"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chicago: Chapman
Publishing Co., 1903. p. 697.
 
PRESTON CARTER SMITH

     But a few years have elapsed since the death of one of Portland's fine
characters, embodied in the life of Preston Carter Smith, a native of the city
wherein so many of his years were spent and where men came to know and
appreciate the noble qualities which distinguished him. He was one of the most
progressive young men of the community during his brief life, for he was but
thirty-nine years old at the time of his death, and having as an inheritance a
keen and discriminating business talent and clean cut, decisive methods he gave,
for a time, a strong impetus to the commercial activity of Portland. He was also
endowed with that higher, more evanescent power of mind that speaks through the
pen, and though he never aspired to authorship the talent was visible in his
mode of living, directing his thoughts toward an ideality which made him
infinitely dear to those who came in close contact with him.
     Mr. Smith was born in Portland, June 19, 1857, the youngest son of Joseph
S. and Jane (Carter) Smith, two well known and honored pioneers of Oregon. At an
early age he evinced a fondness for reading which always placed him in the front
ranks in his school work, his preliminary education being received through the
medium of the public and private schools of this city and Santa Clara College,
California. On completion be went to Carlisle, Pa., and was there graduatedfrom
college, after a pleasant and profitable sojourn under the hospitable roof and
among the pleasant scenes of Dickinson College. Mr. Smith there became one of
the most popular students, his cordial, courteous manner winning him many
friends. While a student he took a very prominent part in all sports, excelling
as an athlete and especially as a member of the ball team. He was also very
active in the Chi Phi fraternity to which he belonged, that being the only order
with which he ever affiliated. After his graduation Mr. Smith did not return to
Portland, but settled down in Alabama to a business career, having previously
traveled throughout the United States for several months, and he there married
Miss Jeannie Williamson, who was of Scotch and English ancestry, and of a very
old and respected family of the south.
     To his old home in Portland, Mr. Smith returned about a year later,
recalled by the ill health of his father who required an assistant in looking
after his extensive business interests.  The management of the affairs passed
entirely into the hands of our subject and that they were ably managed is the
verdict of all who were intimate with the family at that time. Upon the death of
his father he settled up the estate and each of the three children were left
independent.  At one time Mr. Smith had taken up the study of law, but on
account of failing eyesight was compelled to forego the pleasure of a complete
mastery of the subject, and through a rather delicate organization he was also
unable to engage unreservedly in business ventures. Possessed, however, of a
wonderful vitality, he gave himself entirely to whatever he had in hand, with a
determination to bring his projects to a successful termination if it lay within
the bounds of human possibility, and this trait has left behind him a memorial
in the minds of mature business men, for a recognition of his executive ability
and far reaching judgment was compelled by the masterly manner in which he
completed his work. It was with men of this character that Mr. Smith associated
in the settlement of his father's estate and they looked upon him as a companion
and an advisor, for he not only inherited from his father the qualities which
make successful business men but his natural tendency was for a business career.
     With his share of the property Mr. Smithbegan making investments which
brought him largereturns.  In 1891 his real estate was rated at over a half
million dollars. He engaged extensively in the lumber business of the city and
became part owner of the largest saw mill in Portland, which was inherited from
his father and to the management of which he gave his personal attention. He was
also one of the organizers and incorporators of the Ainsworth National Bank and
one of the largest stockholders in the institution, of which he became a
director, holding the position until compelled to retire on account of failing
health. He disposed of his interests in 1891. One business venture of Mr.
Smith's was his championship of the cable road of Portland, which had been tried
by others and given up as a poor investment, and with the same courage and
determination which had always distinguished his efforts he fought his way
against opposition and brought the work to a successful termination. He had won,
but successwas quickly followed by failure, for the financialcrisis of 1892
interrupted commercial and industrial activity all over the country and no place
more than in the growing west, and electricity then succeeded the cable and he
lost heavily in the transaction. Being now compelled to withdraw entirely from
business activity, he soughtin every way to recover his health but his life span
was complete, for he passed away February 13, 1897.
       In all business dealings Mr. Smith had acted ever with
straightforwardness and honesty, and once taking a stand he believed to be right
he never retreated. As a stanch Democrat politically he was an active party man
but never cared to receive official recognition. He was tendered the nomination
for governor at a convention held at Astoria, and not being present through
theillness of his wife and also his own ill health,he received a telegram
asking if he would be acandidate and he replied that he would not, though the
convention delayed three hours endeavoring to persuade him to rescind his
answer.  At the time the leaders of the Republican party declared that had he
become a candidate he would have met with no opposition. As to the charity in
which Mr. Smith had acted upon no man can say, for though it was known that no
one ever sought in vain for assistance, the number who found the helpful and
ready hand of Mr. Smith reached toward them in their need can never be known. He
evidently believed in the biblical injunction and kept the record of his own
good deeds hidden in the recesses of his own soul. That his friends are numbered
in all stations of life speaks eloquently of the work which he accomplished
during his too brief years. Socially he was a charter member of the Arlington
Club for many years, serving as president one term. Public spirited, he gave
liberally of his means toward the accomplishment of all worthy movements
calculated to increase the general welfare and was vitally interested in the
prosperity of his native city.  Personally he was a man no one could fail to
respect and like, for he was possessed of many qualities which were admirable in
themselves and contributed to the pleasure and enjoyment of others. He was an
accomplished musician and the best billiard player in the northwest, and also
possessed such excellent command of the English language that he was an eloquent
speaker and writer. A letter written by him to his wife and shown to Clement C.
Clay, a scholar and a member of the cabinet of Jefferson Davis, called forth the
remark: "He ought to be an author as he combines the humor of an Irving with the
diction of a De Quincey, and you should prevail upon him to turn his attention
to literary work."
      By his first wife Mr. Smith had two children,Preston Williamson and
Madeline Searcy, the latter of whom is now attending school in the east.  May,
1885, Mrs. Smith passed away from the cares of earth through a painful accident,
when the mother and sister Susan came west tocare for the children. The climate
not agreeing with the former she returned home and thedaughter remained, and in
June, 1889 she became the wife of Mr. Smith.  She was born in Alabama and
received her education in the select schools of her native state, womanhood
findingher talented and cultured. The ancestry of theWilliamson family is
traced back to the year 1600, when the progenitor of the Americanbranch first
settled in Virginia, and later locatedin Carolina, where the family flourished
for manygenerations.  The grandfather located in Savannah, Ga. They had large
families who became distinguished in the public affairs in their various
localities, their wealth and executive ability adding much to their importance
as citizens of any community.  John P. Williamsonwas a large slave owner and at
one time lost fivehundred by cholera.  He owned extensive riceplantations and
was one of the wealthy men ofthe south.  He was twice married and had fourteen
children. Only one of the name now survives, William, a bachelor of Savannah,
Ga.  Oneof his marriages united him with a Miss McQueen, a representative of a
Scotch family. Thesecond wife was a Miss Denis, daughter of a French Huguenot
refugee, who came to this country at an early day. On the maternal side
Mrs.Smith is a descendant of Col. Robert Searcy, an officer in the Revolutionary
war, and one distinguished for his courage and loyalty. He was also a prominent
Mason, having had the thirty-thirddegree conferred upon him in 1800, in
Tennessee. The original parchment diploma, with oneissued to her maternal
grandfather, who wasaTurner and a prominent Mason in Alabama isnow in the
possession of Mrs. Smith and both are greatly prized as heirlooms. These
families have flourished in Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina and Alabama, and
were looked upon as worthy pioneers of the country.
      Mrs. Smith has two children, Susie Aubrey and Henry A., both of whom have
received the best of educations through the medium of the private schools of
Portland. Though Mr. Smithhad inherited and accumulated a large amount of
property, a stringency of the money market came and he was unable to realize
upon his possessions and at his death left an indebtedness of $100,000, with
property sufficient to coverthe same when an advance in holdings would occur
Mrs. Smith was appointed executrix of the estate and in that position displayed
wonderful executive ability and good judgment, in the face of heavy odds and the
advice of business men taking upon herself the responsibility of the heavy
indebtedness and successfully discharging the same with interest, besides saving
considerable property. The work was done with the master-lines that had always
distinguished her husband, and perhaps through his experiences, which he had
always retailed to her, though never in any way burdening her with the cares and
responsibilities of his transactions, she had gained that clear insight into
business methods which carried her successfully through an ordeal from which
many business men would have shrunk. Mrs. Smith now makes her home in Portland,
where she enjoys the esteem and confidence of the people with whom she has been
associated for so many years, earnest and public spirited in every way,
disbursing with a ready hand toward all worthy enterprises and charitably giving
to all in need.

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