Washington County OR Archives Biographies.....Smith, Claude E. September 18, 1883 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com June 19, 2009, 9:45 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     CLAUDE E. SMITH.  At an early age Claude E. Smith manifested that spirit 
of energy, self-reliance and enterprise which spurs the individual ever onward 
and upward and in mercantile circles of Forest Grove he has long been a 
recognized leader. He is one of its pioneer furniture dealers, conducting a 
business which has existed for nearly sixty years, and is also active in civic 
affairs. Mr. Smith was born September 18, 1883, two miles north of Forest 
Grove, and represents an old and prominent family of this locality.  His 
father, I. H. Smith, was born in Peoria, Illinois, and was a child of seven 
when his parents started for Oregon. About 1870 his father, L. E. Smith, 
secured a donation land claim, which he eventually transformed into a highly 
productive farm, and it was on this homestead that Claude E. Smith was born. 
His grandfather was a progressive agriculturist and added many improvements to 
the place, which constantly increased in value. He was a fine type of the 
Oregon pioneer and continued to live on the property until his death October 
10, 1925, at the advanced ago of ninety-six years. I. H. Smith attended the 
Purdin school and followed the occupation of farming for many years, 
cultivating the homestead until his retirement. He then moved into town and 
remained in Forest Grove until his demise. His widow, Sophia C. (Carson) 
Smith, came to this district in 1870 with her parents and still resides in 
Forest Grove.

     Claude E. Smith received a public school education and began to provide 
for his own support when a boy of twelve, securing work in the meat market of 
Buxton & Hayden.  At the age of sixteen he became a clerk in the general store 
of Woods & Adams and remained with the firm for five years.  The year 1904 was 
spent on his father's ranch and in 1905 he entered the employ of Roe & Buxton, 
who had purchased the business founded by his uncle, I. L. Smith. It was 
started about 1870 and the store stood near the present site of the Southern 
Pacific depot. I. L. Smith confined his mercantile activities to the sale of 
furniture and about 1893 moved the store to the present location. He was also 
a successful lumberman, operating both planing and sawmills, and his life's 
labors were terminated by death in 1909. Claude E. Smith worked for two years 
for Roe & Buxton and then admitted to a partnership in the concern, at which 
time the style was changed to Roe & Company. On November 15, 1917, Mr. Smith 
purchased the business, which has since been operated under his own name. The 
building is fifty by one hundred feet in dimensions and two stories in height. 
The stock comprises furniture of high grade as well as a complete line of 
carpets, linoleum, wall paper and paint. With the exception of the twelve 
months spent on the home ranch Mr. Smith has worked continuously in the same 
block for a period of thirty-three years and is one of the oldest business men 
of this locality. Advancing in step with the spirit of the times, he has made 
his store a notable center of service in the every day life of the community 
and a large and ever widening pat¬ronage is indicative of his prestige as a 
merchant.

     In 1911 Mr. Smith was married in Forest Grove to Miss Laura G. Trudeo, 
who was born in Peoria, Illinois, and came to Oregon with her sister. To this 
union has been born a daughter, Gertrude Elizabeth, who is twelve years of age 
and a public school pupil. Mr. Smith is connected with the Benevolent 
Protective Order of Elks and has passed through all the chairs in the Knights 
of Pythias. His wife is one of the Pythian Sisters and a member of the Woman's 
Club. Mr. Smith is a director of the Chamber of Commerce and a councilman of 
Forest Grove. His public spirit has been demonstrated by actual achievements 
for the general good and the rules which govern his life are such as 
constitute the basis of all honorable and desirable prosperity.

Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Page 
936

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