Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Alexander E. Smyser
Portrait and Biographical
Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
ALEXANDER E. SMYSER is a leading
merchant of Banner City, and the senior
member of the firm of Smyser & McCormick,
dealers in hardware, lumber, agricultural
implements and coal. He is a native of Pennsylvania,
having been born in York County, June
6, 1849. His father, Henry Smyser, was also a native
of that county, and there still makes his home.
After attaining to mature years Henry Smyser was
joined in wedlock with Mary Emig, of the same
county, who is also yet living. By occupation
the father is a farmer, and has followed that business
throughout the greater part of his life. In
the Smyser family were four children, three sons
and a daughter.
Alexander E., our subject, was the third in
order of birth. His early life was quietly passed
upon his father's farm in the Keystone State. He
was early inured to the labors necessary to the
cultivation of the land, and during his youth
when his time was not thus occupied he attended
the common schools, where he acquired his education.
Mr. Smyser continued to make his home in
the county of his nativity until the spring of
1880, when he determined to remove to the West,
and made a location in Dickinson County, Kan.,
where he has since lived. He settled in Newbern
Township, but after about six months removed to
Wheatland Township, where he made his home
until 1889.
In that year Mr. Smyser came to Banner City
and embarked in the mercantile business as a
partner of William McCormick, under the firm name
of Smyser & McCormick. They carry a full line
of hardware, lumber, agricultural implements and
coal, and are enjoying a good trade, which has
constantly increased from the beginning. They
also deal in stock, and this branch of their business
adds not a little to their income. Our subject
has a splendid stock farm in Wheatland
Township, and owns a section of land in that
township, on which he has erected a fine set of
farm buildings and made many other valuable
improvements both useful and ornamental. During
his career as a farmer he dealt largely in sheep.
He possesses excellent business ability, thrift and
perseverance, qualities which are essential to success.
He takes an active part in all local affairs,
giving his support to worthy enterprises, and in
politics is a stalwart Republican and an able defender
of his party's principles, although he has
never been a politician in the sense of office-seeking.
He ranks high in business circles and has
won the regard of all with whom he has been
brought in contact.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP