Smithw  
 
 

Transcribed from "An Illustrated History of The Big Bend Country, embracing Lincoln, Douglas, Adams, and Franklin Counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     WHEELOCK B. SMITH has been very active in the business world since coming to Franklin county and his labors, dominated by wisdom of a high order, have resulted in excellent success.  He is now one of the wealthy business men of this portion of Washington and has won it all by his own efforts.  At the present time, he is giving his personal attention to a general merchandise establishment in Kahlotus which is the largest of its kind in this portion of the county.
     In addition to this he has nearly three sections of good wheat land which is all rented out.  He has buildings and improvements on each quarter, except one farm of a half section.  He manages these estates in addition to handling his mercantile business and he has a first-class income annually.
     Wheelock B. Smith was born in Prince Edward Island, Canada, on June 12, 1864, the son of Alexander and Sarah (McMillan) Smith, natives of Prince Edward Island and of Scotch ancestry.  The father died in his native place, but the mother came west in 1893 and is now living in Kahlotus.  They were the parents of nine children, and reared them all to be good citizens and men and women of character and standing.  Our subject was educated in the public schools in his native place and labored with his father until the latter's death.  Then he assisted his mother to support the balance of the family until he was twenty-seven, when he married and came west to Fletcher, Adams county, Washington.  He took a pre-emption, later a homestead, then bought railroad land and improved the whole of it in good shape.  He has a section in one body of three-fourths of a section in Adams county, and another three-fourths in Franklin.  He has an orchard of eight acres, and the estates are well improved.  Mr. Smith farmed until 1901, when he removed to Kahlotus and built a residence and opened a livery barn.  He conducted this until the spring of 1904, when he sold and gave his undivided attention to the general merchandise business, which he had started in the meantime.  He has a large stock of well selected goods and is doing a large business.  Mr. Smith has also given attention to raising stock and now has one hundred head, having recently reduced his bands by selling two hundred.
     On October 15, 1891, Mr. Smith married Miss Mary E., daughter of Archibald and Penelope (McGoygan) Thompson, natives of Prince Edward Island.  They are Scotch people.  To Mr. and Mrs. Smith six children have been born, George N., Nellie F., Dora B., Silas, Lena E., and Sarah A., who is deceased.  Mr. Smith is a good active Democrat and always is found at the elections working for his principles.  He belongs to the M. W. A. and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
 
 

BACK