John R. Smith (1870-1958), Architect
John R. Smith was born May 4, 1870 in Wisconsin to Richard H. and Mary Smith. The U. S. Census listed his father as a lead miner in 1870 and as a farmer in 1880. The family moved in the 1880s to Pierce County, Nebraska, where John married Florence Watson on December 31, 1899.[1] John was identified as a farmer in Willow Creek, Pierce County, Nebraska in the 1900 census. Florence and John had three children, the last a daughter born in 1905, the year her mother Florence died and was interred in Pierce County. 1905 was also the first year John R. Smith was listed in a Lincoln, Nebraska city directory as a draftsman for architect J. H. Craddock. Smith was a draftsman for a Lincoln millwork company in 1906 and 1907, then in 1908 was a draftsman for F. C. Fiske in the Lincoln office of Fiske & Dieman. He married Inez Rose Sheetz in 1908 and in 1909 began to be listed as an architect in University Place (now Lincoln), Nebraska.[9][a] While he continued to reside in University Place for many years, his office was in downtown Lincoln as early as 1911. He designed residences, several schools and other public buildings in University Place and elsewhere in Nebraska, and made a specialty of church design, publishing a brochure "Modern Church Architecture" that listed 100 churches in five Midwestern states "for which we have furnished architectural services." His son Rolland practiced with him as John R. Smith & Son from 1923-1935.[10] John Smith was a WPA administrator in Lincoln in the late 1930s, but was no longer listed in Lincoln city directories after the early 1940s. He died in Denver February 11, 1958.[19]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Lincoln, Nebraska, 1905-1942
Educational & Professional Associations
1905: draftsman for J. H. Craddock, architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]
1906-1907: draftsman, Curtis & Bartlett Millwork Company, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]
1908: draftsman, Fiske & Dieman, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]
1909-1910: architect, University Place, Nebraska.[4][10]
1911-1921: architect, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10]
1922-1934: architect and partner with son Rolland H. Smith as John R. Smith & Son, Architects, Lincoln, Nebraska.[10][17]
1936: deputy state administrator, W.P.A.[10]
Buildings & Projects
Dated Projects, 1910-1922
Two-story Hecht Department Store (1910), Havelock (now Lincoln), Nebraska.[26]
10-room school, $18,000 (1910), Osmond, Nebraska.[27]
Two-story school, $12,000 (1910), Schuyler, Nebraska.[22]
Two-story school (1910), Brunswick, Nebraska.[5]
School, $10,000 (1911), Ainsworth, Nebraska.[6]
Eugene Levi house (1911), 1727 D, Lincoln, Nebraska.[3] (LC13:D07-361)
Fairmont Methodist Church (1911-1912), Fairmont, Nebraska.[7][14]
Greybull School Building (1911), Greybull, Wyoming.[7]
Residence for J.M. Wildhaber (1911), Plymouth, Nebraska.[7]
North Bend Carnegie Library (1911-1913), 140 E. 8th, North Bend, Nebraska. (DD09-010) National Register narrative
Methodist Church (1912), North Bend, Nebraska.[15]
Theodore A. Kiesselbach House (1913), 3232 Holdrege, Lincoln, Nebraska.[16] (LC13:E11-013)
Emma & John Wachter House (1913), 1901 Pepper Avenue, Lincoln, Nebraska.[23]
C. W. Knott House (1913), 2287 Sheldon Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.[24]
First Baptist Church (1913), Broken Bow, Nebraska.[2][c]
Welsh Congregational Church (1913), Carroll, Nebraska.[2][13]
M. E. (Methodist Episcopal) Church (1913), Carroll, Nebraska. SEE Methodist Church (1917), Carroll, Nebraska.
Lutheran Church (1913), West Point, Nebraska.[2][31]
First Methodist Episcopal Church (1913), 25th & E Streets, South Omaha, Nebraska.[29]
Addition to school (1913), Beemer, Nebraska.[30]
Competed for design of grade and high schools (1913), Central City, Nebraska.[32][d]
First United Presbyterian Church (1913-1914), NW corner 4th & Nebraska, Madison, Nebraska.[2][24] (MD03-021) National Register narrative
Methodist Church (1914), Windsor, Colorado.[2][37]
University Place City Hall (1914), North 48th & Baldwin Streets (now Lux Art Center), Lincoln, Nebraska.[25][34]
Cottage for Mrs. Aury Pell (1914), Unadilla, Nebraska.[35]
2-story school (1914), Winnetoon, Nebraska.[36]
2-story school (1914), Carroll, Nebraska.[38]
Residential remodeling for Gut Crendson (1914), University Place (now Lincoln), Nebraska.[39]
University Place Carnegie Library (1915), 2820 N 48th, Lincoln, Nebraska.[8][40]
First National Bank of Chappell (1915), Chappell, Nebraska.[41]
Remodeling of and addition to Methodist Church (1915), Beatrice, Nebraska.[2][42]
Remodeling of and addition to Methodist Church (1915), Beaver City, Nebraska.[2][43]
Methodist Church (1915), Ewing, Nebraska.[2][44]
Methodist Church (1915), Ponca, Nebraska.[2][45]
H. W. Hildreth bungalow (1915), Superior, Nebraska.[46]
2-story school (1915), Cheney, Nebraska.[47]
Methodist Church (1915), Galt, Grundy County, Missouri.[2][48]
Warren Methodist Church (1915-1916), University Place (now Lincoln), Nebraska.[2][49]
Methodist Church, Bluff City, Kansas.[2][55][e]
H. I. Babcock bungalow (1916), Chappell, Nebraska.[50]
Jno. Wentz residence (1916), Chappell, Nebraska.[51]
Wm. Wentz residence (1916), Chappell, Nebraska.[52]
Methodist Church (1916), Louisville, Nebraska.[2][53]
J. L. Berry residence (1916), Seward, Nebraska.[54]
A. H. Helliger residence (1916), Plymouth, Nebraska.[56]
Methodist Church (1916), Polk, Nebraska.[57]
Methodist Church (1916), Alma, Nebraska.[2][58]
Van Fleet Teachers' College (1917-1918), Nebraska Wesleyan University campus, University Place (now Lincoln), Nebraska.[20][64]
Methodist Church (1917), Crawford, Nebraska.[2][59]
2-story school (1917), Chappell, Nebraska.[60]
2-story telephone and store building (1917), Chappell, Nebraska.[61]
Methodist Church & parsonage (1917), Sidney, Nebraska.[2][62]
Methodist Church (1917), Cozad, Nebraska.[2][63]
"Third Ward" (later Riley) School (1917), State & Dudley, University Place (now Lincoln), Nebraska. (survey form) [21][65]
Methodist Church (1917), Holdrege, Nebraska.[2][66]
Methodist Church (1917), Allen, Nebraska.[2][67]
Methodist Church (1917), Belden, Nebraska.[2][68]
Gymnasium & Auditorium for city of University Place (1917), University Place (now Lincoln), Nebraska.[69]
Methodist Church (1917), Carroll, Nebraska.[2][28][70][f]
Carnegie Library (1917), Randolph, Nebraska.[71]
Methodist Church & Parsonage (1917), Big Springs, Nebraska.[2][72]
2-story school (1918), Firth, Nebraska.[73]
Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church (1918), Cortland, Nebraska.[2][12][74]
Methodist Church (1918), Mullen, Nebraska.[2][75]
Methodist Church (1918), Alliance, Nebraska.[2][76]
Methodist Church (1918), Nora, Nuckolls County, Nebraska.[2]
Cross Lutheran Church (1918), 3103 S. 20th Street, Omaha, Nebraska.[2][33]
Baptist Church (1920), Casper, Wyoming.[2]
Baptist Church (1920), Douglas, Converse County, Wyoming.[2]
Methodist Church (1920), Gurley, Cheyenne County, Nebraska.[2]
Methodist Church (1920), Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska.[2]
Methodist Church (1920), Neligh, Nebraska.[2]
Presbyterian Church (1920), Norfolk, Nebraska.[2]
Methodist Church (1920), Pacific Junction, Iowa.[2]
Methodist Church (1920), Stromsburg, Nebraska.[2]
Methodist Church (1920), Wynot, Nebraska.[2]
Methodist Church (1921), Mount Pleasant, Iowa.[2]
Presbyterian Church (1922), Bayard, Nebraska.[2]
Methodist Church (1922), Curtis, Nebraska.[2]
Methodist Church (1922), Wauneta, Nebraska.[2]
Projects undertaken as John R. Smith & Son, 1923-1935
John's son Rolland joined his father's practice as a draftsman by 1922, then from 1923 their office was listed as John R. Smith & Son. SEE that page for projects of the office between 1923 and 1935.
Undated Projects
Consulting architect for Baptist Church, Billings, Montana.[2]
Consulting architect for Presbyterian Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma.[2]
Notes
a. The U. S. Census of 1910 listed John Smith, architect (age 40) and his wife Rosie (36), married two years, with children Everett L. (9), Roland H. (8), Florence (5), and step-son (to John) Durwood C. Sheets (6). The young Smiths were all born in Nebraska while Rose's son Durwood was born in Idaho.[9] Rose Smith died in 1938 at 65 years old. John and Rose were both interred at Lincoln's Wyuka Cemetery.[18]
b. Reference [2] is an undated brochure issued by "J. R. Smith & Son, Architects" with a listed address of 138 N. Twelfth St., Lincoln, Nebraska. The 1921 Lincoln Directory lists Smith's office at that address. Later his location was described as "Peterson Building," which stood at 138 N. 12th in downtown Lincoln. Among the churches listed in the brochure are several Lincoln churches of the late 1920s, suggesting the publication may have been issued around 1930.[EFZ]
c. First Baptist Church in Broken Bow, Nebraska bears the date "1913" and "MCMXIII" on its parapets.
d. American Contractor reported in 1913 that four Nebraska architects had submitted sketches to Central City officials for two school buildings following successful passage of a $55,000 bond issue--three from Lincoln, namely Berlinghof & Davis, J. R. Smith, and "Salmons Architectural Co."; and from Omaha, Gernandt. [32] Belinghof & Davis won the commission.
e. Smith & Son's church booklet lists a Methodist church in "Bluff City, Nebraska." Perkey's Nebraska Place Names lists a Bluff City in both Gage and Garfield Counties, but neither apparently were durable settlements. Presumably instead the Smiths' church design was for Bluff City, Kansas, as was repeatedly referenced in American Contractor.[2][55]
f. American Contractor lists John Smith designing a Methodist church for Carroll, Nebraska in 1913 and again in 1917.[28][70] Perhaps the earlier church was destroyed; more likely the initial project did not come to fruition and construction was only accomplished on the second effort.[EFZ]
References
1. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch; Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.
2. J.R. Smith & Son, Architects, “Modern Church Architecture,” (Lincoln: N.P., n.d. [c. 1930]). (includes list of 100 churches designed by the firm)
3. Listed (1980) in the National Register of Historic Places, "Mount Emerald & Capitol Additions Historic Residential District;" SEE also City of Lincoln Building Permit 4203, issued July 20, 1911.
4. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line], s.v. "Florence M. Smith" (with spouse s.v. "John Smith"), Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
5. School Board Journal (October 1909), 26.
6. School Board Journal (March 1911), 33.
7. "Lincoln, Nebraska," American Contractor 32:21 (May 27, 1911): 63.
8. Nebraska State Library Commission, card file on public library buildings.
9. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line],s.v. “John R. Smith” (with spouse s.v. "Rose I. Smith"), Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
10. Lincoln city directories.
11. Ancestry.com. Nebraska, Marriage Records, 1855-1908 [database on-line], s.v. "J. R. Smith" (1899) and "John R. Smith" (1908), Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2017;
12. "Contracts Awarded. Church: Cortland, Nebr. Archt. J. R. Smith...Owner M. E. Church, Cortland," American Contractor (March 20, 1918), 63.
13. "Carroll, Nebr.--Church," The American Contractor (April 19, 1913), 33.
14. "Methodist Dedication," The Fillmore Chronicle (Fairmont, Nebraska) (May 10, 1912), 8.
15. "Local" (column 2: "J. R. Smith, the Lincoln architect who is drawing the plans for the proposed new Methodist Episcopal church..."), North Bend (Nebraska) Eagle (August 8, 1912), 5.
16. Listed on the National Register of Historic Place; SEE also City of Lincoln Building Permit #5078, issued June 11, 1913.
17. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, s.v. "Rolland H. Smith," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
18. "Rose I. Wilson Smith," Find a Grave on-line database, s.v. "Rose Smith, 1873-1938," https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74739378/rose-i-smith,
19. "Deaths...Feb 11 John R Smith, Denver, Colo, age 87 (Wy[uka])," The Daily Reporter (Lincoln, Nebraska) (February 20, 1958), 3.
20. "A Modern School--Sketch of Building Just Recently Completed," The University Place (Nebraska) News (January 18, 1918), 1, (illustrated with perspective photo, three floor plans, and portraits of J. R. Smith and NWU Chancellor I. B. Schreckengast).
21. "Third Ward School" (photo), The University Place (Nebraska) News (May 17, 1918), 1.
22. "Schuyler, Nebr.--School...$12,000," American Contractor (May 21, 1910), 27.
23. City of Lincoln Building Permit #4927, issued March 17, 1913.
24. City of Lincoln Building Permit #5157, issued July 28, 1913.
25. Special edition of University Place (Nebraska) News (January 8, 1915).
26. "Havelock, Nebr.--Department Store...$20,000," American Contractor (May 14, 1910), 58.
27. "Osmond, Nebr.--School (10 rooms), $18,000," American Contractor (June 11, 1910), 24.
28. "Carroll, Nebr.--Church: $10,000...M. E. Society," American Contractor (July 5, 1913), 46.
29. "Church...$25,000. 25th & E sts., South Omaha, Nebr.," American Contractor (April 19, 1913), 93.
30. "School Bldg. (add.): 2 sty., $5,000," American Contractor (April 19, 1913), 93.
31. "Church...$15,000. West Point, Nebr....Grace Lutheran Society," American Contractor (March 1, 1913), 94.
32. "High & Grade Schools (2 bldgs)...$55,000...Central City, Nebr.," American Contractor (March 29, 1913), 78.
33. "Church: $120,000...3103 S. 20th st., Omaha...Cross Luth. Church," American Contractor (August 10, 1918), 55.
34. "City Hall & Fire Station...$15,000. University Place, Nebr.," American Contractor (May 9, 1914), 88.
35. "Cottage: 1 sty. & bas. $3,000. Unadilla, Nebr. ..Owner Mrs. Aury Pell," American Contractor (May 9. 1914), 88.
36. "Winnetoon, Nebr.--School: 2 sty...$8,000," American Contractor (May 16, 1914), 29.
37. "Windsor, Colo.--Church (seating 300): $15,000...M. E. Church," American Contractor (June 6, 1914), 44.
38. "Carroll, Nebr.--School: 2 sty...$16M," American Contractor (June 27, 1914), 22.
39. "Res[idence] (rem[odel]), 2 sty & bas. $2M...Owner Gut Crendenson," American Contractor (September 12, 1914), 59.
40. "University Place, Nebr.--Carnegie Library...$20M," American Contractor (February 6, 1915), 39.
41. "Chappell, Nebr.--Bank...$7M...Owners First National Bank," American Contractor (February 20, 1915), 22.
42. "Beatrice, Nebr.--Church (rem. & add.)...$8M," American Contractor (May 22, 1915), 24. Later entries increase budget to $10,000 and omit mentions of remodeling & addition. SEE "Beatrice, Nebr.," American Contractor (July 17, 1915), 31.
43. "Beaver City, Nebr.--Church (rem. & add.)...$7M," American Contractor (May 22, 1915), 24.
44. "Ewing, Nebr.--Church...$6M...Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (May 29, 1915), 25.
45. "Church: $6M, Ponca, Nebr...Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (July 31, 1915), 86.
46. "Bungalow: 1 sty & bas...$3M. Superior, Nebr...Owner H. W. Hildreth," American Contractor (July 31, 1915), 86.
47. "School: 2 sty. & bas...$5M. Cheneys [sic], Nebr.," American Contractor (August 7, 1915), 101.
48. "Church...$7M. Galt, Mo...Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (September 25, 1915), 76.
49. "Lincoln, Nebr.--Church: $10,000...Warren M. E. Church," American Contractor (December 11, 1915), 21.
50. "Bungalow: $5,000. 1 1/2 sty. & bas...Chappell, Nebr...Owner H. I. Babcock," American Contractor (April 22, 1916), 85.
51. "Res.: $4,500. 1 1/2 sty. & bas....Chappell, Nebr...Owner Jno. Wentz," American Contractor (April 22, 1916), 85.
52. "Res.: $4,500. 1 1/2 sty. & bas....Chappell, Nebr...Owner Wm. Wentz," American Contractor (April 22, 1916), 85.
53. "Louisville, Nebr.--Church: $7,000...Methodist Church," American Contractor (June 3, 1916), 44.
54. "Res.: $3,000...Seward, Nebr....Owner J. L. Berry," American Contractor (April 8, 1916), 72h.
55. "Church: $5,000...Bluff City, Kans...Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (March 4, 1916), 90.
56. "Res.: $3,500...Plymouth, Nebr...Owner A. H. Helliger," American Contractor (March 25, 1916), 73a.
57. "Church: $15,000...Polk, Nebr...Owners Meth. Church," American Contractor (July 22, 1916). 98C.
58. "Alma, Nebr.--Church: $10,000...Methodist Church," American Contractor (September 30, 1916), 19.
59. "Church: $15,000...Crawford, Nebr....Owner Meth. Church...," American Contractor (March 31, 1917), 81.
60. "School: $12,000. 2 sty. & bas....Chappell, Nebr.," American Contractor (March 31, 1917), 81.
61. "Telephone & Store Bldg.: $5,000. 2 sty. & bas....Chappell, Nebr.," American Contractor (March 31, 1917), 81.
62. "Church & Parsonage: $20,000. 2 sty. & bas....Sidney, Nebr....Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (March 17, 1917), 87.
63. "Church: $15,000. 2 sty. & bas....Cozad, Nebr....Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (March 17, 1917), 87.
64. "Teachers' Training College: $20,000...Wesleyan University Campus, University Place, Nebr.," American Contractor (January 27, 1917), 71.
65. "Ward School. $20,000. 2 sty. & bas....University Place, Nebr.," American Contractor (March 24, 1917), 80.
66. "Church: $30,000. 2 sty. & bas...Holdrege, Nebr....Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (March 16, 1917), 78D.
67. "Allen, Nebr.--Church: $14,000. 2 sty. & bas....Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (April 28, 1917), 22.
68. "Belden, Nebr.--Church: $12,000. 2 sty. & bas....Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (April 28, 1917), 22.
69. "Gymnasium & Auditorium: $10,000. 2 sty. & bas....University pl....Owner city," American Contractor (April 28, 1917), 22
70. "Carroll, Nebr.--Church: $13,000. 1 sty. & bas. 50x66 Arch. J. R. Smith...Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (July 21, 1917), 31.
71. "Randolph, Nebr.--Carnegie Library: $5,000," American Contractor (October 6, 1917), 44.
72. "Big Springs, Nebr.--Church: $12,000...Owner M. E. Church," American Contractor (November 17, 1917), 35; and "Parsonage: $3,000...Big Springs, Nebr....Owner M. E. Church," American Contractor (November 3, 1917), 74.
73. "School: $18,000...Firth, Nebr.," American Contractor (February 9, 1918), 50.
74. "Church: $18,000...Cortland, Nebr....Owner Meth. Church," American Contractor (February 9, 1918), 50.
75. "Mullen, Nebr.--Church: $7,500...Meth. Church," American Contractor (March 2, 1918), 44.
76. "Alliance, Nebr.--Church: $35,000...Meth. Church," American Contractor (March 2, 1918), 44.
Page Citation
D. Murphy & E. F. Zimmer, “John R. Smith (1870-1958), Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, August 24, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 22, 2024.
Contact the Nebraska State Historic Preservation Office with questions or comments concerning this page, including any problems you may have with broken links (see, however, the Disclaimers link at the bottom of this page). Please provide the URL to this page with your inquiry.
