Kansas City, Missouri: Its History and Its People, 1800-1908

Biographical sketch of William Smith, a real estate investor and street railway and construction industry executive. Born near New York City in 1836 and coming to Kansas City in 1866 as founder of "the first store here for the sale of wagons, agricultural implements and seeds" at "the east side of the Market Square." Later a street railway president in 1885 and in 1900 founder of "the business now conducted under the style of the Smith & Sons Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of grading tools, such as plows, rock crushers, road rollers and scrapers for railroad and township work" with factory at Lydia and Guinotte Streets and residence at 3000 Troost Avenue.