Ellson P. Smith Following the death of his father in Syracuse New York, Ellson P. Smith and his sister, Elvira. traveled to Iowa with their mother hoping to build a future for themselves. Young Smith proved the wisdom of the move. Once in Maple township he developed 120 acres, sold them, then bought or rented several more tracts of wild land. all the while developing them, building houses and planting trees. Later, he entered business and invested the same energy to develop commercial enterprises. Holding many township offices Smith became director of the Farmers Lumber Co.. director of the Maple Valley savings Bank and a member of the school board