Stow Smith


Quinton Stow Smith, was a South Australian businessman, philanthropist and longtime active lay member of the Baptist Church.

History

Smith was born in Beaumont, South Australia, the youngest child of James Smith and his wife Augusta Smith, née Wearing, a sister of Justice Wearing. He was named for Rev. Thomas Quinton Stow, a friend of his father who married the couple on 25 November 1845. He grew up on the family property "Karrayerta" on Fullarton Rd, Fullarton, and was educated at Adelaide Educational Institution.
In 1879 he started work as an office boy for schoolmate Frederick William Bullock, who had just taken over his late father's land agency business in York Chambers, Franklin Street, and stayed with him until 1888.
He then joined Samuel Alfred Davenport, a nephew of Sir Samuel Davenport, who had an office in the Bank of Australasia Chambers.
In December 1889 he and Davenport formed a partnership Davenport & Smith, stockbrokers, with offices in Alfred Chambers, Currie Street, later Davenport, Smith, & Roberts with the addition of Smith's cousin Alfred Jabez Roberts, mayor of Glenelg 1899–1902, 1916–1917. He was a Director of Valkyrie Gold Mining Company.
In 1905 Smith, Roberts and F. H. Cowell purchased the business of Cowell Brothers timber merchants, of which Smith became chairman of directors, and his son Harold managing director, with Smith serving on its board until his 99th birthday..

Other interests

Smith married Emily Henrietta Cooper in 1891. They had 3 daughters and 2 sons:
They had a home "Carrayerta" or "Karrayerta" on Fullarton Road, Fullarton. After his wife died he sold the family property to the SA Housing Trust and went to live at 15 Cross Road, Kingswood.
The second generation used "Stow Smith" as though it were a double-barrelled surname.