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GRAHAM G. SMITH. This gentleman, who is one of the prominent citizens of Mt. Vernon, recently erected a large two-story brick building, where he is conducting business as a dealer in all kinds of monuments. He is a native of this state, and was born in Decatur, September 11, 1856. His father, James H. Smith, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, April 5, 1825, and after spending nearly a quarter of a century in his native land, emigrated to America in company with three of his brothers. The paternal grandfather of our subject, who also bore the name of James Smith, was a sea-faring man, and died in his native land, Scotland. The maiden name of our subject's mother was Elizabeth Graham; she was born at Alexandria, a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, June 10, 1826. Her parents were likewise natives of that country. There the father died, and the mother who came to America, lived to be ninety-six years old. Graham G., of this sketch, was the youngest but one in the parental family of eight children, six of whom were born in Scotland. When only six months old, his parents removed to St. Louis, where they lived until the death of the mother, August 15, 1858. James Smith chose for his second companion a sister of his former wife, and soon after their union removed south, where he was extensively engaged in the cotton trade. September 15, 1866, his family, which remained in the Mound City, wore notified of his sudden death, which occurred in Madison Parish, La. He was at one time a very wealthy man, but his fortune, like that of many others, was swept away during the late war. The brothers and sisters of our subject were,
Jane, who married John G. Bromley and made her home in St. Louis until her decease, August 17, 1875; Graham G., of this sketch, was residing in St. Louis at the time of his father's decease, and although but ten years of age, was compelled to leave school and commence to support himself. His first work was in a glass factory, where he remained for three years, in the meantime carrying on his studies in the night school. His next employment was found in a china, glass and queensware house in St. Louis, where he was engaged for eighteen months, after which he went to work in a wholesale tea and coffee house. When attaining his seventeenth year, he apprenticed himself to learn the marble cutter's trade, and in 1877 he came to Illinois and was thus employed for a time in Salem. Later he removed to Centralia, where he formed a partnership with S. A. Frazier, under the firm name of Frazier & Smith, which connection lasted until 1883, the date of his advent into Mt. Vernon. When first locating here, he opened an establishment in company with his brother, William R., under the firm name of Smith Bros., and at the end of a twelvemonth purchased the interest of his partner, and since that time has been conducting the business on his own account. He has been very successful and has built up a large and paying business, being one of the leading business men in the city to engage in that line of trade. May 4, 1879, Miss Hattie L. Johnson, of Carmi, White County, ILL., became his wife. She is the daughter of William Johnson, deceased, a prominent farmer of that county. Our subject has been actively identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church for the past twenty-two years, and during his residence in Salem, Centralia, and also in this city, has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has also taken a prominent part in church matters, and for nineteen years has held the official positions of Steward and Trustee. Socially he is a Royal Arch Mason, and as a public-spirited gentleman is held in the highest esteem by the entire community.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois" |
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