W. J. Smith was born in Canada, June 19, 1864, and is the son of George and Jane (Wadsworth) Smith, natives of Ireland. When he was two years old his parents removed to Mercer County, Illinois, where he was reared and spent his early life. He was trained to agricultural pursuits and educated in the common schools. When he was in his twentieth year he began life upon his own responsibility; he came to Shelby County and purchased a farm of eighty acres of improved land in Jefferson Township; here he remained and cultivated his farm until three years had passed away. He then traded his farm for another place in the same township, where he lived until 1889. He then exchanged his land for property, and established mercantile trade in partnership with D. W. Clarke, in Botna. They carry a stock of general merchandise worth $7,000. They are live, energetic young men, and are destined to make their mark in the business circles of Shelby County, and the county is to be congratulated upon the acquisition of this firm. Mr. Smith was united in marriage March 5, 1884, to Miss Alice R., daughter of David and Alice (Blakely) Clarke; she was born in Rock Island County, Illinois, October 18, 1865. They are the parents of two children - Alice M. and Florence M. Politically Mr. Smith is an active Republican. D. W. Clarke was born in Rock Island County, Illinois, June 2, 1868, and is the son of David and Alice (Blakely) Clarke, natives of Ireland. He was reared in his native county of a farm, and was educated in the public schools of his county and Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa. After leaving college he went to Botna and engaged as clerk for S. B. Fritz, with whom he remained three months, and then entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, W. J. Smith, they buying the stock of Mr. Clarke's employer. Messrs. Smith & Clarke are dealers in coal, grain and live-stock.