WILSON J. SMITH, manufacturer and wholesale confectioner, of Catasauqua, was born in Moore township, Northampton County, August 26, 1861. He attended the township schools and the Weaversville Academy. The first eighteen years of his life were spent upon the farm, after which he learned the baking trade and followed it for twelve years. Of the twelve years he worked as foreman for five years and the seven remaining years he was in business himself at Catasauqua. In 1894, Mr. Smith connected himself with his brother Elmer in the confectionery business at Bethlehem, and three years later he began the business on his own account at Catasauqua. He continued it successfully until 1906, then admitted his nephew, E. J. Smith, under the name of "The W. J. Smith Company." This firm enjoys a large jobbing trade; employ ten people: and have their establishment located on Race street, Catasauqua. In 1911, Mr. Smith was one of the incorporators of the Catasauqua Silk Company and is its treasurer. He and his nephew own an excellent farm of seventy acres in Hanover Township.

Mr. Smith is one of the very active and prominent members of the St. Paul's Lutheran church. For a period of eighteen years he served as a trustee of the church. In 1911, he was a member of the building committee that erected the large annex and remodeled the entire church. Socially he holds membership in the K. C. E.; the Woodmen of the World; Loyal Order of Moose; and the Ohio Traveling Men's Association. He was elected a school director of Third ward, Catasauqua; was committeeman of Hanover Township for a period of six years, representing the Democratic Party on the county standing cornmittee.

He was married to Annie M. Seyfried in 1881. She is a daughter of Francis and Eliza (Rohn) Seyfried, of Hanover Township. They had four children, but all died in infancy.