CORTEZ M. SMITH, one of Troy's most enterprising and successful young business men, who has been identified with the horse and mule business for many years, was born in 1873, at Casstown, Ohio, and is a son of the late Martin P. Smith. The father of Mr. Smith was born in Maryland and came to the vicinity of Casstown, Ohio, in 1854, where he followed farming during his active years. He died in 1906.

Cortez M. Smith attended school at Casstown during boyhood and very early learned to depend entirely upon his own efforts to advance himself. He earned his first capital by working by the day and then traded for a time in Bantam chickens, which was the stepping-stone to his larger operations subsequently in the handling of horses and mules. This business he has carried on with much success and he now owns a fine farm of 190 acres in Miami county, besides improved property at Troy, including his own hand some residence on East Main Street. For some time, in addition to his horse and mule business, which be built up entirely by himself, he has been handling real estate, his excellent business qualifications being shown also in this line. Mr. Smith is entirely a self-made man and takes justifiable pride in the fact. In l894 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Lucy E. Hathaway, and they have two sons, Carlton Clay and Melvin Frederick. Mr. Smith is a member of the Troy Club and the Troy Business Men's Association.