Dr. Remsen Smith

Remsen was named for Dr. William Remsen Smith, a pioneer Sioux City physician who became an extensive landowner in this territory.

Dr. Smith was a close friend of John I. Blair, the man who had charge of construction here for the Dubuque & Sioux City railway company.

Mr. Blair first suggested the name Smithville but Dr. Smith, thinking there were so many Smiths in the world, chose to name the town after his own middle name - hence Remsen.

Dr. Smith came to Iowa from Red Bank, N. J.in 1856. He walked from Council Bluffs to Sioux City since there were no railroads. He became receiver in the U. S. Land Office at Sioux City and became well acquainted with the people settling around the Remsen site where he owned 640 acres of land.

In later years he was wont to tell his children of the beauty of the virgin prairie in this area. Dr. Smith left $300 to the town for the establishment of a library.