Isaac Edgar "Ike" Smith

Isaac Edgar Smith born 21 Jan 1858 in Charleston, Coles County, Illinois died 27 Sep 1940 North River, Warren County, New York

Builder of the first 22 Star Class Sailboats in Port Washington, New York in 1911.

Port Washington News Obituary

Port Washington News October 4, 1940

Isaac Smith Builder of many Famous Star Boats Dies

Well known Resident Dies at Summer Camp at 82

Isaac E. Smith, boat builder, well known Port Washington resident of 10 Jackson Place, who built the first Star Boat of international fame, died suddenly at his summer camp at North River, Friday evening. He was 82 years of age.

Mr. Smith appeared to be feeling well all during the summer and decided a short time ago to join Mrs. Smith at their summer camp, but a heart attack brought an end to his long and useful career.

He was born in Charleston, Ill., a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith. His parents were from an old Long Island family, but had moved to the West to follow the westward migration in the late fifties. He was two years old when his father decided return to Long Island and the family made the journey in a farm wagon drawn by a team of horses, taking 40 days to make the trip. Tied to the back of the wagon was a pony, trudging along behind, and it was this same pony that Henry, Mr. Smiths older brother, used when he rode around Port Washington to notify the men of the draft for the Civil War.

The elder Mr. Smith was building a big sloop at the outbreak of the Civil War but abandoned it to enlist as a pilot on the Arrowsmith which went South to carry the dead and wounded back home.

After the war the elder Mr. Smith returned to Port Washington to carry on the boat building business. Isaac served as an apprentice in his fathers shop and it was there that he learned the boat building business.

Built 100 Boats

Mr. Smiths first shop was on Shore Road and it was here that he built the famous Star Boats. He built over 100 of them, all of which have been used by the International Star Boat Association. Mr. Smiths handiwork has been shipped far and wide, many of his boats sailing the waters of the Orient, San Francisco, the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, in England and from Maine to Miami along the Eastern seaboard.

After many years of being in the business for himself, he became associated with Carl H. Schultz of Sands Point, Martyn Baker of Great Neck and the late James P. Ford of Port Washington. The Sands Point Shipyard is known today as the Ford Shipyard.

Retiring from the business in 1930, Mr. Smith, as a hobby, busied himself making rowboats.

Mr. Smith knew his Port Washington history like a book. It was very interesting to hear him tell tales regarding life in this community years ago. He enjoyed a very fine memory, and this, coupled with a ready wit, made him a very entertaining citizen to meet.

Years ago, before there was a Town Tax receiver here, Mr. Smith acted as school tax collector.

He was a past grand master of Sewanhaka Lodge, IOOF, of this village, a memeber of the Junior Order of Mechanics, Daughters of Liberty, Daughters of the Union, and Rebekah Lodge.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Smith, former postmistress of this community, and a daughter by his first marriage, Mrs. William Larkin, of Port Washington.

Funeral services were held from his home Tuesday afternoon with the Rev. Richard Heggarty of the Methodist Church officiating, Interment took place in the Nassau Knolls Cemetery. A.F. Knowles Inc. were in charge of the arrangements.

Port Washington News October 4, 1940 [Port Washington News October 4, 1940]

New York Times Obituary

New York Times September 29, 1940

Isaac E. Smith; Built Star Boats

Constructed the First One of Now Famous Class in 1911

Port Washington, L.I.

September 29— Word was received here today of the death of Isaac E. Smith of this place, well known builder of Star Class boats, who died after a heart attack at his Adirondacks Summer home in North Creek yesterday morning. He was 82 years old.

Mr. Smith was a son of the late Stephen B. Smith and Mary E. Smith of Port Washington, and was born when the couple went to Illinois in 1858. When he was a small boy his parents returned to Long Island, and some years later he engaged in the boat building business, which had been followed by his ancestors.

In 1911 he built the first Star boat from plans by William Gardner, the famous designer of the Vanity and the Resolute. The boat, christened the Little Dipper, was built for George Corry, now called the father of the Star class. It was the fastest boat of its size on local waters and soon a class was started that carried to other clubs along the Western Long Island Sound, and now has fleets in almost every country in the world.

“Ike” Smith, who was interested only in building a perfect boat, never sailed in one in all the years he was building.

He leaves a widow, Ida Baxter Smith, former Port Washington postmistress, his second wife. A daughter, Mrs. William Larkin of Port Washington also survives.

Memorial services will be held by the Odd Fellows, Sons and Daughters of Liberty, Rebekah Lodge and Daughters of the Union, of which he was an honorary member, tomorrow night, and a funeral service will be held Tuesday at his home.

New York Times September 29, 1940 [New York Times September 29, 1940]

References

External links

Dedication to the Isaac E. Smith Boatyard [http://www.starclass.org/history/smith-boatyard.htm]

A Pictorial History of the Star Class [http://www.starclass.org/history/pictorial-1.htm]