the pioneers in inaugurating and
building up the chief industries of this section of the country. He early had
the sagacity and prescience to discern the eminence which the future had in
store for this great and growing city, and, acting in accordance with the
dictates of his faith and judgment, he has garnered in the fullness of time the
generous harvest which is the just recompense of indomitable industry, spotless
integrity and marvelous enterprise. He is now connected with many extensive and
important business interests.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

ENCYCLOPEDIA
OF
Genealogy and Biography
OF
LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA,
WITH A COMPENDIUM OF HISTORY 
1834—1904

A Record of the Achievements of Its People in the Making of a Commonwealth and
the Founding of a Nation.

REV. T. H. BALL
OF CROWN POINT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO   NEW YORK
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1904


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