Allen W. Smith of Medicine Lodge, Kan., a well known citizen of that city who is serving his third term as clerk of the district court of Barber county, is a native of Missouri, born Dec. 2, 1853, in Callaway county. His father, Isaac Smith, was born in Kentucky, April 16, 1829, and in 1846 married a Miss Manning. They became farmer residents of Missouri, where the father died in 1895. Of their union were born seven children—three sons and four daughters: Bettie Jane, born Sept. 17, 1847, died single in 1895; Stephen L., born Jan. 25, 1850, came to Kansas in 1886 and had a large farm and cattle ranch in Comanche county, where he died, Feb. 21, 1909, having married Mary Sunderland, and to them were born six children; Ellen, born Sept. 17, 1852, is the wife of David J. Whitehead, a farmer in Missouri; Allen W. is the next in order of birth; Celia A., born in 1855, is the wife of Homer Kime, a farmer in Meade county, Kansas; Emma O., born in 1857, died single in 1881; and Isaac F., born July 1, 1860, is a farmer in Oklahoma.

Allen W. Smith received his education in the common schools near his Missouri home and at the Audrain County (Mo.) High School. After completing his education he began his independent career by engaging in the grocery business at Chicago, two years. He came to Kansas in 188o and located at Medicine Lodge, Barber county, where he was employed as a salesman in a general store eight years. In 1899 he engaged in the general merchandise business on his own account, but after conducting the store two years was burned out. In 1900 he was elected clerk of the district court of Barber county as the Democratic candidate and so faithfully and efficiently did he perform the duties of that office that he was elected to serve his second consecutive term. In 1910 he was again reëlected to that office and now, for the third time, is filling that postition[sic] to the entire satisfaction of his constituency. He takes an active part in the public life of his community and has served as a member of the city council of Medicine Lodge, two terms, and has been treasurer of the city school board.

On Sept. 3, 1883, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Minerva, daughter of W. H. Kinkaid. Mr. Kinkaid, a farmer and stockman, resided at Osawatomie during the stirring events of the Civil war and was himself a veteran of the Mexican war. The parents of Mrs. Smith are deceased, the father having passed away in 1898 and the mother on March 20, 1911. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children: Luna May, born Aug. 10, 1884, and Ethel Sybil, born July 30, 1886, are both single and at home; and Frederick L., the only son, was born Nov. 17, 1888, and is in the railway mail service.