Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

another brother, John Gorton Smith, who
had been engaged in the dry-goods business
for many years. The store owned
by the latter was called the "Long Brick
Store" and there many merchants who
became successful in later years served
their apprenticeship. It was in 1844 that
Charles H. Smith entered his brother's
employ, and from this year until the time
of his death he was identified with the
mercantile interests of the city and sub-
sequently was among the representative
merchants. In 1851, by economy and
thrift, Mr. Smith was in a position to buy
his brother's interests in business when
the latter removed to New York City.
Twenty years later ill health obliged Mr.
Smith to sell his store to the firm of
Brown-Thomson & Company. He con-
tinued to be active in financial and in-
dustrial matters, however, and was a
trustee of the Connecticut Trust & Safe
Deposit Company ; a director of the
Phoenix Insurance Company ; a founder
and director of the Smyth Manufacturing
Company. In 1877, Mr. Smith formed a
partnership with Edwin D. Tiffany, and
his son, Charles Howell Smith, to engage
in a general brokerage business, and this
relation was maintained until 1894 in
which year the son's death occurred, and
the same year the father resigned his
active business connections. In politics,
Mr. Smith was a Republican ; a member of
the Connecticut Historical Society ; the
Hartford Club, and was a member of the
South Congregational Church. He trav-
elled extensively for over sixty years.
In 1852 he married (first) Harriet E.
Hills, a daughter of Howell R. Hills, a
merchant dealing in boots and shoes, and
they were the parents of one son, Charles
Howell Smith. The mother died in 1855,
and Mr. Smith married (second) in 1861,
Jane T. Hills, daughter of Ellery Hills,
also a prominent merchant.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
Charles Howell Smith, son of Charles
and Harriet (Hills) Smith, was born in
1853 ^"d died in 1894 at the early age of
forty-one years. He received the bene-
fits of a broad education and soon after
completing school was associated with
his father and later was a partner in the
brokerage business. He was also secre-
tary and treasurer of the Valley Railroad
and gave promise of a career in business
that would equal his father's if it had
not been cut short by his untimely death.
Mr. Smith married Kate Kemble of Paw
Paw, Michigan, and they were the par-
ents of Robert Kemble Smith.
The latter was educated in the public
schools of Hartford and the Hotchkiss
Grammar School at Lakeville, Connecticut.
Later he was a student at Williams
College, and soon after this time became
identified with the insurance interests of
Hartford, a line of work he has continued
to the present time. He was associated
with the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance
Company and later was a special
agent of the Travelers' Insurance Company.
In 1914 he engaged in business on
his own account as a general insurance
broker, and is now the representative of
the Western Insurance Company of To-
ronto ; the Fidelity and Phoenix Fire
Insurance Company of New York and
several Hartford companies.
A few years ago Mr. Smith added real
estate to his other business and at this
time incorporated as the Robert K. Smith
Company, Incorporated. He is a member
of the Hartford Real Estate Board. While
at college he became a member of the fraternity,
Chi Psi ; is a member of Wyllys
Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma-
sons of West Hartford. His clubs are:
the Hartford Golf and the Town Fish
and Game Club.
Mr. Smith married Marion Calhoun,
daughter of Louis F. Middlebrook of