Thanks to Becky Teubner Iowa Biographies Project CHARLES F. SMYTH, a prominent business man and enterprising citizen of Bernard, is at present extensively engaged in buying and selling grain, and is also the proprietor of a hardware and farming implement store, which he conducts with success and profit. He is of Irish descent, and is the son of John and Margaret (Henry) Smyth. The father was born in County Down , Ireland , in 1819. When thirteen years of age he came to this country with his parents and settled in Bangor , Me. A few years later he embarked in the mercantile business in that city, carrying a line of general merchandise, dry goods, boots, shoes, groceries, etc. He followed this occupation for ten years, and at the expiration of that time sold out and came to Iowa , settling in Prairie Creek Township , Dubuque County . Here he bought one hundred and forty acres of wild, uncultivated land, and immediately set about clearing and improving it. He built a good house and barn, which he furnished comfortably, and within two years he had a nice little home to which he brought his bride in 1844. He married Miss Margaret Henry, a native of Dubuque County , and to them were born thirteen children, nine of whom are living: Henry, John, Anna, George, Charles, Katie, Celia, Frank and Albert. They all received a good common-school education, and Katie is a graduate of Lyons College . She has been a teacher in the public schools of Iowa for six years, giving good satisfaction, and is an excellent instructor. John F. Smyth was a hard working man, industrious and saving. Having been taught in his youth the necessity of taking care of the pennies, he lived a frugal but comfortable life, and at the time of his death he had accumulated a large share of this world's goods and left his family well provided for. He passed peacefully away November 24, 1886 , leaving a large circle of sincere friends a loving companion and several children to mourn his loss. His good wife still survives him, and is living on the old homestead. Our subject was born May 8, 1859, in this township; he spent his boyhood days in the old home on the farm, attending the public school, helping in seed-time and harvest, and enjoying the free and happy life of a farmer until in the fall of 1890, when he went into business for himself at Bernard. Being a man of good business ability, genial and social, he has made many warm friends and built up a trade of which any one might well be proud. He also owns one hundred acres of land in Prairie Creek Township , well improved and all in grass. Mr. Smyth is erecting at the present time a large new building, which he will use for hardware and light machinery. September 7,1891 , Mr. Smyth was united in marriage with Miss Sabina, daughter of Michael Cox a retired farmer of Dubuque County . She was born January 15, 1873 . Mr. and Mrs. Smyth are the parents of two interesting children, Mary, born August 20, 1892 , and Geneva , born February 21, 1894 . Our subject is a Democrat in his political views, taking an active part in all the councils of that party. He, with his excellent wife, is a member of the Catholic Church, and occupies a high position in the social circle. Mr. Smyth has been a member of the School Board, and has occupied that position for four years.