Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 4. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 142.
 
GEORGE A. SMITH

     engaged in general farming as manager of his brother's holdings in Coos
county, Oregon, was born in the section where he resides on August 9, 1883. He
is the son of Samuel and Mary (Conner) Smith, the former a native of Illinois
and the latter of Iowa. The father crossed the plains to Oregon in the early
'50s and was for many years prominently identified with all phases of life and
activity. He served in the Indian war for more than a year and was well known as
a progressive agriculturist in Coos county, where his death occurred in 1905. He
was survived by his wife until April 25, 1912. Mrs. Smith was also among the
pioneer settlers in the state of Oregon, crossing the plains with her parents
when she was very young. Her marriage occurred in Josephine county and to their
union were born eleven children, six of whom are living: B. S., who is engaged
in farming at the head of Rock creek, six miles above Bridge, in Coos county;
John H., who also resides in Coos county; Mabel, now Mrs. Chauncey Humphrey and
a resident of the same section; Charles H., also of Coos county; George A., the
subject of this sketch; and Ada A., the wife of W. H. McCulley, of California.
     George A. Smith was reared at home and received his education, as did all
his brothers and sisters, in the public schools of Coos county. He assisted his
father in the various labors incident to the conduct of a large agricultural
enterprise and early became acquainted with the best methods of tilling the soil
and caring for the grain. He remained at home until his marriage in 1910 and in
the same year started farming in Jackson county, where he was prominent as an
agriculturist for one year. At the end of that time he returned to Coos county
and settled on his brother's farm as its active manager. He now cultivates the
soil with increasing success along modernly progressive lines and rich harvests
pay tribute to his industry and intelligence. He is a large property owner in
Bandon, Oregon, having invested judiciously in town lots. He is always eager to
promote the welfare of his native section and his cooperation is freely rendered
in any movement looking toward its further development.
     On September 6, 1910, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Hazel May
Smith, whose birth occurred in Lane county, Oregon, near Eugene. She is a
daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Victoria (Jones) Smith, the former a native of
Iowa and the latter of Oregon. The father crossed the plains to Oregon with his
parents when he was only two years of age and settled in Lane county in 1852. He
was later married in this section and here his wife died in 1902. Benjamin F.
Smith is still living upon his homestead. He is the father of three children:
Marian T., now a resident of Lane county; Hazel May, the wife of our subject;
and Clive, who is farming on a homestead claim in Lane county. Mrs. Smith
received her early education in the public schools of her native section and
later attended the high school at Bandon, Oregon. She and her husband are the
parents of one daughter, Mildred Lucile.
     In his political affiliations Mr. Smith is a republican but is liberal in
his views on local and national issues. He never seeks public office, preferring
to devote his time and attention to the cultivation and improvement of the large
tract of land which he is managing, and by promoting the interests of his
brother is in a fair way to achieve his individual success.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.