C. A. Smith
Born Nov. 8, 1857 in Flint, Indiana.
Died Feb. 9, 1944 in Geneva, Nebraska.
Married to Anna Ashton in Geneva on Feb. 8, 1885.
They had one daughter who died at the age of nine months. They took a 13-year-old boy, Verl Wilson, into their home and raised him.
He received his early education in Orland, Indiana.
He moved to Geneva with his father in 1875.
He attended the University of Nebraska from 1880 to 1884.
He was first employed as a clerk in the Platte and Smith store.
In 1883, he taught school.
From 1885 to 1893, he farmed.
From 1890-1893, he ran a butcher shop at 131 No. 9th.
In 1893, he ran a hardware business at 890 G Street. A year later he traded the business for 320 acres of land.
From 1894-1909, he sold feed, fruit, seeds, vegetables and notions at 996 G Street.
In 1899, he bought a feed store at 151-155 South 10th.
In 1900 he bought the building at 188 So. 8th and refurbished it. He opened the West Side Inn.
In 1902 he sold groceries at 124 No. 9th.
From 1909-1921, he cared for his invalid father, H. L. Smith.
In 1931, he had Smith Furniture Exchange at 996 G Street.