The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-06-13

Col. Smith was born ia Northfeld, June
IL, lo3O. After serving an apprenticeship
as clerk in the store of Loomis & Camp OF
Montpelier he embarked in business for
himself, purchasing the S. X. Collins drug
store in 1858. He continued in this business
until the breaking out Of the civil war. In
November 1861, he was appointed quarter
master Of the Eighth Vermont regiment, and
served iu that organization as oOmmissary
OF subsistence on the staff Of Gen. Godfrey
Wettzel in the Depar ment of the Gulf
until 1868. He returned TO Montpelier at
the close of his military service and this
city has since been his home, with the ex-
ception of two years's residence in New
York
Since the war Col. Smith has ever been
active in military organizations. For many
years he has been secretary Of the Vermont
Officers Reunion Society, a member OF the
Grand Army Of the Republic, and Of the
Loyal Legion. He has been an officer and
director in many corporations and business
enterprises, where his sound judgment and
peculiar capacity for varied affairs have
been IN demand. He was one of the organ
izers OF tha First National Bank OF Mont
pelier, in 1865 has been director continu-
ously from that time and for many years
vice president of the institution. In that
year. ALSO he was chosen director In the
National Life Insurance Company, and in
1891 was made a member of the finance
committee. He is a trustee OF the Wash
ington Comfy Grammar School and of
Norwich University Colonel Smith was
Senator from Washington county in the
Legislature Of 1886. and delegate at large
to the Republican National Convention in
1892. For many years he has been a war
den and active worker in Christ Church Of
this city.
But it is in connection with the Vermont
Mutual Fire Insurance Company that Col
onel Smith has been, in recent years, most
widely known. In 1875 he was elected a
director OF this company, to succeed Daniel
Baldwin, former president. In 1876 he
was made vice president and has served
continuously since, either as vice.president
or president. He was first elected presi-
dent OF this company in 1887, serving al
such four years After brief retirement
as the official head he was again in 1895
elected to the presidency of the company,
and has since been successfully reelected.
Under his administration the business OF
the company has been thoroughly systema-
tlzed, the relations OF policy holders and
the company have become mutually close
and satisfactory, the true principles of fire
insurance in all it's departments have be-
come better understood, and the "Old Mu-
tual' has been advanced to high degree of
prosperity.
1t has been said that Col. Smiths sound
Judgment aud peculiar capacity for diverse
business affairs have made him q leading
agent in many enterprises locally and else
where. Men who have been associated
with him in business management under
stand the full import Of this observation.
Among individuals in council over a pro-
Jected enterprise or an important matter of
business there might be many men Of mauy
minds, much discussion of ways and means,
the wisdom or unwisdom of this proposition
or that Col. Smith is good listener. He
weighs carefully and decides with delibera-
tion. When he has made up and declared
his judgment it has generally been recog-
nized as the wise thing to accept and has
received the assent of his associates. Col.
Smith is conciliatory, his opinions are adj
vanced with becoming modesty, bis regard
for the Judgment of others reconciing oppo-
sitioi If II is not always wholly convinced.
Outside OF business affairs Col. Smiths
uniform courtesy, a kindly nature and gen
ial good fellow ship, his unquestioned right
to that good old.tashioned title of geutle-
man, have made him friends whose name is
legion, whose habitstiou is the State and
country at large, who will give him hearty
greetings on his arrival at the mortal time
limit, and who will pray that in his case
the Scriptural statute OF limitations may be
long extended, with no dimming of the eye
or abatement OF mental force.