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History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925
J. Gordon Smith

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[This information is from Vol. III, pp. 9-10 of History of the Mohawk Valley: Gateway to the West 1614-1925, edited by Nelson Greene (Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1925). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 974.7 G81h. This online edition includes lists of portraits, maps and illustrations. As noted by Paul Keesler in his article, "The Much Maligned Mr. Greene," some information in this book has been superseded by later research or was provided incorrectly by local sources.]

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A large proportion of the insurance written in the Mohawk Valley section of New York state is placed through the insurance agency of J. Gordon Smith at Rome, Oneida county, New York, who represents many of the leading risk companies in all lines, and who probably does the largest insurance business in his section of the state. He was born in Rome, on August 3, 1876, and is the son of James C. and Mary (Kennedy) Smith, the father a native of Lowell, New York, and the mother of Canton, New York. James C. Smith, the father, was engaged in the dry goods business in Rome for many years, and retired in 1889. He was active in politics and has held several municipal offices, such as superintendent of charities, member of the board of education, etc., and was also active in civic affairs. The mother died in July, 1916, and the father passed away in October, 1917. Their only children were: J. Gordon, of this review, and Mary Lena.

J. Gordon Smith obtained his elementary education in grade and high schools of Rome, and afterward took the course in Phillips Academy, at Andover, Massachusetts. When he had finished with this institution he returned to Rome and obtained employment with the Rome Brass & Copper Company, remaining with the company five years, and leaving it to become a salesman for the Fort Stanwix Canning Company, a connection that lasted four years, and was followed by two years as a salesman for the Rome Wine Company. In 1904 Mr. Smith left the road to engage in business on his own account, establishing the insurance agency of which he is the sole proprietor, and which has grown to its present large proportions through his energies and ceaseless activity. Mr. Smith is also secretary and treasurer of the Rome Cemetery Association. During the World war he was on the War Chest committee, and was an active participant in the Liberty Loan, Red Cross and War Certificate Savings Stamps drives. He is a republican in politics, and in religion a member of Zion Protestant Episcopal church at Rome. Mr. Smith is not affiliated with any secret organizations, but is a member of the Rome Chamber of Commerce, the Rome Automobile Club, the Teugega Country Club, the Rotary Club, and the National and New York State Insurance Associations.

In June, 1906, at Utica, New York, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Margaret Mulcahy, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Mulcahy of Geneva, New York, an old family in that section of New York state. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one child: Mary Margaret Smith. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Woman's Club and of the various church organizations. Mr. Smith's one hobby is auto touring.

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http://www.schenectadyhistory.org/resources/mvgw/bios/smith_j_gordon.html updated June 10, 2018

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