- REV. REEDER SMITH, deceased, was the earliest pioneer of Appleton, Wisconsin, and the one to whom more than any other was due the founding of Appleton and securing of its name. He was also the founder of Lawrence University, that institution of learning that has carried the name of this city, through its graduates, to every corner of the world. Reeder Smith was born January 11, 1804, at Pittston, Pennsylvania, in the great Wyoming Valley, a son of Rev. Newton Smith, who was a native of Connecticut. At the age of ten years the son became a member of the Methodist Church and in 1831 of the Genesee Conference, in 1840 removing to Michigan. For fifteen years his itineracy as a Methodist circuit-rider had been filled with hardship and he willingly accepted the agency of the Wesleyan Seminary at Albion, Michigan believing he was entering upon a still wider field of usefulness. Ere long the financial condition of this early church school required attention and to raise funds for its relief, Mr. Smith, in 1845, visited Boston, Massachusetts. There he presented the needs of the seminary so eloquently that a capitalist, Amos Lawrence, became much impressed and it resulted in a proposal made by Mr. Lawrence to Mr. Smith that ultimately resulted in the founding of Lawrence University. This proposal was a gift of ten thousand dollars if a literary institution should be built on a tract of 4,000 acres of land owned by Mr. Lawrence in Wisconsin, with the understanding that a like sum should be raised from outside of Boston. The location of this land, known as the Williams Grant, near Green Bay, was examined by Mr. Smith in 1847, and he reported adversely but recommended another tract twenty-five miles farther up the river. When this decision reached Mr. Lawrence he withdrew his donation and Mr. Smith returned to Boston to again present the matter, and after a month of effort convinced Mr. Lawrence of the advantages of the approved tract over the other. He was given a letter of credit by Mr. Lawrence to draw on him for the purchase of lands at the desired location, and these and additional land, bought by Smith, constituted the first plat of Appleton. This seemed wonderful progress but a still greater one confronted Mr. Smith and the Conference, the raising of the additional ten thousand dollars in order to secure the first donation. Considering that at this period all this richly developed country was almost an unbroken forest, the few settlers being of sturdy, intelligent type but with no means or ability to secure any, at that time, it was a task calculated to daunt any one but a man of burning zeal who not only had faith in an abiding Providence but unbounded faith in himself and his fellow men. To recite the many difficulties which he faced and overcame before he reached the goal of success would be but to repeat history and in the archives of Lawrence University repose the proofs of the unremitting toil, perseverance, faith and courage of this remarkable man. When the University building was erected and the preparatory school commenced, Mr. Smith retired from his agency and directed his attention more closely to the developing of Appleton. In 1858, however, on the finances of the institution becoming embarrassed, Mr. Smith made a donation to the trustees, larger in amount than any other one in Wisconsin, to relieve this condition, which by no means was the limit of his generosity to the institution. This record, incomplete as it is, is concerned with Mr. Smith in his public life but no less interesting was the domestic affairs of the family, so closely concerned as they were with his public duties. In a letter from his pen published in 1890, when he was eighty-six years of age, he remarks: "I cannot describe to you if I would, the labor and self sacrifice required of my wife and myself to reach this point in our history," meaning the establishing of their home in the wilderness of Wisconsin. In 1848, Mr. Smith and his wife journeyed to the far West, crossing Lake Michigan on the ice and penetrating into the interior in a stage coach and by means of farm wagons. To a modern civilization that demands luxuries as necessities, the courage and endurance of the forefathers and foremothers seem appalling. The first home of Mr. and Smith, was the first frame building where now stands Appleton, and in that house the first male child of Appleton was born -- A. A. Lawrence Smith. On July 6, 1846, Rev. Reeder Smith was united in marriage with Eliza Pierce Kimball, in Mt. Vernon Street Church, Boston, the ceremony being performed by Bishop Waugh, assisted by Rev. A. R. Baker and Dr. Edward N. Kirk. She was born at Rockport, Massachusetts, September 1, 1815, and died in the family residence at Appleton, January 21, 1895, the death of her husband having preceded her own by nearly three years, occurring January 25, 1892, at Appleton, at the age of eighty-eight years. Mrs. Smith was educated at Ipswich and Bradford Academies and she was trained also in vocal music by Dr. Lowell Mason, and was a member of the choir of the old Bowdoin Square Church, in Boston, with which she united in 1836, shortly after the conclusion of the pastorate of Dr. Lyman Beecher. As soon as practicable after reaching Appleton, she started the first Sunday-school, which was the nucleus of the First Methodist Church. She was so liberal minded, however, that all religious denominations received her support and the church that at present is known as the First Congregational Church of Appleton, organized in 1850, has her name as one of the original seven members. The modern church building occupies the site of the third family residence of Mr. Smith. This home being burned in 1869. Her beautiful character was shown not only in family and church life, but was a beneficial influence in society as long as she lived. She was her husband's encourager and supporter during the early days of Albion Seminary and Lawrence University, and later was the center of a group of notable women whose high aims contributed so greatly to the intellectual advancement of society at Appleton. Two sons and three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith: David Byo Kimball, Amos Appleton Lawrence, Mr W. J. Allen, Mrs. H. G. Freeman and Miss Angeline Smith. In all that makes life beautiful and worth while, both Mr. and Mr Smith were examples and that Appleton has, perhaps, an unusual number of earnest, effective people whose aims are above mere social prominence or business success may justly be attributed the influence of such as these.
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1804 - 1892 (88 years)
1850 Census
