Berks-Chester County PA Archives News.....William D. Smith March 10, 1910
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Dan Lindley danoh19344@hotmail.com November 21, 2006, 12:19 pm

Daily Local News, West Chester, PA March 10, 1910 March 10, 1910


The Reading Telegram, in a series of personal write-ups, has the following of 
a native of Chester County, who adopted “Alt Berks” as his residence some 
years ago:

The average prosperous business man is not averse to contributing to 
charitable enterprises.  But with the passing of a check his interest 
generally ceases, and the wherefore and the ultimate end of his financial 
support is not of particular consequence to him, beyond its necessity.

The study of charities and the disposal of means for this purpose is possibly 
understood to a greater degree by William d. smith than by any other local 
philanthropist, for Mr. Smith has made this means of spreading happiness to 
the unfortunate a special part of his long and useful life.

He has not only spent the money of contributors to a wise end, but also a 
great deal of his own.  The erection of the larger part of the Home fro 
Friendless children, at his own expense and countless other gifts of money and 
services to the numerous boards of charity that he heads, suggest Mr. Smith’s 
unheralded work has accomplished much good.

	IRON MASTER AND CIVIL WAR VETERAN.

Mr. Smith is a native of the northern end of Chester county, and attended the 
New London Academy.  Later, he went to the Williston Seminary in 
Massachusetts.  His father and brothers were iron masters and he became one of 
them at Joanna and at Isabella furnace in West Nantmeal.

Here, with his brother, Horace V., from 1865 to 1881, he operated the furnaces 
that were sold later to Col. J.D. Potts.  From 1861 to 1865 he served as 
adjuster in the U.S. Custom House at Philadelphia and from 1876 to 1888 he was 
a deputy collector and auditor.

In June 1863, he raised and commanded Co. D. 42d Regt. Pennsylvania 
volunteers, which was in service six weeks.

In 1887, after a tour of Europe, Mr. Smith became a resident of Reading.  He 
has been President of the Board of Trustees of the Reading Hospital since 
1889. He was Chairman of the Building Committee of the Home for Friendless 
children (organized 1886) which was begun in 1888.   Besides supervising the 
main building he put up two wings at his own expense.  Mr. Smith, while not a 
manager of the Home, this office being reserved for women, is personally 
interested in the welfare of the Home and each little inmate.  And he is a 
bachelor at that.

NUMEROUS OTHER INTERESTS

Since 1890, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Charles Evans 
Cemetery.  He is actively associated with the Reading Benevolent Society, Hope 
Rescue Mission, the Humane Society, the Associated Charities and the Society 
for the prevention of Tuberculosis.

He is a member of the Historical Society of Berks County, a vestryman of 
Christ Protestant Episcopal Church and one of the founders of St. Mary’s 
Episcopal Church.

Mr. Smith has been a trustee of the Y.M.C.A. for many years.  He is a director 
of the Reading & Temple Railway Company, of the Reading Trust Company and a 
member of the Republican (national) Party.



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