Smith was born on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation on October 28, 1907. He never had a formal art education. When he was a child, after supper Smith, with his brothers and sisters would sit around the table with paper and pencil and have competitions on who could draw the best object.

He quit school in Buffalo to work so that he could help support his aging mother. He worked on farms, in mines, construction, and at Bell Aircraft. During this time he still kept painting as a hobby.

In 1935, Smith was hired by the Rochester Museum of Science as an artist. Over the next seven years, he not only created hundreds of paintings depicting Iroquois life, but also did a few woodcarvings.

It was his wish and hope that in his own way that he could record in paintings the stories, beliefs and culture of the Iroquois people.

Mr. Smith passed away in 1975.