Randolph Smith, prominent in real estate circles in Clay county, and for
the past thirty-eight years located in Flora, Illinois, is one of the
well-to-do men of Clay county who have achieved large and worthy success as
a result of their own efforts, unaided by outside influences of family or
fortune. Beginning life as a poor boy, Mr. Smith has been especially
fortunate in his business ventures, and now has large investments in stocks
and bonds and is one of the big financial men of his district.
Born
in Marion county, Illinois, on May 31, 1849, Randolph Smith is the son of
Willis and Cynthia (Jones) Smith, the former a native of South Carolina and
the latter of Tennessee. "Willis Smith was a farmer and stock-buyer. He came
to Illinois in 1832 and located in Marion county, where he bought a farm,
living there until 1849, at which time he went to Missouri. He then started
for California, but died on the way to that state. He was tax collector of
Marion county in 1847, and during the panic of that year he disposed of much
of his property to pay taxes for his neighbors and friends. His death
occurred in 1850. He was a son of John R. Smith, a planter, who was born,
reared and who died in South Carolina. The maternal grandfather of Randolph
Smith, of this review, was born in Tennessee. He came to Illinois in 1833
and settled in Marion county, where he died in 1836 after a life of worthy
endeavor and accomplishment. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, through
which he served with honor and distinction.
Randolph Smith was
educated in Clinton county, Missouri, and in Clay county, Illinois, coming
to the latter place in 1868. He taught school for one term after finishing
school, after which he became connected with the circuit clerk of the county
as his deputy. He was three years in that position, leaving it to take a
clerkship in the First National Bank of Flora of which he became cashier in
1878, and remained thus until 1900, when he was elected president of the
bank. Six years afterward he took charge of the Breeze Trenton Mining
Company, with head offices in St. Louis, Missouri, remaining there until
1910, and for one year (1907) he served as president of the Illinois Coal
Operators Association, and is still a member of the executive committee of
that body. In January, 1911, Mr. Smith formed a partnership with Robert S.
Jones and they engaged in the real estate business, with investments as a
side issue to the business, and they have conducted a thriving business
since that time, with every indication for a brilliant future for the new
firm. During the years of Mr. Smith's connection with the First National
Bank he was particularly successful, as he has been in all his business
ventures, building up a strong and substantial institution. He still retains
an interest in the bank and in the coal mining at Breeze, as well as in many
another enterprise of equally prosperous nature. Mr. Smith is a member of
the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with the chapter and the Knights
Templar. He is past master of Flora lodge, No. 154, and is a most
appreciative member of the order. He has been an adherent of the Republican
party since 1884, and has done good work for the cause on many occasions. He
is a colonel on the staff of Governor Deneen, and served in a like capacity
on the staff of Governor Tanner and of Governor Yates. Altogether, Mr. Smith
is one of the most influential men of Clay county, as well as one of the
wealthiest.
In 1873 Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Ximena
Hanna, the daughter of William II. Hanna, a lawyer of Clay county. In 18U9
she passed away, leaving her husband and four children, the names of the
children being as follows: Carroll, a practicing physician in St. Louis;
Madora, who became the wife of Franklin A. Bond and live in Chicago; Claude
E., in a railroad office in Flora; and Ximena, who married Roy L. Metcalfe,
of Missoula, Montana. In 1908 Mr. Smith contracted a second marriage, when
Margaret Finty became his wife. She was a daughter of John Finty, an early
settler of Clay county. She died in 1910. Mrs. Smith was a communicant of
the Roman Catholic church, while her husband is of the Methodist faith.
Extracted 09 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, published in 1912, volume 3, pages 1269-1270.
| Fayette | Effingham | Jasper |
| Marion |
 |
Richland |
| Wayne |
Clay County ILGenWeb Copyright
Design by 