Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

fully until about three years before his
death. At that time he went to Florida
and was engaged in the same line of business
until he died. John E. Smith mar-
ried Sarah F. Ritch, a descendant of
Henry Ritch, one of the early settlers of
Stamford, and a daughter of Justus and
Maria (Rodeman) Ritch. Mr. and Mrs.
Smith were the parents of three children
Frederick G. C, of further mention ; Arthur
L., of Brooklyn, New York ; and
Laura R., wife of Gardner Hoyt, of Wilton,
Connecticut. Mr. Smith was a mem-
ber of the Methodist church, and his wife
was a regular attendant of the Congrega-
tional church.
Frederick G. C. Smith was educated in
the public schools of Ridgefleld and after
completing his course there he learned
the trade of carpenter. He had intended
to become associated with his father in
the building business, but after three
years he gave it up to enter the real
estate business. For two years Mr. Smith
spent his evenings in study at the Cooper
Institute in New York, and in 1891
opened an architect's office in Greenwich.
He has had enviable success as an archi-
tect, having been in business almost thirty
years.
Mr. Smith has been very active in mili-
tary work for many years. In 1894 he
enlisted as a private in Company C,
Fourth Connecticut Regiment Infantry,
and this company went into the Spanish-
American War as Company K, Third Infantry.
Mr. Smith was commissioned
second lieutenant, and when peace was
declared, he resigned and returned home.
He is a member of the Spanish War Vet-
erans, and is past commander and past
adjutant of the State organization. He
organized a company in Greenwich,
which was attached to the Fourth Regiment
as Company L. The Fourth and
Third regiments were consolidated and
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
106
afterwards assigned to coast artillery
work and Mr. Smith was then commis-
sioned regimental adjutant, which office
he held for three years. During the
World War a company was organized
known as the Home Guard and afterwards
as the State Guard. Mr. Smith was
captain of that company, later major, and
in 1920 was made lieutenant-colonel. He
is among the foremost citizens of Green-
wich, and although not a seeker for po-
litical office, is willing to aid in any welfare
movement.
Mr. Smith married Anna Rousseau,
daughter of David Rousseau ; she was born
in New York City, and her father was a
native of Levis, Province of Quebec,
Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the
parents of two children : Frederick G. C,
Jr., born in Greenwich, December 15,
1897 ; and J. Albert, born December 5,
1904.
SMITH, James,
Business Man.
One of the substantial and leading citizens
of Stamford, Connecticut, James
Smith, was born in Sowerby Bridge,
Yorkshire, England, December II, 1868,
son of John and Caroline (Freeman)
Smith. The Smith family is an old one
in Yorkshire, where in accordance with
the ancient custom of a family following
a given vocation they have been dyers
for generations in the textile mills of that
place. Both the father and grandfather
of Mr. Smith were dyers.
Although Mr. Smith attended the Na-
tional School for a time, he is a self-made
man and by his own initiative has ac-
quired a wide knowledge through reading
and observation. He went to work in the
textile mills at the early age of eight
years, which was the general custom. He
chose the trade of dver and so well did