Smith, Orrin, 1806-1881.

Orrin Fruit Smith was born in Winona, Minnesota on March 4, 1854, the second white child known to have been born in Winona County. The son of Alexander Boyd and Catharine McClure Fruit Goddard Smith, he received a public school education and worked for 10 years at the Second National Bank of Winona as clerk, bookkeeper, and correspondence clerk. He then worked for three years for the First National Bank in Minneapolis. Returning to Winona, he spent four seasons as agent for the Diamond Jo Line, a steamboat company. He moved to Chicago during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, remaining until 1894. He then returned to Minnesota where he was employed as a steamboat line agent in St. Paul. He soon moved back to Winona, where he worked as a spring water salesman and local gas company employee. In 1905 he became connected with the accounting department of the Hayes Lucas Lumber Company.

Smith married Marion P. Beach on March 21, 1885 and the couple had three children. A member of the Central Methodist Church, Smith was also an avid local historian, writing and publishing numerous articles on early Winona.

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