Bio of SMITH, John Alfred (b.1870), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

Vol II, pg 567-568
JOHN ALFRED SMITH
John Alfred Smith is well known in business circles of Minneapolis as president
of the Sandstone Quarries Company. He is also actively connected with many
impor­tant projects which have figured in the upbuilding and material
development of this city. He was born in Rushford, Minnesota, on the 18th of
June, 1870, a son of John Congon and Josephine Victoria (Lamb) Smith. Both
parents came west in the early '60s and the father located at La Crosse,
Wisconsin, and while living there taught school at Madison. After his marriage
he moved to Rushford and engaged in the mercantile business as a partner of S.
E. Olson for eight years. In 1882 he returned to La Crosse and resided there
until 1891, when he came to Minneapolis and again became an associate of Mr.
Olson in the conduct of a mercantile establishment. Later he founded the Smith
Window Shade Company, in the conduct of which he was active until his death in
1919. He was one of the most substantial business men of his day and enjoyed the
confidence and esteem of all who knew him. Mrs. Smith died in 1909. To their
union two sons and one daughter were born, John Alfred being the eldest of the
family.
In the acquirement of his education John Alfred Smith attended the public
schools and high schools of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and in due time enrolled in
the University of Minnesota, from which institution he was graduated in 1893,
with the LL. D. degree. He made his initial step into the business world as
timekeeper for the Kettle River Company, remaining with that company twenty-two
years. He then purchased the stone properties of the Sandstone Quarries Company
of Sandstone, Minnesota, and Port Wing, Wisconsin. He is president of the
Sandstone Quarries Company, part owner of Port Wing Brownstone Company,
treasurer of the Duluth Cut Stone Company, manager of the Smith Window Shade
Company, and north­western representative of the Jennison Wright Creosote
Company of Toledo, Ohio.
Mr. Smith has been twice married. His first marriage was celebrated in
Min­neapolis, in 1900, when Miss Nellie Darling became his wife. Her demise
occurred in 1903. In 1910 he was married to Miss. Anna Louise Brownlee, a
daughter of Judge Hiram H. Brownlee of Marion, Indiana. To the second union two
children have been born: Louise Brownlee and John Brownlee.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Smith has devoted his time and attention, in a
political way, to the interests of the republican party, having firm belief in
the principles of that party as factors in good government. He was mayor of
Sandstone, Minnesota, for two years and during that time inaugurated and brought
to comple­tion many movements for the good of the community. For some time Mr.
Smith has been a member of the Home Guards of Minnesota. Fraternally he is
identified with the Masons, holding membership in Lake Harriet Lodge, No. 277.
He is a member of the Minneapolis Civic & Commerce Association and along
strictly business lines belongs to the International Cut Stone Contractors &
Quarrymen's Association of America. Socially he is identified with the Lincoln
Club, the Minneapolis Builders Exchange, the Minneapolis Automobile Club, the
Interlachen Country Club, the Min­neapolis Society of Fine Arts and the
Minneapolis Athletic Club. He is likewise an active member of the Rotary Club.
His religious faith is that of the Baptist church. For recreation Mr. Smith
turns to the great outdoors and he is particularly fond of fishing, golfing,
hunting and playing volley ball. Those who know Mr. Smith, and he has many
friends, esteem him highly as a man of genuine personal worth, as a business man
of ability, and as a citizen who is ever loyal to the best interests of the
community.