One of Fort Dodge’s first city commissioners under the present form of
government owned and resided in this home at 1205 5th Ave. S. for a
number of years after acquiring it in 1910.
He was C. H. (Cad) Smith, public safety commissioner from 1911 until his
death in 1919. He was elected to the city council when the commission
form of government was adopted. Elected at that time with Smith were
John F. Ford, mayor; and Frank W. Collins, streets commissioner.
The large frame house was erected in 1891 by Charles B. Hepler, a
well-known contractor here for many years. He was also associated with
David Brown in the Fort Dodge Planing Mill. The lot at the southeast
corner of Fifth Avenue South and Twelfth Street was part of a tract of
land purchased in 1861 by John F. Duncombe, pioneer attorney and
industrialist.
Smith purchased the house in 1910 from E. J. Breen and it remained in
possession of the Smith family until 1948 when it was sold to Mr. and
Mrs. Walter B. Cooper. At that time Cooper, a plumber, converted the
house into a duplex dwelling and the apartments have since been rented
out.
The house originally had five rooms on the first floor—living room,
library, dining room, solarium, kitchen and pantry; the second floor had
four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath. The third floor attic area also
had two finished rooms. The house had large front and back porches.
Smith was born in Pennsylvania in 1867 and came west as a young man to
Grinnell where he attended and graduated from Grinnell College. Moving
to Fort Dodge he then was employed by The Messenger until entering
public service.
Smith was married in Fort Dodge to Grace Hepler, daughter of Charles B.
Hepler, the contractor. They were parents of three daughters—Mrs.
Margaret Lowrey of Seattle, Wash.; Elizabeth, deceased; and Mrs. Thomas
(Gretchen) Porter of Fort Dodge.
Mr. Smith died in 1919 at the age of 52 years; Mrs. Smith died here in
1948.
[Illustration: The Smith home
1205 5th Avenue South]