Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record - Published 1894 by Excelsior Publishing Co., Chicago" Pages 610 - 611

Patrick Henry Smith was one of the well-known pioneers of Sheboygan County, and a prominent citizen and business man of Plymouth. He was born at Royalton, Vt., September 29, 1827, and was the youngest of a family of eight children, consisting of four sons and four daughters. His father, Col. Stafford Smith, was a prominent citizen and was descended from an early New England family.

Mr. Smith went to Sheboygan in 1847, as a youth of but twenty years, and on March 11, 1848. he went to Plymouth, which continued to be his home for the remainder of his life, covering a period of about thirty-six years. He was not only a prominent and successful business man, but was ever in the front rank of the progressive men of his county and State. His business career, which was one of marked success, is briefly stated as follows:

His first business venture was in connection with his brother, the late Hon. H. N. Smith, under the firm name of P. H. Smith & Co. This partnership continued until 1860, when the Hon. William Elwell succeeded to the interest of H. N. Smith, and the firm name was changed to Smith & Elwell. The latter retired from the firm in 1867, and on March 1, 1868, H. H. Huson became associated with Mr. Smith, under the firm name of Smith & Huson. In 1873, the firm became Smith, Huson & Zerler. Mr. Smith continued in active business until March 19, 1880, when, in conseqence{sic} of failing health, he disposed of his mercantile interests to his associates and retired with a competence, the result of a most successful business career. His death occurred after a long illness on the 22d of January, 1884, at the comparatively early age of fifty-six years.

Mr. Smith was called by his fellow-citizens to occupy various positions of honor and trust, the duties of which were discharged with the same spirit of integrity that characterized his business life. He was the first Town Clerk of Plymouth, was Postmaster from 1853 to 1857, Deputy United States Marshal in 1860, and was Alderman and President of the City Council several times. In 1880, Mr. Smith was elected State Senator for the Twentieth District, for the term of 1880 and 1881, and was afterward re-elected to a second term, which had not expired at the time of his death. He was a man of great urbanity and of a most genial nature, and while prominent, both as a business man and in an official capacity, it was yet at home with his wife and children, or in the entertainment of friends, that his true character and kindly nature were displayed.

On October 8, 1862, Mr. Smith was married at Towanda, Pa., to Miss Clemana E. Elwell, eldest daughter of Judge William Elwell. The Judge, who is a native of Pennsylvania, is still living, and. for many years he was a prominent lawyer of that State. His birth occurred in October, 1808. He occupied a prominent position on the Bench for twenty-five years, and is probably the oldest living ex-Judge in his State. Mrs. Smith and her two daughters, Misses Mollie and Lucia, reside at their beautiful home in Plymouth.

Return to the Sheboygan Page

Return to Bios page