Biographical History of Pottawattmie Co., IA

. C. SMITH, agency Director of the New York Life Insurance Company for Iowa and a portion of Nebraska, has his office at rooms 305 and 306, Sapp Block, Council Bluffs. This branch of the business was established here by him in 1883, Since which time he has had it under his control, having, at the present time over twenty-five men in his employ; and he has increased the yearly new business in Iowa from $1,600,000, written in 1883, to over $4,600,000, new business written in 1890, largely outstripping all competitors. This, however, is only one of the evidences of his activity and of the amount of work he has done. He has been associated with this company for over sixteen years, commencing in Vermont and operating afterward in New York State before coming here.

Mr. Smith was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, February 13, 1841, the son of Harrison and Caroline (Kennedy) Smith, natives respectively of New York and Vermont. His ancestry has been American for several generations. He was eighteen years of age when be went to Castleton, Vermont, to attend school, graduating at Castleton Seminary about two years later. The five years following he was engaged in the livestock business in New York State, Vermont and Canada, shipping to Boston and other New England markets. The six years following this he was engaged in general merchandising at Waterbury, Vermont. Finding that business too confining and circumscribed for his natural inclinations, he sold his store and connected himself with the New York Life. Being a live, energetic man, he stands at the head of his profession in the West.

He also owns and manages a large stockfarm of about 1,500 acres in Monona County, this State, where he has about fifty head of horses, 700 head of cattle and as many hogs. His start at this farm occurred in this manner: In 1878 he came to Iowa in the interest of the company with which be is now connected; his family came in 1880, locating near Onawa, where he purchased a tract of land with the proceeds of an endowment policy, which he had taken out fifteen years previously. At different times he added to this tract until it reached its present dimensions. He now looks back, attributing his success in acquiring this farm to that endowment policy taken early in life. His success in business is a sufficient guaranty not alone of his integrity and ability, but of the great company he represents. The best evidence, however, of its standing and worth, is its yearly increasing patronage, having issued over $175,000,000 new insurance in the year 1890, which is more than all it had in force at the end of its first thirty years of existence.

Politically Mr. Smith is a Republican; religiously a member of the Congregational Church; and socially a member of Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 17, K. T.; also a member of the Scottish-rite order of Masonry.

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