California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


WALTER SCOTT SMITH. Untiring in his efforts, Walter Scott Smith has proved "himself an efficient city 
official, under whose superintendency there has been a great advancement and improvement in the 
streets of Fresno. He is a native of Benton county, Mo., where his birth occurred January 23, 1870. He is the descendant of an old Virginia family, his grandfather, a native of that state, being a physician and surgeon in the army. He practiced medicine in Tennessee and in Benton county. Mo. In his family of 
children was a son, G. C. Smith, who was born in Tennessee and accompanied his parents to Benton 
county, Mo., in which state he followed farming for a means of livelihood, later locating in Hickory 
county, where he now makes his home. His wife, formerly Mary Frances Davis, is a native of Benton 
county, Mo. Her father, Stephen Hamilton Davis, was an extensive farmer in Missouri, from which 
state he emigrated to California in the '60s. He located in Mariposa county as a miner, but later 
returned to Missouri, his death occurring in Benton county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became the parents of five sons and two daughters, one son, E. R., being a contractor and builder, and at the present time is 
engaged in the construction of the new pumping station for the Standard Oil Company between 
Bakersfield and Point Richmond. Another son, Stephen H.. is a foreman in the employ of E. R. Smith. 
Walter Scott Smith is the fourth son and the fourth child, and was reared in Benton county until 
attaining the age of seventeen years, attending the district school. He also attended the schools of 
Kansas City for a time, and in 1891 came to California and located in Fresno, and entered the employ of his brother, E. R. Smith, working at the carpenter's trade for about two years, when he entered the 
police department, where he remained for several years. On November 6, 1902, he was appointed 
superintendent of streets of Fresno, since 'which time he has held the office, and under his 
management a marked improvement has taken place, new cement sidewalks being laid all over the 
city, also asphalt pavement, etc. Mr. Smith is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is active in 
all movements pertaining to the advancement and upbuilding of the city. Fraternally, he is associated 
with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Fresno, 
and Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he is a Democrat.