Bio: Smith, Judson M. (1881) 
Contact: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Smith, Booth

----Source: The History of Northern Wisconsin (Marathon County, Wis.) 1881, page 568

JUDSON M. SMITH, Wausau, came to Wausau in August, 1874, and engaged in the construction of the Wisconsin Valley Railway, building the road from Knowlton to Wausau in about sixty days. Mr. Smith was associated with William F. Thompson in the contract for building. The road was opened for business Nov. 9, 1874. Since January, 1875, Mr. Smith has resided in Wausau, his family coming here to reside in February of that year. He deals extensively in lands of his own and those belonging to the railroad company. Mr. Smith was born in Braintree, Orange Co., Vt., Jan. 18, 1827, and lived in Roxbury and West Randolph, Vt. When the Vermont Central Railway was built, he engaged as foreman in its construction, probably in 1846; during the last half of that year until the Fall of 1847, when he came to New York State and engaged upon the Ogdensburg and Rouse's Point road (now a part of the Vermont Central); he was there, in different capacities, until 1852, when he became interested in the construction of the Great Western Road, of Canada. He was employed upon that for two years and a half; he was then engaged in building, as contractor, the extension from Stamford to Niagara Falls; was with the Erie & Ontario Company one year. He then had a contract on the Sarnia branch of the Great Western, and built the Grand Trunk from Mt. Clemens to Detroit. In 1860, he built railroad bridges in Tennessee. He was in the tannery business for six years in Canada, the only time he was out of the railroad business from 1846 until the Fall of 1874. He was connected with the Buffalo & Erie road, on the Chicago, Michigan & Lake Shore line, and in 1872 built the double track of the Michigan Central from Detroit to Chicago. He was then engaged on the Big Rapids branch of the Chicago, Michigan & Lake Shore road. Then built the Wisconsin Valley, and several smaller roads, building over 200 miles through the woods in a little over two years. Mr. Smith was married, Sept. 15, 1858, to Thirza D. Booth, who was born in Brockville, Ontario. They have one child, Helen E. They are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Smith is a member of the A., F. & A. M.