Bio of SMITH, Paul Willis (b.1876), 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 732-735
PAUL WILLIS SMITH
Unabating effort, intelligently directed, brought Paul Willis Smith from an
obscure position in the business circles of Minneapolis to a place of
prominence, for through a number of years he was credit and traffic manager of
the Pillsbury interests and recognized as one of the most forceful and
resourceful business men of the city. He was born August 25, 1876, in Charlotte,
Michigan, a son of Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth L. (Morgan) Smith. The father
was descended from Holland royalty, tracing his ancestry back to Prince William
of Orange. He came to Minneapolis in 1878 and for twenty-five years was in the
employ of the United States government in the post office. He died in January,
1911. His wife, who was a native of Auburn, New York, survived him for three
years, passing away February 25, 1914.
When Paul W. Smith was a little lad of but eight years his parents removed from
Michigan to Minneapolis and his education was acquired in the public schools and
in the Central high school of this city. His entire business career was marked
by steady progress. In 1894, when a youth of eighteen, he entered the employ of
the Pillsbury Flour Mills Company as office boy and steadily worked his way
upward as the result of his developing powers and his initiative and capability,
* becoming one of the most trusted employes of this great corporation. He
re­mained with the firm for twenty-seven years, or to the time of his death,
which occurred on the 28th of February, 1921. He was then credit and traffic
manager, handling all the law work and the credit accounts of the house-a
position of very great responsibility in connection with one of the foremost
flour industries of the world. It was on the 24th of August, 1894, that he
became associated with the corporation, when it was known as the Pillsbury
Washburn Milling Company. At one time he represented the corporation as a
salesman on .the road and later he had charge of collections in various
districts. His next promotion placed him in charge of the credit department,
with responsibility for the credits in the company's twenty branches in the
central and eastern states. Later his duties were augmented by his appointment
as traffic as well as credit manager and in each advancement his powers proved
adequate to the tasks assigned him. He enjoyed the full confidence of the great
corporation which he represented and his business associates and all who knew
him felt the most sincere sorrow at his passing.
In 1896 Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Louise Davison, a
daughter of C. Wright and Harriet (Charles) Davison. The mother was a native of
the state of New York, while the father was born in Canada and at an early day
became a resident of Minneapolis, compiling the first directory of the city and
otherwise taking active part in events which shaped the early progress of the
municipality. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Charles Willis;
John Morgan, who has passed away; Harriett Elizabeth; and Paul Willis. The
family circle was broken by the hand of death in 1921, Mr. Smith being but
forty-four years of age when he was called to his final rest. The Masonic
fraternity numbered him among its loyal exemplars and he belonged to the Park
Avenue Congregational church and to the Lafayette and Athletic clubs. His
political allegiance was given to the republican party. He erected a beautiful
home at Spring Park, on Lake Minnetonka, where his wife and children spend the
summer months, while the winter seasons are passed in California or Florida.
Mrs. Smith has an exceptionally beautiful flower garden at her summer home and
has de­veloped several new varieties of plants. Mr. Smith's interest centered in
his family and he found his greatest happiness at his own fireside, 'while the
rules and principles which governed his life led to his active support of all
those plans and measures which are deemed essential in patriotic and progressive
citizenship.