An American Family History

Jack and Lillian Smith
with Jim, Kathryn and Bill

Andrew Jack Smith was born June 20, 1901 in Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa. He was the son of Josiah Smith and Eliza Fox.

He always went by the name Jack and despised the name Andrew. He attended grade school in Red Oak where, as a mischievous boy, he was frequently whipped for "heinous crimes [such as] smuggling acorns into the classroom, laughing loudly when he wasn't supposed to, or teasing the girls." In spite of that, he was a happy and musical youngster. 

He lied about his age and enlisted in World War I. 

World War I was a traumatic war between the Entente and Central Powers Alliances in Europe. On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated by a Bosnian-Serb and this led to the activation of a series of alliances involving all major European powers in the war. The United States became involved in 1918 and the war ended on November 11, 1918.

More stories and memories about Jack can be found in the Wind in the Willow.

In the twenties he worked for Raymond Larson and lived with the Larsons for a time and for a time he farmed with his aunt, Orpha Fox.

Before marrying Lillian, Jack had been married before and had a son named Robert Smith who was killed in an automobile accident about 1949.

He married Lillian Rasmussen in the late 30s. Lillian was born on December 1, 1914 in Spring Valley, Iowa. They met when he was driving a taxi and Lillian was a waitress in the restaurant where he found fares. 

Jack and Lillian had three children: William (Bill) Martin Smith born in 1938, James (Jim) Smith born in 1940, and Kathryn Smith D'Angelo. All of the children were born in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa.

The family moved to Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon when World War II started so Jack and Lillian could work in the shipyards. Jack was injured on the job. He sold insurance for awhile and worked for Gundersons. Jack joined the Masonic lodge and went on to become a Shriner and bowled on their teams. He liked to play cribbage and his nephew Bill Smith said he

was by far the most colorful of our aunts and uncles. He was a good talker, knew what was going on in the world, and had a good line of talk full of clever sayings and descriptions.

He retired in January, 1966. He passed away in Oregon in January, 1976 after developing diabetes, a serious hearing loss, and other health problems.