Husband William Smith 1 2
Born: 15 Aug 1800 - near Darlington, Beaver Co, PA 1 2
Christened:
Died: 12 Jul 1887 2 3
Buried:
Father: [Father] Smith ( - )
Mother:
Marriage: - Philadelphia, PA
Other Spouse: Fanny Wrenshall ( -1861) 2 3 - 1828 - Steubenville, Jefferson Co, OH 2 3
Wife [Unk] Simes
Born:
Christened:
Died: Winter, 1886 - Philadelphia, PA 3
Buried:
Father: John Simes ( - ) 2 3
Mother:
Other Spouse: [Unk] Newell ( - ) 2 3
Children
General Notes: Husband - William Smith
Until he was twenty years of age he worked on his father's farm, and in 1821, in company with his brother James, he came to Washington and opened a general store. The brothers remained in the borough about one year, and then removed to Philadelphia, where they engaged in the same business on Market street, on a more extensive scale. They met with success, but about the year 1825, owing to the failing health of James, the business was disposed of, and the brothers returned to western Pennsylvania, William locating in Uniontown, where he once more embarked in mercantile business. In 1828 he returned to Washington and opened a store in a house where the Watson block was later located, south of the Public Square. The business from the very start proved a success. In 1835, he purchased from Rev. Thomas Hogue the north-east corner of Main and Beau streets, to which he moved his store. Prior to this he had bought of Judge Baird the "Round Corner." In 1861 he erected the magnificent brick and iron structure on the northwest corner of Main and Beau streets, known as the "Iron Hall." In 1853 he received his son William W. into partnership, the name of the firm becoming William Smith & Son. At an early day, Mr. Smith commenced a private banking business, which he also made a success, and on his retirement from active business life about the year 1867, the private banking house of William Smith & Son was firmly established.
Several years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Smith, having retired from business, purchased a pleasant home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to which he removed, and there his second wife died. He continued to reside in Philadelphia till the spring of the following year, when he returned to Washington, where he peacefully and painlessly passed away in the eighty-seventh year of his age. In his younger life he was an adherent of the Covenanter Church, but while a resident of Washington he was an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. When he removed to Philadelphia he connected himself with the United Presbyterian Church, under whose banner he died. [CBRWC, 117]