Albert Smith Biography


	This biography appears on page 1847-1848 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	ALBERT SMITH was born in the village of Laharpe, Hancock county, 
Illinois. He was granted the advantages of the common schools in his 
youth and thereafter took a course of study in Knox College, at 
Galesburg, Illinois. In 1872 he removed to Minnesota, where he remained 
until 1875, when he returned home, by reason of the impaired health of 
his father, who died shortly afterward. The subject again went to 
Minnesota, and established himself in the hardware business in Wright 
county, where he continued, operations about six years, meeting with 
fair success. His health finally became delicate and this led to his 
removing to South Dakota, whither he came in 1883. He located on a farm 
eight miles north of Britton, in Day county, the place being now in 
Marshall county, and shortly afterward he returned to Howard, 
Minnesota. In the spring of 1884 he came once more to Day county, South 
Dakota, and became one of the organizers of the first bank in Webster, 
while he served as cashier of the same until 1888, when the institution 
was closed, owing to depressed financial conditions, though the 
promoters of the enterprise allowed none of their patrons to lose by 
reason of the suspension. In the autumn of that year Mr. Smith was 
elected county auditor, of which office he continued incumbent for the 
long period of six years, after which he served in various other 
offices of public trust and responsibility, ever proving himself a 
discriminating and faithful executive. In 1900 he was elected clerk of 
the courts, and has since served as such. He is also representative of 
a number of the leading fire-insurance companies and does a very 
considerable business as underwriter for the same. Fraternally he is 
identified with the Masonic order, and also with the Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

	Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Hannah J. Alley, who was 
born in West Virginia, and they have two sons.