Walter Smith went by the nick-name Jake. This was probably because he lost the use of his left arm in a car accident. Jake's arm was hanging out the window of his pickup truck when he either sideswiped or was sideswiped by a combine.

He was married to Lula Bella (Latham) Smith (Find A Grave Memorial# 51108922).

He had 11 children with her. Daniel M., Clara Etta, Thomas Oran, Clyde Fritz, Warren Ray, J.R., Thelma Catherine, Eva Odell, Gynna Louise, Ernest and Walter Nealon.

He was the son of Moses (Find A Grave Memorial# 51108832) and Katherine Smith (Find A Grave Memorial# 51108819)

Jake made his living installing fences on the frontier, Although Jake did not have use of his left arm he, his son, and his grandson stretched miles of barbed wire across the Texas landscape. Jake never patented his invention, but he was the inventor of the motorized barbed wire stretcher.

From his obituary:

FINAL RITES HELD FOR W. B. (JAKE) SMITH

Final rites were held Wednesday, Feb 10, at 3:00 p.m., from the First Baptist Church. Paducah, for W. B. (Jake Smith, pioneer Cottle county resident and retired fence contractor. Elder E. J. Norman officiated.

Mr. Smith, in ill health for the past four years passed away Monday morning in a Matador Hospital where he had been receiving treatment the past two weeks. Prior to entering the hospital at Matador he had received treatment in a Lubbock hospital.

Born May14, 1883 at Grand Prairie, he had resided in Cottle county for 62 years, but for the past seven years had been making his home at Matador. He was married to Lula Belle Latham August 26, 1902, Childress, Texas, and to this union was born 11 children of whom 10 survive.

Survivors in the immediate family include his wife, Matador; six sons, Dan, Clyde and Warren Smith, Paducah, J.R. and Neal Smith, Matador, Earnest Smith, Roswell, N. M.; four daughters, Mrs. J. A. Truelock, Los Alamos, N. M., Mrs. Bert Clark, Gallup, N. M.. Mrs. Dewey Green, Earth, Texas, Mrs. Hubert Truelcok, Paducah; two sisters Mrs. A. M. Bohner. Mrs. John W. Carroll, Paducah; 63 grandchildren, and 24 great-grandchildren.

One son, T. O. Smith is deceased.

Pall bearers were Shirley Sandefur, Roy Powell, Paducah; Bernie Cox, Melvin Mason, Hub Swearingen, Matador; Earnest Green of Earth.

Services were under the direction of the Norris Funeral Home and interment was made in the Garden of Memories Cemetery, Paducah.