Biography of Andrew Smail
This biography is from “Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography, including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of South Dakota....” Published by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1898. Page 646.
Andrew Smail, a portrait of whom is presented here, was a member of the well-known firm of Ochsenreiter & Smail, of Webster, Day county, was a prominent business man of that city, and a public-spirited and enterprising citizen.
Mr. Smail was born near Newcastle, England, July 12, 1849. His parents were William and Hannah Smail, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of England. A more extended mention of Mr. and Mrs. Smail will be found in the sketch of Mr. E. W. Smail, which appears in this work.
Our subject, when an infant, was brought by his parents to this country in 1850. They settled in Minnesota, and Andrew received his education at the Jordan public schools, working upon the farm in summer and conning his lessons during the long, dreary winters. He remained at home until his thirtieth year, when, in 1880, accompanied by his partner, L. G, Ochsenreiter, E. W. Smail, his brother, and several others, went to Dakota, settling upon some land that is now part of the town of Webster.
The firm of Ochsenreiter & Smail was soon after organized to deal in hardware, stoves, and kindred supplies, and has had an extremely successful career. In addition to general hardware the concern handles farm implements, tools, builders’ hardware, etc., and carries the largest stock in Day county. Ochsenreiter & Smail also buy grain and have an immense elevator at Webster.
Mr. Smail controls, in addition, four hundred and twenty acres of farming land, nearly all under cultivation. Politically he is a free-silver Republican. He is a member of the Masonic and Modern Woodmen fraternities, and a communicant of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Smail married Miss Emma Davidson in 1881, at Jordan, Minnesota. Two children were born of this union, Irene and Bessie H., both of whom are still living. Mrs. Smail died on the 13th of August, 1892. In September of the following year Mr. Smail led Miss Annie M. Price, of Webster, to the altar. Mrs. Smail has borne her husband two children, William C. and Ruth A.