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Below is a family biography included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company; Elwood Roberts, Editor.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JAMES B. SMITH, the widely known and popular landlord of the Jenkintown House, at Jenkintown, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, one of the leading hotels in that section of the state, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1836. He is the son of Robert and Rosanna (Barron) Smith, both of whom were natives of Bucks county, where the father followed the occupation of farming, which proved a remunerative means of livelihood.

At the age of eight years James B. Smith removed with his widowed mother to Lambertville, New Jersey. There he acquired a public school education which qualified him for the duties and activities of life. He served an apprenticeship at the trade of car building and subsequently pattern making, and was engaged in one or the other of these occupations until 1879, achieving a certain degree of financial success. In that year he purchased the Jenkintown House, and has ever since conducted it as a first class hotel. By paying the strictest attention to the comfort and safety of his regular patrons and transient guests, the house has been well patronized by the traveling public, and has proved to be a profitable investment. Mr. Smith is also interested in other enterprises, and for a number of years has served in the capacity of director of the Fox Chase National Bank.

While residing in Lambertville, New Jersey, Mr. Smith was a member of the council, serving one year as president of the same, and also filled other important and responsible offices of a local character. In Jenkintown he has been for four terms a member of the town council, and has also served four successive years as burgess, an honor seldom falling to the lot of any incumbent of the office. He is a member of Peace and Love Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Jenkintown and the Knights of Pythias.

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This family biography is one of more than 1,000 biographies included in the Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania published in 1904 by T. S. Benham & Company and The Lewis Publishing Company.  For the complete description, click here: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

View additional Montgomery County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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