BIO: Robert SMITH, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  ROBERT SMITH, a prominent resident of Spring Mills, Centre county, 
now retired from active business, is a self-made man whose present 
prosperity shows unusual ability as a financier, the foundation of his 
success having been laid by his savings as a mechanic. He is a man of 
few words, and in manner is quiet and unassuming; but while devoting 
himself exclusively to his own business he has always won a degree of 
respect from his fellow citizens which some who seek popular favor fail 
to secure.
  Mr. Smith was born February 5, 1841, in Haines township, Centre 
county, near Fiedler P. O., where his parents, Charles and Elizabeth 
(Schnure) Smith, owned a farm. He was the 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  485

youngest of a family of five children - three sons and two daughters - 
and was reared after the usual custom in that time and locality, 
assisting in the "chores" at home, and securing such instruction as he 
could in the schools of the neighborhood. His first teacher was J. G. 
Meyer, who conducted a subscription school in the St. Paul district. At 
that time the present system of free schools had not been introduced 
there, but a few years later the change was made, his first teacher 
under the new order being Jake Lukenbach. The opportunities afforded 
were much inferior to those of the present time, and Mr. Smith feeling 
his own deprivation is a firm friend to the policy of securing for 
every child in the commonwealth a chance to receive a thorough 
education.
  At eighteen he began to learn the carpenter's trade with Squire 
Rinehart, and after one year engaged in work as a journeyman. Having a 
laudable desire to see something of the world, he spent some years in 
traveling about, working at his trade in various places from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific, and visiting the main points of interest in 
this country. In 1873, weary of roving, and with a mind well stored 
with the practical information thus gained, he returned to Centre 
county and located at Bellefonte, entering the employ of W. V. Hughes, 
as an ordinary workman. By the end of a year he had shown such marked 
ability in all lines of work, that he was made foreman, and this 
responsible position he held some thirteen years, overseeing the 
construction of many important buildings from foundation to roof. He 
then undertook, on his own account, the contract for the Reformed 
church building at Aaronsburg, and after the successful completion of 
that work he went to California, and spent two years visiting friends 
and doing some work as occasion offered. On his return in 1889, he 
resumed his old position with Mr. Hughes and superintended the 
construction of two buildings at Johnstown, Penn.-the Library and the 
Cambria Iron Company's store-replacing those destroyed by the flood. In 
the fall of 1891 he gave up his position and in the latter part of 1892 
he purchased from the Barcroft estate some valuable property, at Spring 
Mills, comprising a hotel, which he sold in 1896, two residences, and 
two store buildings. These he placed in thorough repair, and since 
February, 1893, he has made his home at Spring Mills, his elegant and 
luxuriously furnished residence being a delightful spot in which to 
pass his well-earned leisure. He was married at Bellefonte, in 1890, to 
Miss Emma Heckman, of Penn Hall, daughter of John F. and Fietta 
(Fisher) Heckman. Two children have blessed this union: Rosa, born in 
January, 1891, and Ruth, born May 1, 1896. Mr. Smith and his wife are 
leading members of the Reformed Church, and he has held office as 
deacon and elder therein. He also belongs to the I.O.O.F. of 
Bellefonte.
  Mr. Smith has worked hard and made a thrifty disposition of his 
earnings, and has neither been extravagant nor practiced undue self-
denial in order to accumulate his fortune. In his political views he is 
a Republican, and his first vote in a Presidential campaign was cast, 
in 1864, for Abraham Lincoln. He is a regular voter, and takes much 
interest in the success of his party, but has never been an office 
seeker.