Lewis H. Smith
"I packed up my compass and leveling instruments and other baggage and started for the country where all the excellencies of a new place were supposed to be centered." Lewis Smith
Lewis H. Smith was 19 years old when he arrived in Algona in 1854. He was a surveyor and an engineer. As a surveyor, Mr. Smith helped to determine the boundaries of Algona. He liked Algona so much that he decided to make it his home. Like many men, he lived in the J.W. Moore cabin when he first arrived in the area.
In 1857, he was elected county judge and later that same year he took the bar exam and became Algona's first lawyer. Mr. Smith served in the Northern Iowa Brigade during the Civil War. He then operated a store in Algona with his brother for several years.
In 1873, Smith and William Ingham opened the first bank in Algona. Smith served as president of the bank. He was a respected businessman and a kind individual according to Florence Call Cowles.
Smith died in 1928 at the age of 92.
Lewis H. Smith was 19 years old when he arrived in Algona in 1854. He was a surveyor and an engineer. As a surveyor, Mr. Smith helped to determine the boundaries of Algona. He liked Algona so much that he decided to make it his home. Like many men, he lived in the J.W. Moore cabin when he first arrived in the area.
In 1857, he was elected county judge and later that same year he took the bar exam and became Algona's first lawyer. Mr. Smith served in the Northern Iowa Brigade during the Civil War. He then operated a store in Algona with his brother for several years.
In 1873, Smith and William Ingham opened the first bank in Algona. Smith served as president of the bank. He was a respected businessman and a kind individual according to Florence Call Cowles.
Smith died in 1928 at the age of 92.
Listen to Lewis Smith's story of coming to Algona for the first time.
|
|