DR. FRANK B. SMITH, President of the Lafayette Smith Wholesale Grocer Company, is one of the most prominent of the young business men of Springfield, Ill., his native city, and is an important factor in carrying on its extensive commercial interests. He was born in this metropolis March 7, 1859, and laid the foundation for his education in the public schools. He decided to become a physician and read medicine with Dr. B. M. Griffith, a well-known physician of Springfield, and subsequently became a student at Rush Medical College at Chicago, from which he was graduated in the class of 1879-80.

After leaving college our subject returned to Springfield and opened an office here for the practice of medicine. He pursued his calling quite successfully two years, but the demands made upon his physical strength and endurance by his professional duties so impaired his health that he was obliged to retire, and in 1883 he entered the wholesale grocery store of his father, LaFayette Smith. He displayed an excellent talent for business and immediately after the death of his father, LaFayette Smith, which occurred September 3, 1888, the LaFayette Smith Grocer Co. was incorporated and our subject was made President of the corporation, which position he now holds. The LaFayette Smith Grocer Co. have a large, well fitted up and well stocked establishment and do an extensive and flourishing business that extends all over Central Illinois. The LaFayette Smith Grocer co. is successor to the wholesale grocery business of the late LaFayette Smith established in 1862, and thus it is one of the oldest established business houses in Illinois.

Dr. Smith and Miss Anais D. Converse, daughter of Hon. A. L. Converse, were married July 23, 1885. They have made for themselves one of the coziest and pleasantest homes in the city and their household circle is completed by the little child born to them, whom they have named Harry B. Smith. Our subject is a young man of fine personal attributes, possesses force and decision of character, and a good insight into the best methods of conducting business, and he will undoubtedly occupy a high position in the financial circles of his city and county as regards the acquirement of wealth in the future, and has a very bright career before him. He is a sincere and manly Christian and a member of the Central Baptist Church of Springfield. He has ably served his city on the Board of Health for the past eight years and is still connected with that valuable sanitary committee, having been successively reappointed regardless of his political affiliations. Although actively engaged in mercantile business yet Dr. Smith still devotes considerable time to the duties of the medical profession.