| Francis Alvin Smith | |
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I left Ludington in July of 1940 with Arnold Peterson to go to Marshall, Michigan. I worked on a farm south of Marshall until October of 1940. Then I joined a crew and sold magazines. I travelled with this magazine crew through the states of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. This was the years of 1940 and 1941. I left the magazine crew in Ohio around March.
I got a job working on a Dairy Farm in Ohio. I worked a month to get enough money to return to Ludington. After I returned to Ludington, I got a job working on a ship called Covalt owned by a salt company from Manistee. I worked on the Covalt one trip to Chicago and other ports. I didn't like the work, so I quit and went to work for the Pere Marquette Car Ferrys. I worked on the car ferrys until July of 1941.
In July fo 1941, Bernard Norton and I went to Detroit. Bernard got a job in Detroit, but I didn't. I had my car, a 1935 green and white Ford. I left Detroit and travelled back to Marshall. I had friends in Marshall (Ted Ragina and Arnold Peterson). Ted worked at Eaton Manufacturing in Marshall. He got me a job at Eaton's. The date, at that time, was the last of July 1941.
I have lived in this area since then, so that's how I came to settle in this area.*******
Francis Alvin Smith was named after his Uncle Frank Clark (his dad's brother-in-law). He was called Frankie as a child by his brothers, but he has always gone by Frank as an adult.
Frank was born June 20, 1922 in Mason County, Michigan. The only grandparent he remembers is his Grandma Larson. He remembers her as a very loving person who could only speak Swedish.
As a child, Frank hated cleaning the barn. He doesn't ever remember a time when he was hungry as a child because his parents raised their food. His favorite childhood toys were a hammer and nails and he enjoyed playing softball.
Frank attended kindergarden through 8th grade at the Diamond Country School. He walked there. His favorite subject was history because he loved hearing all of the different stories. Reading always came easy for him. Math was his least favorite subject. He played softball in school as well.
His friends used to hang out at the Victory Town Hall dancing and playing pionicle. His father, Orton, used to play the harmonica and call square dances. His mother, Teckla, thought that dancing was a sin.
Frank received his GED when he was in the CC Camp. He received all A's during school and he enjoyed attending school. He liked playing softball the most but he didn't like cleaning the barn after school. Frank usually wore a shirt and overalls when he went to school.
Frank started dating when he was 16 years old. His first date was with a girl named Lila Gulumbo. He took her to the show in Scottville. He met the first woman he would later marry, Helen Elmer, at a dance at Bonnie Belmont in Walhalla. Their first date was at the Pine in Manistee. They dated for a year before they got married.
Frank and Helen were married at the Battle Creek Methodist Church on March 6, 1942. They were married 15 years and were then divorced. Frank then married Marilyn Joyce Center on July 26, 1958 at the Hanover Methodist Church.
As a child, Frank wanted to be a carpenter. His first job was working on a ranch south of Custer for Ross Girswold, who was his last teacher. Other jobs he has had were at Colon Manufacturing, making aircraft valves. He was a building contractor from 1960 through 1993. Frank retired when he was 72. He considers himself to be semi-retired, though, as he still helps out his son with the business.
Politically, Frank would describe himself as being an Independent. He does feel he is liberal, though, because he likes to help people who are in need.
Frank never fought in any wars. He is 5'10" tall, had red, curly hair until it turned grey, and has blue eyes. His general health is good and he doesn't have any health problems that would be considered hereditary in nature. His favorite season is Fall and his favorite holiday is Christmas because it is Jesus's birthday. His favorite color is green.
He left the family farm when he was 14 years old, living in Battle Creek for a time and then on a farm halfway between Colon and Sherwood. He is living where he is today because he and Marilyn enjoy living in small towns. They don't wish they lived anywhere else.
Frank and Marilyn attend the Bronson Methodist Church and they believe in Christ Jesus.
Frank never played any musical instruments, but he enjoys ballroom dancing and he and Marilyn are DJs on the weekend.
The longest trip Frank has been on was when they travelled to Iowa to get his daughter, Jackie, when she separated from her husband. His favorite vacation is going to Ludington to the Smith Family Reunion every year on the first Saturday of August.
| Marilyn Joyce Center | |
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