This worthy pioneer and substantial citizen of Malheur County, is deserving of a place in any compilation that purports to give the history of this section, since his labors have been here for many years toward the development and progress of the country, and since he is a man of ability and has achieved a goodly success as the reward of his labors and thrift.
Mr. Smith was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 18, 1835, being the son of John and Susan Smith. At the age of eight he went with his parents to Illinois and there remained until 1854, when he came across the plains with his brothers, in an ox train, to Siskiyou County, California, and there engaged in mining. He made some good discoveries and later, 1858, went to the Cariboo mines at the time of the Fraser river excitement, whence he returned to Portland, then to Salem, and there followed his trade of brick mason. In 1878 he removed to Jackson County and remained three years and then vent to Mugginsville, California, where he mined until 188o. The next year he came to Malheur County, and located the place where he now lives as a homestead, ten miles northwest from Rockville, and devoted himself to farming and stock raising. His place is under the irrigating ditch and well improved and he has a good band of stock. Mr. Smith mines some, being interested in several good properties.
The marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Mary, daughter of John and Frances Ramsey, was solemnized in Salem, on November 9. 1865, and they have become the parents of three children. William W. residing in Malheur County; Fannie, wife of Mr. Ford, a stock man of Malheur County; George V. Mrs. Smith’s parents crossed the plains in 1863, and her father died in Salem in 1875, but her mother is still living in Malheur County. Mrs. Smith was born on May 11, 1865. She has some fine relics, as gold rings and so forth, the gold of which she pounded out of the rocks with her own hands in California.