S. Owen Smith, president of the People's Bank of Girard,
Macoupin County, Illinois, is one of the best known financiers of this part
of the State. He was born in Macoupin County, January 17, 1860, and is one
of a family of seven children born to his parents, Samuel A. and Elizabeth
(Harlan) Smith.
His grandfather, Moses Smith, came to Illinois from
Tennessee, and entered a large body of land in North Otter and Girard
townships in 1836 and continued to reside in North Otter until his death in
the early "forties." He had the following children: John C, Samuel A., Mary
(Horn), Elisha, Elizabeth (Eves), Lanira (England) and Robert.
Samuel A. Smith was born in Maury County, Tennessee, in 1811 and came to
Macoupin County two years later than his parents. He was married in 1849 to
Elizabeth Harlan, a native of Kentucky. She was born in 1819 and came to
Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1834 with her parents who moved to Macoupin
County in the. fall of 1838. They had the following children: Annah, who
died in infancy; Walter and Georgia (twins ), — Walter died aged three
years, while Georgia resides with our subject; a child, who died in infancy
unnamed; Ednah Elizabeth, who died at the age of 26 years; another infant
that died unnamed and Samuel Owen, the youngest, the subject of this sketch.
Samuel A. Smith became a land-owner, and stock raiser and dealt largely in
stock, shipping to New Orleans from Alton on flat-boats. He died in 1874,
leaving his family in comfortable circumstances. Mrs. Smith, the mother of
our subject, died July 26, 1899, aged 80 years. Samuel A. Smith was a
Methodist and his wife a Cumberland Presbyterian. In politics he was a
Democrat.
S. Owen Smith was educated in the public schools and was
reared on his father's farm, where he followed cattle feeding and
agricultural pursuits until January, 1896, when he removed to Girard, and
accepted the position of cashier in the People's Bank. On January 1, 1899,
he was elected vicepresident and on January 1, 1903, president, in the
latter office succeeding the late Jason N. McElvain.
The people's
Bank is one of the solid financial institutions of the county, and was
organized January 31, 1893, its paid-up capital stock being $40,000. Its
present officers are all representative men: S. Owen Smith, president;
Thomas H. Cherry, vice-president; Perry O. Wells, cashier. A general banking
business is carried on, including the discounting of approved commercial
paper, making collections, issuing drafts throughout the United States,
Canada and Europe, loaning money on all first class securities and
exercising all the functions of a first class banking house. The citizens
conclusively show their utmost confidence in the careful and conservative
management of the bank, the amount of business being continually on the
increase.
On October 25, 1901, Mr. Smith married Virginia Christoe,
who is a daughter of James Christoe, formerly of Macoupin County, now of
Alton, Illinois. They have one son, Samuel O., Jr., born September 18, 1903.
Both Mr. Smith and wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
In political sentiment he is a Republican.
Mr. Smith still owns a
large body of valuable farming land in Macoupin County, which he operated
until 1901 when he became a resident of Girard, where he is highly regarded
as a business man and public spirited citizen.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 375-376.
Macoupin County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by
Templates in Time
This page was last updated
07/01/2022