BIOGRAPHIES:  William A. Smith, Gale Township, Trempealeau Co., WI

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Submitted by Nance Sampson, Trempealeau Co. WIGenWeb CC on 22 June
2004
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**Posted for informational purposes only - poster is not related to
the 
subject of this biography and has no further information.

William A. Smith, who is engaged in farming in section 34, Gale
Township, was born in Walworth County, Wis., June 26, 1864, son of
William and Mary (Wagner) Smith.  His parents were born and married
in Germany and came to the United States in the early '50s, locating
in Walworth County, Wis., where William Smith engaged in farming.
Subsequently he and his wife came to Trempealeau County and for the
first two years occupied a rented farm.  He then homesteaded land
three and a half miles north of Galesville and resided on that farm
until his death, which took place in the latter '80s.  He was of a
well-to-do family in Germany, and when a young man had run away from
home to enter the German army, in which he served seven years.  His
wife survived him a number of years, dying in 1911.  Their family
numbered six children, of whom William A. was the fifth in order of
birth.  William A. Smith attended school in the George Smith District
in Trempealeau County and was reared on his parents' farm, where he
worked when only 14 years old.  He remained at home and assisted his
parents until he was 26, at times working out at teaming and other
work in order to keep busy earning something, these industrial
activities being carried on mostly in the neighborhood of Galesville.
Being thrifty and economical, he saved money, so that at last he was
able to purchase a house in Galesville, where he took up his
residence and engaged in the dray and transfer business, being thus
occupied until 1914.  He then bought his present farm, consisting of
48 acres of valuable land, on which he has made practically all the
improvements, and to which he now devotes practically all of his
time, though still retaining possession of his property in
Galesville.  Mr. Smith was married, July 1, 1899, to Bertha Olson,
who was born near Arcadia, Trempealeau County, Wis., daughter of
Targe and Bertha (Olson) Olson.  Her parents were natives of Norway,
the father born in 1834 and the mother Dec. 29, 1849.  They came to
the United States when young and unmarried and settled in Trempealeau
County, Wis., about seven miles west of Galesville in Big Tamarac
Valley, where Targe Olson engaged in farming.  He died 1901, but his
wife is still living and resides on the old farm.  They had a large
family numbering eleven children.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents
of one child, Roy Theodore, who was born June 15, 1901.  The family
are attendants of the Lutheran church.  Mr. Smith is a member of the
Order of Beavers, while Mrs. Smith is a member of the Royal
Neighbors. 

-Transcribed from the "History of Trempealeau County Wisconsin,
1917," 
pages 419-420 

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