Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Dr. Edwin Eugene Smith, one of the capable and successful physicians of Buena Vista county, is practicing his profession in Sioux Rapids and in all of his work displays a sense of conscientious obligation, combined with close conformity to the highest standard of professional ethics.  He was born in Waterloo, Iowa, September 30, 1873, and is a representative of one of the old families of the state, his parents being H. D. and Sarah Lauranda (Rinker) Smith, natives of New York and Indiana, respectively.  The maternal grandfather of Dr. Smith is now living in Grand Junction, Colorado, at the venerable age of eighty-three years.  H. D. Smith left his New York home at an early age following the death of his father.  The mother afterward married, and settled in Adrian, Michigan.

Dependent upon his own resources from early boyhood H. D. Smith developed habits of industry and economy that constituted the basis of his later success.  At the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and joined the army, serving throughout the period of hostilities.  Later he was employed in the milling business at Osage, Iowa, and afterward at Cedar Falls, Waterloo and other places.  Coming to Sioux Rapids he rebuilt the mill here and had a very large mill elevator and electric light plant, becoming thus closely associated with the industrial life of the town.  This was one of the best equipped milling plants in the northwest and he was enjoying a period of prosperity in his business career when on the 1st of June, 1898, his valuable milling property was entirely destroyed by fire.  It was a complete loss for he carried no insurance.  Soon after he removed to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he and his wife are now occupying a comfortable home in their retirement.  In addition to his residence property there he owns a productive orchard valued at over twelve thousand dollars.  His family numbered four children: M. P., who resides at Grand Junction, Colorado, and is deputy assessor of Mesa county; Edwin Eugene, of this review; Aura, the wife of Charles Jaquette, of Colorado, by whom she has one son, Fred; and Allia, who died in infancy. The eldest son married Cora Evans, by whom he had a daughter, Ruth, and since the death of his first wife he has married again.

Dr. Smith was educated in the public schools and in the Ames Iowa College, from which he was graduated in 1893.  He then took up the study of medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he continued his course to graduation with the class of 1898.  In May of that year he entered upon active practice in Sioux Rapids where he has since remained and has now established a large and increasing business.  He has proved his ability to successfully solve many intricate health problems and he keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the profession through his reading and investigation.

On the 10th of May, 1899, Dr. Smith was married to Miss Georgia Adah Basford, a daughter of Dr. C. F. and Bathesia Basford, who were natives of England and Indiana respectively.  The children of Dr. and Mrs. Smith are Eloise Ora, born August 12, 1900; Edwin Eugene, January 5. 1904; and Alden Henry, August 10, 1908.

Dr. Smith is a member of Buena Vista Lodge, No. 574, I. 0. 0. F., and the Elks Lodge, No. 528, and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party but he never seeks nor desires office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs.  That he is prompt and capable in the discharge of his professional duties is well attested in his growing success.  He possesses a genial manner and unfailing courtesy and his professional reputation is equaled by the high regard entertained for him personally.