JOHN P.  SMITH

     A well known figure in manufacturing circles in New Haven is John P. Smith, who began business on his own account in November, 1905, and is now proprietor of the interests conducted under the name of John P. Smith & Company, manufacturers of wire goods, wire cloth, office railings, etc., the plant being located at Nos. 493-501 State street. In this connection he has developed a business of growing and gratifying proportions, constituting a substantial element in the commercial activity of the city. The greater part of his life has been passed in New Haven, where he was born on the 10th of December, 1870. His father, Michael F. Smith, a native of Ireland, came at once to New Haven after crossing the Atlantic to America in 1865. Here he engaged in mechanical lines and continued his residence up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1878, at the comparatively early age of thirty-four years. He wedded Margaret Moran, a native of Ireland where they were reared and married. She died in 1889 at the age of thirty-nine years.
     John P. Smith was the eldest of their six children. He was a little lad of but eight years when his father passed away and was eighteen years of age at the time of his mother's death. He began his education in the public schools of New Haven, but when a lad of only nine years was obliged to start out to earn his own living. After working for a time as a newsboy he became a messenger with the Western Union Telegraph Company and later was a cash boy in Malley's store, being there employed at the time of the fire. He was afterward apprenticed to the Connecticut Wire Works, conducted by A. A. Arnold, and later he was with the Union Form Company. When a youth of eighteen he went to New York, where he worked for eight years at his trade, learning the wire business in all its departments. He spent fifteen years at bench work and for the past eighteen years has been connected with the business in New Haven. For about a decade he has conducted business under his own name. He began business for himself in November, 1905, and from a small beginning has developed his interests until he has the largest business of the kind in New England. His first year's sales amounted to five thousand, three hundred and eight dollars and eighty-seven cents, since which time his trade has steadily increased until in 1916 his business amounted to fifty-six thousand, two hundred and seventy-three dollars. During the present year the proportionate increase is ahead of that of any previous year and his trade in the month of April exceeded his first year's business. His firm now employs from twenty to twenty-five people on an average. The plant originally had four thousand square feet of floor space and today there is twenty thousand square feet. Mr. Smith devotes his entire time and attention to his business, having no other interest. He began with a capital of but seven hundred dollars, which was money that he had earned and saved.
     On the 19th of June, 1892, in New York city, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Sarah Gardner, who was there born, a daughter of John and Sarah (Wheaton) Gardner, both representatives of old families of Schenectady, New York, and both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have become the parents of two daughters. Irene M., born in New York city in July, 1894, is now the wife of Edward R. Potter, who is associated with her father in business, and they have one child, Edward J. Potter, born in New Haven, February 10, 1916. Florence May born in New Haven in June, 1904, was graduated from the grammar school in June, 1917.
     The parents are members of Christ's Episcopal church. Mr. Smith votes with the republican party but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He is identified with many social, business and civic organizations. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose. He has membership in the Publicity Club, in which he is a very active worker, in the Kiwanis Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Men's Association. He takes a most active and helpful part in civic matters and his influence is always on the side of progress, advancement and improvement. He is likewise connected with the Automobile Club and the breadth of his interests is further indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Connecticut Fish and Game Protective Association. He takes a most active and helpful part in civic matters. He is now identified with the Home Guard and is a member of the motor vehicle department. His interests are many-sided. He has never concentrated his attention upon business to the exclusion of duties and obligations along other lines, but is found loyal and progressive in citizenship and is a supporter of those measures which he regards as conducive to the public welfare.

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