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Laura West (1860-1892) was one of the daughters of William and Harriet West, the proprietors of West House, Ames's first hotel. Laura became the first wife of M. K. Smith (1859-1915), who was in the mercantile business in Ames for around thirty years. His store, Bigelow & Smith, was on Onondaga (Main) Street. Laura and M. K. were married on December 14, 1882. When Laura West Smith died on April 21, 1892 at the age of 32, she left two small children--Marcellus K., Jr., age 5, and Cecile, age 2. M. K. Smith died on May 17, 1915. His second wife Rose Rummel Smith survived him.