Victor's father, Herbert E. Smyth and Grandfather, A. C. Smyth

This information is taken from a photocopy from a book. The page header reads "Utah Since Statehood" p. 832 and 835.

Herbert E. Smyth, whose success in a professional way affords the best evidence of his capabilities in this line, is now enjoying an extensive practice in the departments of land, loan and irrigation law. A native son of Salt Lake, where he still makes his home, he was born September 4, 1876, his parents being Adam C. and Frances (Townsend) "Smyth. The father was a native of Manchester, England, while the mother was born in Dover, that country. The father was married twice and with his first wife, Mrs. Emily Smyth, came to America in 1866. He crossed the plains by wagon train, enduring many of the privations and dangers of early Mormon pioneers. He made his way direct to to Salt Lake City and after reaching his destination his first wife died. Later he married Frances Townsend, also from England. He was a musician of superior merit and after establishing his home in Utah figured prominently in music circles as a teacher and composer, writing many of the Mormon hymns and the music to which they were sung. A large number of these are still used in the Mormon churches and by families of that faith throughout the state. His death occurred in Manti, Utah in 1909. The mother of Herbert E. Smyth had come to America in 1870 and she crossed the country in comparative ease when one remembers the hardships and trials with which the journeys of the earlier residents of the state were fraught. She made the trip with one of the first trains after the railroad was completed to Salt Lake and here she became the wife of Professor Smyth. She survives her husband and now resides in Manti. In their family were seven children, Adam C., Mrs. Rhoda Nelson, Fred D., Mrs. Laura Chapman, William H and Mrs Maude Randall.

The other member of the family is Herbert E Smyth, who was the second in order of birth. He attended school at Fountain Green and Manti, Utah, and subsequently became a student at Brigham young Academy, where he remained through the scholastic year of 1893-4. He later took special work at the university on law subjects. After leaving the Brigham Young Academy he was employed by by timber and mercantile concerns and subsequently he went to the southern states on mission work for the church. Upon his return he taught school in Manti and then entered the office of the county assessor of Sanpete county acting four years as chief deputy and through the succeeding four years as county assessor. In 1908 he entered the state land office as chief law clerk, in connection with the departments having in charge lands, loans and irrigation projects and continued in that office until April, 1917. During that period he applied himself diligently to the study of law, particularly turning his attention to those branches of jurisprudence which applied to his position, so that when should retire form the place that he was filing he might specialize upon legal matters of that character. In April, 1917, he opened a law office in Salt Lake. In the year 1912 he had been admitted to the bar of the supreme court of Utah. His previous training had been of incalculable benefit to him is giving him knowledge of lands, loans and irrigation matters in the state and his preparation for the bar, specializing along that line, splendidly qualified him for ny questions that might come up in dispute. He was continuously been engaged in probate practice and has been extremely successful. His knowledge along with his special is particularly wide and thorough, and the ability which he has displayed has led to a constant increase in his client-age.

On the 24th [?] of September, 1901 Mr. Smyth was married to Miss Margaret Johnson, of Fountain Green, Utah, a daughter of Edwin T. and Julia (Llewellyn) Johnson. Their children are as follows: Edward H., who was born in Fountain Green, in 1902 and is now a junior in the Salt lake high school: Theodore Craik, born in Fountain Green, in 1904 and now attending the graded schools; Victor Llewellyn, born in Salt lake in 1912; and Donna, born in Salt lake in 1915. Mr. and Mrs Smyth have also reared another child Juliet F Johnson who was born in Fountain Green in 1909. and was left an orphan by the death of Mrs. Smyth's mother. The child has been reared and educated as their own.

Mr. and Mrs Smyth are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In politics he is a stalwart republican and is the present secretary of the republican state central committee--a position indicative of his high standing in the councils of the party. He is also the secretary of the Utah State Building & Loan Association and is a member of the Utah Bench and Bar Association. No particularly fortunate circumstances aided Mr. Smyth at the outset of his career, but actuated by a laudable ambition he has steadily advanced and today stands high in high professional circles of Salt Lake City and is one of the most respected residents of the community.