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Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa
W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889

[page 595]

    MAJOR ROBERT M. SMITH is the president of the Citizens' Life Assoc-
    iation of Cherokee, Iowa, which company was organized in the month of
    February, 1885, upon the mutual plan.  He was born in Armstrong County,
    Pennsylvania, in July, 1838.  His first schooling was that afforded by
    the public schools of that time, but later he had the opportunity of
    entering an academy, of which he gladly availed himself.  Upon leaving
    his studies he went to the gold mining districts of California, where
    he remained until 1861; he then returned to his native State, and at
    the call for men to go to the defense of this beloved land, he became
    a member of Company K, Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry,
    his regiment being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland; he took part
    in many severe engagements, among which may be mentioned Chickamauga,
    Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain and the last battles of Franklin, and
    Nashville, Tennessee.  Mr. SMITH was promoted from Lieutenant to the
    rank of Captain, and later to that of Major of his regiment.  He was
    mustered out of the service in October, 1865, after which he returned
    to Pennsylvania.  In 1870 he came to Sioux City, Iowa, and the fol-
    lowing year to Cherokee County, and soon thereafter he embarked in the
    grocery trade with HENRY ASMAN.  During President Arthur's admini-
    stration he was appointed to the office of postmaster at Cherokee, and
    upon the election of Grover Cleveland to the Presidency he resigned his
    position.  His next business was in connection with the Mutual Life
    Association before alluded to; he is president of the Company, and
    devotes his entire time and attention to the business, which extends
    over Iowa, the Western Territories, and into the Dominion of Canada.
    In 1870 Mr. SMITH married Miss MARGARET STEPHENS, of Pittsburg,
    Pennsylvania, in which city she was born and reared to womanhood.
    To Mr. and Mrs. SMITH have been born five children: LEOTA, LEONA, ROY,
    ALMEDA and GLENMOER.  Mr. SMITH has always taken an active part in
    State and local politics, affiliating with the Republican party.

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