- JOHN A. SMITH. Among the necessary adjuncts to a progressive
town is the newspaper, and
- since 1888 Monticello, Green county, has had in The Monticello
News one of the most complete and satisfactory sheets published
in the county. This enterprise was established, and has been
ably conducted by John A. SMITH, who was born in Jefferson county,
Wis., on Oct. 3, 1864, a son of John M. and Eva (SUMMERS) SMITH,
both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. A family of one son
and five daughters was born to them: Nora, who married Hullett
HUTSON, of Edgerton, Wis.; Susie, who married John BOWEN, of
Edgerton, Wis.; Ella, who is the widow of J. D. HOFFMAN, of Rockford,
Ill.; Christie, who married Robert McGILL, of Oregon, Wis.; John
A., our subject; and Retta, who married Newton F. WELLS, of Whitewater,
Wisconsin.
- The paternal grandfather was an old resident of Pennsylvania,
as was also the maternal, both of
- them living to advanced age. The father, John M. SMITH,
was a carpenter and builder in early life, and after locating
at Helenville, Jefferson Co., Wis., continued to be occupied
in the same way, but has now retired from active business. During
the Civil war he as a member of Co. F, 29th Wis. V.I., and served
faithfully in the ranks for three years. In politics he belongs
to the Democratic party.
- John A. SMITH was reared in Jefferson county, Wis., and attended
both country and town
- schools, later entering the Northwestern Business College,
at Milwaukee. He then began to learn the printer's trade, under
his brother-in-law, at Edgerton, Wis., on the Wisconsin Tobacco
Reporter, following this trade a number of years. At various
times he has had charge of newspapers, and has taken part in
the preparation of some of the most important in the country,
finally forming a partnership with M. C. RUSSELL, in the publication
of The Whitewater News, continuing this for one year, at the
expiration of which time he bought the interest of Mr. RUSSELL,
continuing one year longer, and then sold out. The following
year was spent by our subject in recuperating, but in 1888 he
located in Monticello and established his present successful
paper. In politics our subject is a republican, but his paper
is conducted on independent lines.
- Mr. SMITH was married in November, 1889, to Miss Fannie L.
BARNEY, a daughter of Milo
- L. and Ann (BURTISS) BARNEY, and two children have been born
of this union: Lela B. and Raymond. Socially Mr. SMITH is connected
with the A.O.U.W., Knights of the Globe, and is past master workman
in the former order at this place. He has shown marked ability
in the conduct of his paper, being energetic and progressive,
while at the same time he is diplomatic and careful in his selection
of the news of the day, aiming to make of his paper an ideal
home journal.
-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c)1901; pp. 906-907.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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