"A professor of renown, who has devoted his life largely to a study of the economic conditions and natural resources of the country, has made the statement that there is no better investment in all America than Illinois farm land.  Moreover it is a well known fact that agriculture is the basis of all success in other lines, and the man, therefore, whose capabilities qualify him for successful farming is particularly fortunate.  A prominent representative of the agricultural classes in Eastern Illinois is Charles Smith, who is the owner of ten hundred and eighty acres upon the south side of the Attica road about three miles from Rossville in Vermillion county.

His entire life has been spent in this locality, his birth occurring upon the old homestead farm March 13, 1864.  He is a son of Thomas Smith, one of the early settlers of the county.  His youthful days were spent in the usual manner of farm lads.  The work of the fields engaged his attention from the time of early sprint planting until crops were gathered in the autumn.  The instruction of the public school developed his mental powers, and thus school and home training qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties.  Wisely choosing as a life work the occupation to which he had been reared, he has become one of the extensive land owners of the county, making further investment from time to time as his financial resources have increased, until now ten hundred and eighty acres annually yield to him a good revenue.  His home farm upon which he resides comprises two hundred  and seventy acres adjoining the corporation limits of Rossville, and is a valuable and well informed tract equipped with all of the conveniences and accessories of a model farm.  He owns other land in Grant township and all is in good condition, the work of improvement and development keeping his fields continuously under a high state of cultivation.  He likewise owns land in Kansas.  The farm upon which he resides is known as the old Henderson place.  In addition to its cultivation he raises some stock and also buys and ships stock.  His sound judgment in this, as in other branches of his business is bringing to him well merited success.

On the 13th of October, 1887, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Susan Pendergrast, a daughter of Patrick and Laura (Albert) Pendergrast.  Their children are nine in number, namely:  Thomas, who married Ethel Case; (and married second to Lottie Josephine Houser, and had my father, (author's note) Fern, a graduate of the common schools; Edwin, who has also completed his course in the public schools; Austin, Minnie, Leo, Donovan and George, all attending school; and Ray, deceased.

Mr. Smith and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.  He is widely known in the county where his entire life has been spent, and that his record has ever been a creditable one is indicated by the fact that those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time are numbered among his staunchest friends.  He early came to a realization of the fact that "There is no excellence without labor," and that "There is no royal road to wealth."  There which he set himself by reason of his unfaltering application and determined purpose.  The rewards of labor are sue and thus in due course of time he gained a place among the more prosperous farmers of the county."