Jesse A. Smith Biography


	This biography appears on pages 698-701 in "History of Dakota Territory" 
	by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				JESSE A. SMITH.  

	Jesse A. Smith, who since the spring of 1891 has been a resident 
of Flandreau, occupies a prominent position in its business circles as 
president of the Moody County Bank. Indeed, he is a well known figure 
in banking circles throughout the state and his activities along that 
line cover considerable scope. He possesses in large measure the spirit 
of initiative, which, combined with executive power and administrative 
ability, has made him a forceful factor in financial circles.  

	A native of Candor, Tioga county, New York, Mr. Smith was born on 
the 3d of January, 1852, of the marriage of Jesse A. and Angeline C. 
Smith, both of whom have now passed away. The father was a wagon-maker 
by trade. The son acquired his education in the public schools and made 
his initial step in the business world as an employee of McCarty & 
Company, general merchants of Candor, with whom he remained for a brief 
period and shell entered the service of Storrs & Chatfield of Owego, 
New York, as bookkeeper and cashier. He remained with that firm for a 
decade and then came to Dakota in 1881, entering the employ of the 
Dwight Farm & Land Company at Dwight, North Dakota, where he continued 
for two years. He afterward conducted farming interests and a loaning 
business on his own account. He was at Wahpeton, North Dakota, for five 
or six seasons am, on leaving that place in the fall of 1889 went to 
Rochester, Minnesota, where he filled the position of assistant cashier 
of the Union National Bank. This gave him his initial training in the 
banking business. In April, 1891, he removed to Flandreau, where he 
formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, H. A. Booth. They 
purchased the bank from H. McConnell, and Mr. Smith has since been 
actively and prominently identified with financial interests. Mr. 
McConnell had conducted the institution as a private bank, but after it 
was purchased by Mr. Smith and his brother-in-law it was reorganized 
into a state bank under the name of The Moody County Bank, with Mr. 
Smith as the president. It is today one of the strong financial 
institutions of the southeastern part of the state, its success being 
built upon a substantial basis of progressiveness, tempered by a safe 
conservatism. In addition to his financial interests Mr. Smith is a 
director of the Flandreau Independent Lumber Company; is president of 
the Flandreau Elevator Company; also treasurer of the Bishop Hare 
Memorial Fund, and owner of farming lands in this state and elsewhere.  

	It was in December, 1889, that Mr. Smith was united in marriage 
to Miss Cora H. Booth, and they traveled life's journey happily 
together for about fourteen years, when they were separated in death, 
Mrs. smith sassing away in January, 1904, while their daughter, Alice 
M., died the following August, Mr. Smith being thus doubly bereft. On 
the 20th of June, 1906, he married again, his second union being with 
Miss Julia S. Scott, of Kokomo, Indiana, the daughter of a prominent 
physician. Their four children are Jesse A., Esther E., Helen C. and 
Margaret Henrietta.  

	Extensive and important as are the business interests of Mr. 
Smith, he has yet found time and opportunity to cooperate in many 
measures for the public good and is interested in every project that 
has to do with the welfare and upbuilding of city and state. He has 
been a member of the school board of Flandreau and has several times 
been mayor of the city, to which position he was reelected in the 
spring of 1914. He has given to Flandreau a very helpful 
administration, conducting municipal affairs with the same thoroughness 
and system that has marked his business career. His political 
allegiance has ever been given to the republican party and he tries to 
aid in its growth and insure its success. He is equally active as a 
member of the Episcopal church, is serving as warden of the Church of 
the Redeemer and superintendent of the Sunday school and is also a 
member and one of the trustees of the chapter of Calvary Cathedral. He 
stands for that which is highest and best in community life, for that 
which is most ennobling to the individual, and his life has been a 
potent element in advancing the interests which have had most to do 
with promoting progress along material, intellectual, social, political 
and moral lines in South Dakota.