Smith, Charles W.



1861 Partial Map of Somers Township, Kenosha County
Chas Smith parcel of 160 acres in Section 15 and another 40 acres in Section 11



Charles Smith, his wife Anna Reid, and son James
Oakwood Cemetery

C.W. Smith
(Source: Racine: Belle City of the Lake, F. Stone, Chicago, S.J. Clark 1916)

Charles (C.W.) Smith
C.W. Smith, a most enterprising lumber merchant of Racine, putting forth every effort to promote the growth of his business along legitimate lines, was born in the Town of Somers, Kenosha County, Wisconsin on February 15, 1847, his parents being Charles and Anna (Reid) Smith, who were natives of Scotland.
The father came to the U.S. in 1835 and established his home in the Town of Somers, there remaining until he had prepared a home.  he then returned to Scotland and about seven years later came again to the new world, accompanied by his bride.  The Indians still lived in this section of the state at the time of his arrival and the seeds of civilization had scarcely been planted.  he developed a farm from the raw land and carried on general agricultural pursuits for many years, becoming one of the representative farmers of this part of the state.  All who knew him respected him and his worth was widely acknowledged.  He died about twenty years ago, while his wife passed away in 1856, when their son, C.W. Smith, was but nine years of age.  Both were laid to rest in the Town of Somers (Oakwood Cemetery).  They had a family of three children, namely: Anna R., who resides at No. 1547 College Avenue in Racine; C.W., of this review, and James R., who died in El Paso, Texas, twenty years ago.
Reared in the Town of Somers, C.W. Smith remained at home until he reached the age of seventeen years, when in response to the country's call for troops he enlisted in January, 1864, as a member of Company H, Thirty-third Wisconsin Infantry, to serve for three years.  He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1865 after having participated in many hotly contested engagements.  At the Battle of Spanish Fort he had his gun shot out of his hand.  He was first under fire at the Battle of Fort De Russey of Red River, also participated in the Battle of Nashville and various other engagements of lesser importance.  He never faltered in the performance of duty, whether called to the firing line or stationed on the lonely picket line, and his patriotic loyalty to his government made his military record a most creditable one.
When the war was over Mr. Smith returned to his home in Kenosha County and for two years was a student in the Racine Commerciall College.  He then secured a position with the lumber firm of Murray, Slauson & Company, continuing with that house for nineteen years.  For a half century he has made his home in Racine and is one of its most respected and worthy resident.  He acquainted himself with every phase of the lumber business while in the employ of the above mentioned firm, and during that period he carefully saved his earnings until his capital was sufficient to enable him to engage in business on his own account.
He then organized the West Shore Lumber Company in association with W.H. Bradley of Milwaukee, who became its first president.  In turn the office was filled by O.P. Pillsbury, D.M. Bejamin and M.J. Smiley, and about seven or eight years ago Mr. Smith was elected to the presidency of the company and has since continued in the office.  In the meantime he acquired more of the stock as opportunity for purchase occurred and is now the owner of the entire stock of the company.  This is the oldest business of the kind in Racine, Wisconsin, the West Shore Lumber Company handling lumber, lath, shingles and posts.  Mr. Smith is thoroughly familiar with the trade in every department and something of his enterprise and attractive methods is indicated in the fact that he brought forth attractive advertisements under the heading of the West Shore Lumber Company, 947 Erie Street, Racine.
In addition to being at the head of the oldest lumber business of Racine, Mr. Smith also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Somers Township, Kenosha County constituting the farm upon which he was born and which is situated eight miles south of Racine, besides various other properties that are scattered about Racine and its environs.
When twenty-two years of age Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Halenbake and they have a son, Fred W., who was born in Racine and is a graduate of the high school here.  In 1896 he went to Denver, Colorado, where he was employed in connection with the lumber industry for nineteen years.  He then returned to Racine and is now identified with the West Shore Lumber Company as secretary.  In 1906 he married Miss Pearl Brame and they have become the parents of two children, Vance Reid and Cornelia Rose.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the Presbyterian Church, in the faith of which they were reared.  He gives political allegiance to the Republican Party and fraternally he is connected with the Elks.  For twenty years he has been a member of the Heyer Whist Club and he greatly enjoys the fame.  He is also identified with the Grand Army post and thus maintains pleasant relations with the boys in blue with whom he marched on southern battlefields.
(Source:  Racine: Belle City of the Lake, F. Stone, Chicago, S.J. Clark 1916)

Veteran of Civil War
Of the many young men who went out from Racine and Kenosha counties to fight in the Civil war was Charles W. Smith, 914 Lake Avenue, president and principal owner of the West Shore Lumber Company.
Mr. Smith was born in Somers, Kenosha County in 1847.  He was reared on a farm.  When the war broke out he desired to enlist, but he was only 17 years old.  However, he enrolled at Kenosha January 4, 1864, and was mustered into Company H, thirty third Wisconsin infantry and immediately made connection with the regiment at Pittsburgh, and performed military duty there until January 1865 when he went on the Meridian expedition and returned in March, after a march of 350 miles.  Orders were received to connect with the Red River expedition and Mr. Smith enjoyed the triumph of a victory in his first engagement at De Russey, after which the command started for Alexandria and he was detailed to guard duty on a commissary boat and he had some experiences, the boat being under rebel fire incessantly.
Afterward he went to Vicksburg and Memphis, St. Charles and to Duvall's Bluff.  he took part in the fight at Camargo Cross Roads and went on the Tupelo expedition.  He was also assigned to many other important localities.  He took part in the relief of Thomas at Nashville and two weeks later was in a chase after Hood.  They took large numbers of prisoners and chased the rebels to the Tennessee and went to Eastport, raided for six weeks and then took part in the move to Iunka.  Afterward he went to the assault on defense of Mobile.  He traveled on the Tennessee and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans and across the bay to Fort Gaines and Morgan; was detailed with a command to make a feint on the city itself.  Then he went to the trenches at Spanish Fort and after ten days the fort surrendered.  Next orders took him to Montgomery, Ala. to aid in destroying rebel sinews of war, and while on a foraging expedition narrowly escaped capture by a rebel cavalry.  At Montgomery he learned of the surrender of Lee and then went to Tuskegee and thence to Mobile.
The regiment was sent home but Mr. Smith was transferred to the eleventh Wisconsin and detailed as mail messenger, running from Mobil to Columbus.  Two months later he returned to Wisconsin and was mustered out.  He did not receive an injury during his many experiences and his narrowest escape was at Spanish Fort, when his musket was shot from his hand.  Coming to Racine he entered into the lumber business and is now at the head of the big lumber company.
(Source:  Racine Journal News, publication date March 8, 1922)