William Lowell Smith

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Wedding of Hazel and Will
Tom Rasmussen photo

WILLIAM LOWELL SMITH

William Lowell "Bill" Smith was born 18 Feb 1890 in Plainfield, Bremer County. He was the third of the couple's four children.  He attended rural school in Jepson and after his parents moved to Nashua in 1903, he later graduated from Nashua High School. On 12 Jun 1916, he married Hazel Parks in Nashua, Chickasaw County. Hazel was born 10 Dec 1891 in Nashua to Fred Parks and Minnie Alice Hicok.

As was mentioned in a recent article about Will's father, Harland, Harland and Bill's lives revolved around horse racing until the loss of the family farm and race track to the short-term second wife of the family patriarch, William Custer Smith in 1895. Steady employment for both of them seemed to be a challenge after that, according to Harland's granddaughter Alyce Smith Rasmussen.

"...It was in their blood, however, so they had a difficult time of letting go and finding gainful employment. I think maybe my grandfather never did. I know my grandmother Fannie was the one who eared a living - make ends meet. Also, it was a bone of contention between my mother, Hazel Parks, Bill, and Harland. Hazel almost didn't marry Bill because he didn't have steady work and to her mind, didn't want any. He wanted to race horses. When they did marry, they moved to Belle Plain to get away and create an independent, productive life. Harland came there, apologized, and brought them an iron pancake griddle as a peace offering..."

Bill and Hazel
Tom Rasumussen photo

The Smith's did create an independent life. They also had two children, Alyce and Burton. Burton
grew up and later served in the US Army in the 3rd Army, 6th Armored Division, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. After Burton returned from the war, he was at Fort Hood, training to be sent to the Pacific Theatre. Bill and Hazel spent some time in Texas while he was there in 1945.

Bill worked for Mid-Continent Petroleum for nine years, The Des Moines Register and Tribune for three years and spent the last nine years of his life working for Champlin Oil Co. in Nashua. He was a Mason and served as grand master from 1933-1934 and treasurer for over nine years from 1937-1946, and became a district lecturer in 1937.

Burton and Alyce 1928
Tom Rasmussen photo

According to the Nashua Reporter, on Monday, 28 Feb 1949, Bill was discovered lying on his back, beside his truck, dead. He and has truck were near the IC depot in Nashua. According to the obituary, "The truck was parked near the bulk tanks for the Champlin Oil Co for which he has been agent for the past nine years. He had evidently slipped and fallen from the truck, striking his head on the truck. Death resulted from a basal skull fracture." Another local driver discovered him, but it was too late.

Hazel spent a lot of time later in life visiting her children, who had scattered - Burton at various places on the East Coast and South and Alyce to various points in Iowa. She lived to 89 years old and died 29 Apr 1981 in Davenport, where her daughter and family lived.