William Walter Smith, son of George and Mary Oglesby
Gaines Smith was born in Broadlands. In 1900, William
W. Smith became the first African American graduate of
the University of Illinois. He received his Bachelor's
Degree in Civil Engineering and was the first editor of
the Illini newspaper, now The Daily Illini, during 1899
and 1900. He was a member of the football team, playing
tackle.
Mr. Smith was employed by Armour & Co and was sent
by them to the Argentine Republic to oversee the building
of elevators, warehouses, refrigerating plants and other
construction work on their vast holdings in that country.
He made a 5,000-mile journey to Pennsylvania to claim
his bride, Anna Allen on August 20, 1911. On January 3,
1922, Mr. Smith petitioned the Court to change his name
to Walter Smith Oglesby and he is so listed in The Semi-Centennial
Alumni Record of the University of Illinois.
