Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-04
IDEAL HOME LIFE
INTERESTING CHARACTERISTICS
OF JUDGE WALTER |. SMITH,
OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.
Well Known Congressman from the
Ninth District Great Reader From
Boyhood-Preference for History
Popular With Constituency.

IF the home is the foundation OF
our civilization then America needs
many homes like that of the Smiths"
says Robert Henderson editor of the
Council Bluffs Nonpareil in an inter
esting sketch Of the life Of Judge
Walter l.. Smith, published recently in
Des Moines paper. Judge Smith Is
congressman from the ninth district,
and well known all over the state. The
sketch is as follows:
In an inconspicuous and unpreten-
tious house on one of the well-paved
and shaded residence STREETS near the
business section of Council Bluffs live
Congressman Walter I. Smith and his
happy family. The family consists of
Mrs. Smith and four bright children,
two boys and two girls, and anyone
who has been a frequenter of that
home knows that it is no mere empty
expression to speak of the happiness
that abounds there. If the home is the
I foundation of our civilization, then
America needs many homes like that
/ of the Smiths. Here are children
growing to manhood and womanhood
amidst wholesome surroundings and
with the inspiration and example of
well ordered and peaceful lives before
them; here are plenty and comfort
without luxury and extravaganza;
here are at once rigid discipline and
that all-pervading affection that
makes home what it should be; here
is obedience to father and mother I'M
questioned. the promptings of fillal
loe. No doubt there are many such
homes. but no visitor at the fireside OF
the Smiths can ever lose the impress
sion that here Is in truth home, an
abode of perennial content and happl
ness. And of all that may be said
of the well developed character of the
head Of this home, nothing can take
precedence over this, that he is the
kind and faithful husband and lovine
and thoughtful father of an idea
American home.
Native Of Council Bluffs.
"The house in which the Smiths now
live has been the home of the present
congressman since he was five years
OF age. With his parents, he removed
there in 1867 from the place of his
birth, few blocks away on Oakland
avenue. Naturally for Congr essmar
: Smith, many tender associations cling
about the dwelling place that has beer
: his for thirty-seyen years, and while
: the house is not a large one, scarcely
!, amTle for the present demands of tn,
, family, demands that grow as the
. children advance in years, it is doubt
| fuf # any turn fortunes wheel nigh
take would induce Judge Smith to e.
elsewhere to live. He loves Iowa a.
his native state, he cherishes south
west Iowa, as the home of those VIII,
have given him their confidence ant
{ support in places of high trust, he ha
t tender affection for his home city AM
. home county, but, above all, this spo
on South Seventh street, where he ha
= spent his life in study and toll and IL
the happiness of home, is dear, t
!, Judge Smith. In time, the old house
: with it's solid masonry and perfect car
! pentry, the handiwork of the congress
: mans own father, in a day when the
! built for lifetime instead of for
: decade or two-this old house may b
: remodeled, rebuilt, enlarged, but
would take no less change of forum
4 than one requiring his removal fror
;. the state, with all the sacrifice of ass.
II Citations, that that would mean, t
> bring Judge Smith to the point of gil
;, ing up this modest house to go els,
y where.
8 Enters Public Life.
/ And 1t Is to to this scene we must G
to get glimpse Of the life and cha
acter Of Judge Smith. The events {
Z - l.
d with the associations of his HON
froi,, I,ovbood tbrc,,oI, youth opd i,,{