Sutter County
Biographies
FRANK EDWARD SMITH
Frank Edward Smith, who for many years has been actively connected with the motion picture business, of which he is the pioneer in Yuba City, holds a high place in public regard, being recognized as one of his city’s most progressive citizens. He belongs to one of the pioneer families of Yuba county and was himself a pioneer of Marysville. He was born at the old family home which stood on a lot on B street, Marysville, on the 28th of August, 1881, a son of Peter and Theresa (Waukenhut) Smith, both of whom are deceased, the father passing away in 1920, at the age of ninety-two years. Both parents were natives of Germany, and the father came across the plains from Ohio, with ox team and covered wagon, in 1850. He engaged in mining in Hangtown, now Placerville, and also at Browns Valley, coming later to Marysville. The mother came to California in 1850 by way of the Isthmus of Panama, landing at San Francisco, whence she came to Marysville. Peter Smith was a stairbuilder by trade, as well as a patternmaker, and in the latter capacity was employed in the Marysville foundry. He was also an architect and builder and worked on the chapel of Notre Dame convent in Marysville during its construction in 1869-70. Besides being a craftsman in these various lines, he was a musician of note, a talent which has been inherited by his son Frank E. Three children were born to him and his wife, Frank E. being the only survivor. The mother had been previously married, by which union she became the mother of a daughter, now Mrs. Erick Schmidt, of Yuba City.
Frank E. Smith was reared and educated in Marysville and for a while was employed in the Marysville foundry. Later he studied bookkeeping at Napa College and became bookkeeper for the Wightman & Hampton Hardware Company in Marysville. He served as city clerk and assessor of Marysville from 1888 until 1902, and from then until 1921 was actively identified with the Rideout Bank of Marysville. Always interested in music, he served for many years as manager and leader of the Marysville theater orchestra and the Marysville band and is a cornetist of great skill. He was the first man to engage in the motion picture business in Marysville, having formerly owned the Lyric theater, and for more than a quarter of a century has been identified with theatrical and musical interests in Marysville and Yuba City. He and his wife built Smith’s theater in Yuba City, which is one of the leading theaters of this section of the state.
On July 22, 1884, in Napa City, California, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Clara Sheldon, who was born in San Francisco, and they are the parents of three daughters, Mrs. Ray Monwell, of Marysville, Mrs. Winona Lininger, of Dunsmuir, and Mrs. Frances E. Benham, of Yuba City. Mr. Smith has long been an active and leading member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been a member of both the grand lodge and the grand encampment, in both of which he has served on a number of important committees. He also belongs to Marysville Lodge, No. 783, B.P.O.E., Marysville Parlor, No. 6, N.S.G.W., the Foresters of America, the Woodmen of the World and the Fraternal Brotherhood. He has served for six years as a member of the Marysville city council, and since his youth has been identified with the local fire department. He was instrumental in having the first motor appliance and the first motor-driven apparatus installed in the department, and in various other ways has proved an enterprising and wide-awake citizen, genuinely interested in the welfare and betterment of his community.
History of the Sacramento Valley California Biographical, Vol. III by Major J. W. Wooldridge, Chicago: The Pioneer Historical Society Publ. Co., 1931
pp 30-31
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler ©, September 2004
EDWARD E. BENHAM
Edward E. Benham has been an active and well known figure in the motion picture business of the Sacramento valley for a number of years and is now associated with Smith’s theater in Yuba City, one of the leading picture houses of this section of the state. Mr. Benham was born in Yolo county, California, on the 16th of August, 1890, and is a son of Robert S. and Nancy (Nelk) Benham. His father, who was a butcher by trade, was born at Woodland, California, and the mother at Elk Grove, Sacramento county, this state. The maternal grandfather, Nicholas Nelk, a pioneer wheelwright, is now deceased. His widow, Amelia Nelk, lives in Oakland, California, at the advanced age of eighty-five years.
Edward E. Benham lived with his parents at Rumsey, in the Coast range, until seven years of age, after which they lived in Shasta county for three years. In 1900 they located in Marysville, in the public schools of which city Mr. Benham acquired his early education, and after graduating from high school he took the L. L. Cook correspondence course in electricity, in which he was graduated. He is largely self educated, but has always been a close student, and is regarded as a well informed man. After finishing his educational work, he entered the employ of the Sacramento Northern Railroad as a baggageman. Later he became a telegraph operator, from which he was promoted to cashier of the Marysville office, where he served under Senator Roy Jones, who was then at the head of the office.
In 1913 Mr. Benham started to work as a projectionist in the Lyric theater, in Marysville, and was later promoted to the management of that house, which he ran until 1920. In the following year he was persuaded to go to Fresno county, this state, and take the management of a health and accident insurance business. Soon afterward, however, the lure of the motion picture business again attracted him and he became manager of the theater at Selma. From that place he was sent to Susanville, where he ran the Livery theater, and later he also managed theaters at Reno and Oakland, and then became associated with F. E. and Clara S. Smith in the operation of Smith’s theater, at 401 Plumas street, Yuba City. This well known house shows every evening, with Saturday and Sunday matinees, displaying Paramount, Fox, Universal, Pathe and Warner pictures. Mr. Benham, being an expert electrician, personally installed the talking apparatus, and is an important factor in the success of this well known house, which enjoys a large and representative patronage.
In 1913, at Yuba City, Mr. Benham was united in marriage to Miss Frances Smith, the youngest daughter of F. E. and Clara S. Smith, of Yuba City, who are represented in a biographical sketch on other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Benham are the parents of three children, Boyd, aged sixteen years, Edward E., Jr., aged ten years, and Clara Sheldon, aged six years. Mr. Benham has long shown a live interest in matters affecting the welfare of the community and in April, 1930, was elected a member of the Yuba City council, in which he is chairman of the sewer and light and power committees. He is greatly interested in boys’ welfare work and is rendering excellent service as scout master of the Yuba City troop of Boy Scouts of America. He is a member and secretary of the Kiwanis Club, and he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which he is superintendent of the Sunday school. He exemplifies a high type of citizenship and wherever known commands respect and confidence because of his consistent and earnest life and his kindly and affable manner.
History of the Sacramento Valley California Biographical, Vol. III by Major J. W. Wooldridge, Chicago: The Pioneer Historical Society Publ. Co., 1931
pp 21-22
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler ©, September 2004