|Birth: ||Mar. 1, 1906|
|Death: ||May 8, 1994|
New Port Richey
Grandson of James C. Smith and Julia Cook. They lived in Ashton, Illinois. Grandma Cook ran a bookstore located in the middle of Main Street of Ashton while her husband was away during the Civil War. Their sons, Friend and Thaddeus were born in Ashton. Friend graduated from Ashton High School and then attended Ripon College in Wisconsin. He married Sarah Elizabeth Wagner, the daughter of Jacob Wagner who had come to USA at age 14 with her father.
Friend and Sarah lived in Ashton where their son Orville was born March 1st, 1906. A second child, Ethel (Hoffman), was born later.
Orville went to Northern Illinois and U of Illinois. He won a scholarship for $100, "which was not near enough to pay for even a half year. I worked six years teaching country schools before I had enough money saved to go to college a full regular year."
Orville was a teacher at the Henry Township High School from Jan 1937 to June 1942. He then was hired as a Chemist at Kankakee Ordinance Works in Joliet, Ill, June 1942 to Dec 1942, and as a Chemist for Wabash River Ordnance Works in Terre Haute, Indiana, Dec 1942 to Sept 1945.
Staff Engineer (chemical) for Automatic Electric Co. in Northlake, Ill, Sept 1945 to at least Feb 1960.
Orville married Lura Wheeler on 12/24/1937.
Father of James Wheeler Smith. Beloved grandfather of Tanya R. Smith, and great-grandfather of Quinn Analyssa and Milo James.
Lura Dorothy Wheeler Smith (1905 - 1993)*
Created by: Tanya
Record added: Sep 13, 2002
Find A Grave Memorial# 6774737