My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES ALLAN SMITH, whose ancestors have lived in Pottstown for three generations, was born in that borough on July 30, 1874. He is the son of Jacob and Hanna (Auman) Smith.

Jacob Smith (father) was, as has been stated, born in Pottstown, and spent his life there. He was a brick manufacturer, and did a large business for many years. In politics he was a Democrat, and acted as constable for a great many terms. He was also tax collector. In religious faith he was a member of the Reformed church, as was also his wife. He died in Pottstown, February 15, 1894, at the age of sixty-two years. His widow still survives him, being now sixty-nine years old. She lives on Evans street, in Pottstown. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Smith had six children, all of whom grew to maturity and are still living except George, who died young. The others are: Camilla, married Samuel Longacre, of Pottstown, who is a painter and a paper hanger in that borough; Mary married Albert Keiffrider, of Pottstown, where he is engaged in the rolling mill business; Lyman M., married Sallie Shader, daughter of David Shader, of Pottstown-Lyman M. Smith is his father’s successor in the brickmaking business in Pottstown; Charles A.; Clarence E. is unmarried and resides in Pottstown, being employed as a bricklayer.

Isaac Smith (grandfather) was born and died in Pottstown. During the first part of his life he was a tailor, and was afterwards a drover and a hotel proprietor, having had a varied experience in his long and well-spent life. He died in Pottstown at a very advanced age, his wife having died several years before him.

Charles A. Smith spent the first sixteen years of his life in acquiring an education, and then like all of his father’s children he learned the trade of bricklaying, his father being engaged in the brick-making business. After becoming skilled in this trade, he followed it for three years, and then worked in the steel works for several years before his marriage.

He married Laura Amanda Idle, daughter of ___and Sarah (Reutenhauer) Idle, of Pottstown. Her father was a carpenter by trade and died many years ago. His widow is still living in Pottstown. Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Smith have two children: Earl Raymond resides with his parents; Erma May, also resides with her parents.

Mr. Charles A. Smith is a Democrat in politics, but has never held office nor desired to hold it. They are members of the Trinity Reformed church. For some years after his marriage Mr. Smith was engaged in the stove business, also dealing in fine grades of stock and breeds of pigeons. He had twelve hundred pairs of pigeons, besides rabbits and other animals, his trade in these birds and beasts yielding him a very considerable income. He raised all varieties of poultry, making a specialty of Buffs and Plymouth Rocks. After purchasing his present home from Evan Brooks, who had lived there many years, he began a course of improvement from which he has never desisted. He added thirty-six acres to the original lands in 1903, making it a very large farm. He has planted orchards on the place, and they all give promise of doing well. There the twenty-four hundred trees, including three hundred and sixty-five plum trees, five hundred and sixty-seven peach trees, and three hundred apple trees that are already bearing. Mr. Smith has charge of the Ellis & Lessig mills, where nails, etc., are manufactured. He is a director in the company, and has been a stock-holder for several years.