BIO:  F. X. SMITH, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 395

F. X. SMITH, manufacturer, McSherrystown, was born March 21, 1843, on the old 
homestead in Oxford Township, this county, a grandson of John Smith and son of 
Joseph J. Smith, a farmer, who died in Irishtown, Penn.  Joseph J. Smith was 
justice of the peace, settled many estates and stood high in the estimation of 
all who knew him.  He married Mary, daughter of John Hemler, who bore him eight 
children:  John L., Henry W., Anna (now a sister in St. Joseph’s convent, on 
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia), Francis Xaverious, Andrew J., Gregory F., Samuel 
A. and Pius I.  Our subject was educated in this county in early life, and 
farmed till he was eighteen years old, then went into his father’s general store 
in Irishtown, Penn., where he continued about fifteen years, and while there 
embarked in the cigar business in 1868, employing from five to twenty-five hands 
annually; commencing with five hands he increased his force as his business 
demanded.  In 1877 he came to McSherrystown, Penn., and was in the cigar and 
leaf tobacco business in partnership with J. G. McKinny for two and three 
quarters years, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Smith assuming all the 
liabilities.  He then embarked in business on his own account in the fall of 
1879, kept a general store and also dealt in cigars and leaf tobacco.  He gave 
up the store October 30, 1882, and since then has engaged only in the cigar and 
leaf tobacco trade.  He makes full lines of cigars, using nothing but the best 
of stock; buys tobacco in all the Eastern markets, as well as being a packer of 
leaf tobacco.  He ships his cigars to the Eastern and Western markets.  He is a 
benefactor to the village, for he employs on an average about 150 hands, and 
runs a branch factory at Irishtown, where he has twenty hands.  He makes about 
6,000,000 cigars annually and handles between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 outside 
goods.  Our subject was married to Miss Louise J., daughter of Dr. William 
Hombach, a native of Germany, and they have eight children living:  Clara, 
Charles, William, Anna, Joseph, Paul, Peter and Violet.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith are 
members of Conowago Chapel.  Politically he is a Republican; has been town 
councilman two years.  As a business man he is a decided success; as a citizen 
he is liberal and public spirited.  He was in favor of the borough, and was one 
of the promoters and first treasurer of the building association, and one of the 
prime movers in starting the turnpike.  He has ever been foremost in promoting 
the interests of McSherrystown.  Mr. Smith has such a reputation on his cigars 
that he needs no one to travel for him in order to sell them; his goods always 
come up to sample; his word is his bond.  His only pride is to make goods that 
will always give satisfaction.  To-day he stands at the head of leaf dealers in 
this section, having an immense warehouse, holding at least 500 cases always 
filled with the finest seed and Havana leaf.