Smithb
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
BENJAMIN F. SMITH, purser of
the Lake Chelan Navigation Company, and one of the earliest pioneers of
this beautiful lake country, resides at Chelan, Chelan county. Rockford,
Illinois, is the place of his nativity, being born July 17, 1858, the son
of Nelson W. and Olive B. (Parker) Smith. His father is a descendant
of an old and prominent New England family, and now resides at Larrabee,
Cherokee county, Iowa. The mother, a native of Rhode Island, was
of a family distinguished as large and successful manufacturers in New
England. She died at Larrabee in April, 1903.
When our subject was five years of age his
family removed to Iowa, and here he attended public schools and worked
on a farm with his father. In 1883 he went to Wayne, Nebraska,
where he rented three hundred and twenty acres of land, later purchasing
eighty acres. Four years subsequently he came to Chelan with Captain
Johnson, mentioned elsewhere. At that period his wife was one of
three ladies, the only white women in that vicinity. He acquired
two hundred and five acres of land lying along the lake, which developed
into the most valuable landed property there, owing to its eligible location
between Chelan and Lakeside. He platted eighty acres and has disposed
of some of it. At present he has a fifteen-acre orchard. In
1901 Mr. Smith erected a handsome two-story frame house near the lake.
He rents his orchard and log house nearby. In July, 1901, he purchased
an interest in the steamer line from R. J. Watkins, disposing of the same
later to E. E. Shotwell. He has a mail contract on the lake, and
is purser of the steamer Flyer, and is proprietor of a two-thirds interest
in a saw mill on Antoine Flat. Our subject has three sisters, Mary,
wife of Joseph Farnham; Minerva, wife of Edward Ballon; and Susan, wife
of Albert Raymond.
The marriage of Mr. Smith was consummated
at Waterloo, Iowa, when he was united, September 27, 1882, to Nettie J.
Streeter, born at Cedar Falls, Iowa. Her father, Edward, was born
at Joliet, Illinois, and he now resides at Cedar Falls, Iowa, a prominent
and influential citizen. Her mother, Elizabeth (Dobson) Streeter,
is a native of the Empire state, and now lives at Cedar Falls. Mrs.
Smith has three brothers, Adelbert W., Thomas and Fred, the two former
of Iowa, the latter of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has two sisters,
Hattie, wife of J. G. Packard, and Florence, wife of W. W. Goodykoontz,
an attorney of Boone, Iowa. She is the mother of three children,
Roy N., W. Park and Bernice E., the latter the first white child born in
this vicinity. Mr. Smith is a member of the K. P., and W. W. He is
a Democrat. Mrs. Smith was, for fourteen years, a teacher, and is
a graduate of the state normal school at Cedar Falls, Iowa.