Leon D. Smith is editor and proprietor of the Schenevus Monitor, 
which paper he has conducted since October, 1892, and has 
made it a bright and newsy weekly, independent in politics, 
but devoted to the interests of the village in which it is 
published.  The paper of which he is the proprietor was 
established in October, 1865, the first editor being J. J. 
Multer.  It was conducted by him and by the Multer family for 
a great many years.  About 1878 it passed into the hands of 
W. J. Douglas, and some time afterward into those of E. E. 
Brownell, and J. Stanley Brown, now of the Rockford Morning 
star, of Rockford, Ill.  They issued their first number March 
24, 1883, and in November of the same year Mr. Brownell 
became the sole proprietor.  December 6, 1888, Mr. Brownell 
sold out to Cornell & Smith, and April 1, 1890, Mr. Smith 
became the proprietor.  In October, 1891, N. C. Hart became 
the proprietor, since which time one or two other changes 
have taken place, and at the time above mentioned Mr. Smith 
again became the proprietor and editor, and has infused new 
life into its management, so that at the present time it is a 
flourishing country weekly paper, having a circulation of 
about 1,000 copies each week.  It is a four-page, seven 
column weekly, issued every Thursday, and find a welcome in 
most of the families of this part of Otsego County.  One of 
its special features, which makes it more interesting than it 
otherwise would be, is its spicy local correspondence from 
many of the villages in the county.  It has undergone only 
one change in its make up since it was established, and that 
was in 1888, when it was increased in size from a six-column 
to a seven-column paper. 

Leon D. Smith was born in Bainbridge, January 17, 1870.  He was 
educated at Worcester, Otsego County, going there when he was 
three years old to reside with his grandparents.  He had no 
advantages in the way of educational facilities that other 
boys do no have, yet was apt to learn and diligent to apply 
himself, and thus acquired a good education.  While yet quite 
a boy he became a typo on the Worcester Times, and began at 
the desk when he had to stand on a box to enable him to reach 
the top of it.  After serving a full apprenticeship at the 
desk, he became connected with the newspaper business in 
Schenevus, and it is at that place that his work in this 
direction has been chiefly performed in an editorial way.  He 
is a practical printer, and has advantages in this direction 
that are lacking in some editors, who have to depend wholly 
on their employees, as he has both taste and ability in this 
portion of newspaper work, and a clean, neat newspaper, 
looking well from a mechanical point of view, is the result.

Mr. Smith's mother died in Bainbridge when he was three years of 
age, of quick consumption, and while in the prime  of life.  
Her maiden name was Cora Akerly.  The father of Mr. Smith, 
Adelbert Smith, now a resident of Seward, Schoharie County, 
is a farmer and hop grower, and is well known in that county; 
he was formerly a carpenter and mechanic.  He has lived in 
Schoharie County most of his life.

Leon D. Smith was married, in Schenevus, to Miss Florence E. 
Gurney, who was educated in the Union Schools and Academy of 
Schenevus, graduating with the class of 1887.  She is of one 
of the oldest and best known families in the county, and is 
well educated and accomplished.  She is the daughter of 
Samuel and Eliza Gurney, the former of who, now deceased, was 
for many years one of the leading citizens of the town of 
Maryland.  Mrs. Gurney is yet living, and makes her home with 
her daughter, Mrs. Smith.  She is one of the worthy women of 
the place, and highly respected by all.