-- from Illustrated Popular Biography of Connecticut, 1891, by J. A. Spalding

"Charles B. Smith was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on July 31, 1811. His parents were Normand and Mary Boardman Smith. Normand Smith was the fifth son of William, who had eight children. The father of William was John Smith, who was born in Liverpool, England, in 1680, married Anna Allwood of Glastonbury, England, and in 1722 emigrated to America and settled in Boston.

"Charles B. Smith was educated in Lenox, Massachusetts, and in Hartford, Connecticut. As early as December 1, 1833, at the age of 22, he embarked in business, becoming a member of the firm Smith, Hubbard and Company at New Orleans, which was established as a branch of the Hartford house in 1816 and was known as the oldest, or one of the oldest, business houses in the Southwest, then known as Smith and Bigelow. A few years after engaging in business at New Orleans, his interest commenced in the present-day Hartford firm of Smith Bourn and Company, the T. Smith Company where he had for many years been the senior partner.

"The firm is one of the oldest engaged in the saddlery business in the United States, dating from 1794. The files of Hartford dates published during the early days of the firm contain their advertisement, in which the location of the establishment is described as 'six yards from the State House.' In 1870 Mr. Smith withdrew from the New Orleans house of Smith and Brother, as the firm was styled. He had previously opened a brand of the Hartford house in New York City in 1842, at No. 10 Old Slip, under the name T. Smith & Company.

"Mr. Smith was twice married. His first wife, whom he married on November 5, 1844, was Miss Frances M. Humphrey, daughter of Lemuel Humphrey of Hartford, Connecticut. After her death he married Miss Eliza A. Thayer, of Westfield, Massachusetts, on October 3, 1855. Miss Thayer's father was Deacon Lucious F. Thayer. Her grandfather was Dr. Nathaniel Thayer. Mr. Smith had one daughter, Mrs. Frances Eliza Smith Miller, and four grandchildren.

"Mr. Smith was a member of the Asylum Hill Congregational Church. In politics he was a Republican. His life was one of continued activity, covering a business experience of nearly 60 years, through periods of wonderful vicissitude in civil and financial affairs. He was a participant in, as well as an observer of, the financial crises that had come to the commercial world from one cause or another within the last half century but maintained an unimpaired credit for himself and his firm, which was strong and solid financially, as it was high in honorable reputation among the commercial houses of the country. Wherever Mr. Smith was known his name is a synonym for personal integrity, rectitude of motive and action and honorable citizenship."