Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 1218.
 
THOMAS SMITH

     A venerable pioneer of Douglas county, was born in Henly, Oxfordshire,
England, February 12, 1824, a son of George and Mary (Perrin) Smith.  Our
subject, the second in the family of nine children, came to the United States in
1830, locating in Rochester, New York.  In 1831 the family removed to Cleveland,
Ohio, in 1834 to La Porte county, Indiana, and in 1847 Mr. Smith and his brother
started across the plains to Oregon, leaving St. Joseph, Missouri, May 23, 1847.
Of this trip across the wild and barren plains Mr. Smith can talk for hours, as
his memory is exceptionally good for one of his age.  After arriving in this
State he located near Eugene, where he took up a donation claim.  In 1849 he
located a claim at Winchester, Douglas county, near Roseburg, where, for many
years, he was successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising.  In June, 1887,
he purchased property in Roseburg, and he now owns several valuable residences
in this city besides his own neat home on Douglas and Washington streets.  He
was one of the organizers of this county, and in 1852 was elected County
Commissioner, served as Justice of the Peace from 1855 to 1858; was Postmaster
from 1854 to 1860, at Winchester; in 1858 was elected Public Administrator of
Douglas county; from 1874 to 1878 served as County Judge, and at the present
time is Inspector of Stock for the county, which position he has filled for
eight years.  for many years he served on the School Board, and has a record of
having run the best and cheapest schools ever conducted in that county.
     Mr. Smith was married, in 1852 to Miss Arethusa E. Lynn, a native of
Missouri, and a daughter of Daniel and Annie (Haun) Lynn, both well-known
pioneers of Oregon.  Our subject and wife have had the following children:
George D.; Marion, deceased; Lynn; Lee; Nathan; Ralph; Mary A., wife of D. F.
Rohrer; Thomas; Arethusa E.; Helen V.; Rolla, deceased; and Grace D.  Socially,
Mr. Smith has been a Mason since 1858.  He has resided in Douglas county longer
than any other white man, and may properly be styled a  pioneer of pioneers.  He
has been successful in all his business ventures, has always contributed of his
means toward the advancement of the county in which he lives, is an upright,
honest and enterprising citizen, has witnessed the hardships of frontier life,
and to such as he the material prosperity of the country is greatly due.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.