Smith, Egbert M. (Birthday: 84)

One of the Fruit Belt's most prominent citizens celebrated his 84th birthday on Friday last in the person of Egbert M. Smith of Winona.

He was born on January 26th, 1861, of U.E.L. stock, his grandparents being Silas and Mrs. Smith who came to this district from Sussex, N.J. with all their worldly possession upon three pack horses and with two cows and a heifer. They settled on the 50 mile creek in 1779 and in 1782 were granted 600 acres of land from the Crown.

Egbert Smith was born in Bartonville, where his father, Ransome R. Smith, was a schoolteacher. Shortly after his birth the family came back to Winona and settled on the home farm.

Mr. Smith carried on farming and fruit shipping business until his retirement a few years ago. He in president of Winona Growers, and also president of Winona Institute Hall Limited.

In 1893 he married Helen Book of Grimsby Beach, who passed away about 5 years ago. He has one daughter, Mrs. C.E. Norris, of London.

Mr. Smith has always been keenly interested in all sports, especially baseball, being captain of the Blue Line Baseball club in 1887 when it won the championship of the Niagara district.

Mr. Smith is in excellent health and takes great interest in the athletic activities of the young people of Winona.