Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 808.
 
CYRUS SMITH

     A successful and retired farmer of Oregon and respected citizen of Amity,
was born in Genesee county, New York, July 28, 1826.  His father, Ira Smith, was
born in Vermont, September 18, 1800, and was a descendant of one of the English
missionaries, who came to New England in the early history of the colonies, in
1630.  Grandfather Oliver Smith was also a native of the great mountain State.
     The father of the subject of our sketch married Miss Polly Palmer, a native
of Canada, and they had six children, three of whom survive, the eldest being
our subject.  In 1826 the family moved to Oakland county, Michigan, in the early
settlement of that State.
     Here the subject of our sketch resided until he attained his twenty-sixth
year, when, on February 2, 1852, he started on the long journey to California by
way of New York and Panama, arriving in San Francisco August 28, of the same
year.  He first went to the mines, at Marysville, but was not successful, and
was obliged to chop wood to pay his expenses.  After earning $50 in this way, he
decided to try farming, as all kinds of produce were very high.
     He, accordingly, went to the head of the bay of San Francisco, where he
farmed for a year, at the end of which time produce had become plenty, and he
left there with only $100.
     His desire for gold and mining then returned, and he went to Mud Springs,
in El Dorado county, and worked hard at mining for six months, but was not
successful.  When in poor luck in the mines he met some Oregonians, who told him
that there was a demand for school teachers in Oregon, and deciding that mining
was not his forte, he returned to San Francisco, where he took passage for
Oregon on the steamer Columbia, and arrived in June, 1854, in the then little
town of Portland.  With all of his worldly goods in a carpet-bag he started up
the valley, in search of a school without a teacher, but found them all
supplied.  By the time he had reached Yam Hill county it became necessary for
him to do something, so he stopped at Solomon Allen's, who had a small store,
which he was hired to look after.  He worked there for eight months, during
which time he became acquainted, and secured a school, which he taught for about
thirteen months.
     In 1855 he married Miss Elizabeth Allen, an estimable lady and a native of
Jackson county, Missouri, where she was born in 1837.  She was a daughter of Mr.
Solomon Allen, who had given him work, when he was a stranger in need.
     After his marriage he engaged in farming, soon after purchasing 120 acres,
on which he built a small house and planted a large orchard.  He was very
successful, and later sold the property advantageously, purchasing a third
interest in a sawmill at Salem, which, about a year afterward, was consumed by
fire, but he rebuilt it and soon after sold it.  He then came to Amity and
engaged in merchandising, which he continued successfully for seven years.  At
the end of this time he traded for a farm of 183 acres, which he rented,
remaining himself in Amity.  From time to time he has added to his original
purchase, until he now (in 1892) has 510 acres in one body, located three miles
south of Amity.  This is some of the choicest farming land in the county, and is
very productive and valuable property.  He and his faithful wife reside in
Amity, where they have a pleasant home, with attractive surroundings, where they
are enjoying the comforts secured by their industry and intelligence.  She has
been a helpmate in the truest sense of the word, and has contributed in now
small degree to his prosperity.
     They have two children:  Emily J., who is now the widow of Mr. W. G.
Hawley, and resides with her parents; Albert Grant, his son, is an able
physician at Yaquina Bay, Oregon.
     Mr. Smith has been a Republican ever since the organization of that party,
and at the time of the civil war was a strong Union man.
     Mrs. Smith is a worthy member of the Presbyterian Church, to the support of
which she contributes liberally of her means and influence.
     They are both esteemed pioneers of their town and county, where they are
known as upright and enterprising people and worthy of the highest regard of
their fellow-men.

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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.