TAYLOR L. SMITH, Superintendent of the Railroad round House at Beardstown for the St. Louis & Rock Island division of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy, was born near Zanesville, Ohio. His father, James Smith, was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch ancestry. He had grown up in his native county of Washington, at which place his father, William Smith, had followed the occupation of butcher. Later he came to Ohio and there lived and died at Newark, Licking County. It was there that his son James had settled and engaged in the butcher business. He had married Miss Elizabeth Leggett in Pennsylvania. After settling in Newark they became prominent in society, and Mrs. Leggett died there when she was forty-three. Mr. Smith was married a second time to Miss Lotta Frink, in Ohio, and in 1887 moved to Butler, Bates county, Missouri, and are now living there, Mr. Smith still actively engaged in the meat-market business. They are good, hard-working people.

Taylor L. is the third child of six children, all married and prominent persons in life. He grew up an industrious, hard-working boy, and earned his bread by his own personal endeavors. He was reared near the place of his birth, and later became an apprentice to a firm selling portable and stationary engines at Newark, Ohio. Three years afterward, he became connected with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. He came to Beardstown a number of years ago, began in the machine shops and being a practical machinist and good workman, soon became overseer of the engine repair shops. He was engaged there for more than three years, when he was promoted to the round house and has since been connected, having some twenty-five men under him, besides having to direct about one hundred engineers. He has held this office for two years. He has been very successful, and owns a comfortable home in Beardstown.

He was married in Newark, Ohio, to Miss Mary Dalton, of Newark, a very intelligent lady, the daughter of Michael and Mary Dalton, now living in Newark, both in the 60s.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of four children: Maybell, Edith, Anna and Warren, all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are prominent in Beardstown society. Mr. Smith is a Master Mason and is a member of Arch Lodge No. 16, I.O.O.F., also fo the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 207. He is a Republican in politics and a genial, pleasant gentleman.