In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1900) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1816
From The history of Miami county, Ohio : containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest t (1880), A genealogical and biographical record of Miami county, Ohio (1900)
GEORGE SMITH, farmer and manufacturer; l\ O. Tippecanoe; is one of the prominent citizens and well-established business men of Tippecanoe; born in England, in Lincolnshire, in 1816; he is the son of William and Mildred Smith, who subsequently emigrated to America; they had seven children. George received no education but what he acquired by his own exertions and close observation throughout life. In 1838, he emigrated to this country, landing in New York City, then went to Dayton, Ohio, by steamer, canal-boat and wagon; he worked as a laborer at Greenville Falls a short time, and then entered a distillery east of Dayton; he engaged at this in the vicinity of Dayton, as a laborer, for about five years, and then at merchandising at Fairfield, Ohio, for sixteen months, when he, with his brother-in-law, leased and operated for three years the distillery, flouring and saw-mill at G-reenville Falls; subsequently for two years they operated a distillery at Casstown, where, in 1 852, they erected the first one in this place; then built a flour and oil mill, which he operated for some eight or nine years; he then turned his attention to farming, which he has since engaged in; he is now President of and a stockholder in the “ Grape Sugar Company,” of this place, which was recently organized, with a capital stock of $50,000; he has frequently held offices of trust in township and town, as Corporation and Township Treasurer for many years, member of School Board, City School Treasurer, etc. He is a self-made man. When he arrived at Dayton, in 1838, he had only a sixpence in his pocket, but his energy, industry and business sagacity have won for him a place among the foremost business men of the county. He has done much for the improvement of the city, and is identified with all measures of public interest. He is a Republican in politics, and, with his wife, a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is also a member of the A., F. & A. M. fraternity. He has been married twice, first to Miss Jane Smith, in 1839, who died Oct. 14, 1877. His second wife was Sarah E. Galloway nee Bennett. One child, now dead, was the issue of this latter union.
As printed in The history of Miami county, Ohio : containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest t (1880). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
GEORGE SMITH.
"We build the ladder by which we rise," is a truth which is certainly applicable to Mr. Smith, who for many years was numbered among the leading citizens of Miami county. He was a type of the progressive public-spirited men of the age, the spirit which has given America the pre-eminence along its various business lines; and the undaunted enterprise, indomitable perseverance and resolute purpose which were numbered among his characteristics enabled him to rise from a position of comparative obscurity to an eminence which commanded the admiration of the business world.
Mr. Smith was born in Lincolnshire, England, August 13, 1816, and was a son of William and Mildred Smith, who emigrated with their family to the new world. They were the parents of seven children. When our subject was thirteen years of age he began earning his own livelihood by harding sheep and afterward working at anything that he could get to do that would yield to him an honest having. In 1838 he crossed the Atlantic to America upon a sailing vessel which dropped anchor in the harbor of New York after a voyage of four weeks. By packet, steamer, canal and wagon he made his way west.ard to Ohio and for a short time worked as a laborer at Greenville Falls, after which he secured a situation in a distillery east of Dayton, being employed there for five years. On the expiration of that period he engaged inmerchaadising in Ftirfield, Ohio, for sixteen months', and then, in company with his brother-inlaw, Edward Smith, he leased a distillery, flouring-mill and sawmill at Greenville Falls, operatingthose plants for three years. At a later date they carried on a distillery for two years in Casstown, Ohio, and in 1852 they operated the first distillery at Tippecanoe City. They also built a flour and oil mill and after eight or nine years connected with those enterprises ]\Mr. Smith turned his attention to farming. He was, however, prominently connected with the industrial interests of rIiami county and became one of the principal organizers and stockholders of the Grape Sugar Company, wliicli was capitalized for fifty thousand dollars. He was elected its president and to his capable management the enterprise owed its success For twenty years he was a director in the First National Bank of Troy, and his sound judgment and business ability contributed to its success. Mr. Smith was a public-spirited arid progressive citizen anil in manv wavs he aided in the moral development and substantial improvement of the county, withholding his support from no measure which he believed would prove a public good. He frequently held offices of trust in the township and in the city, and was a member of the city school board. His political supjjort was gi\en the Republican party and at all times he kept well informed on the issues of the day.
Mr. Smith was twice married. He first wedded Miss Jane Smith, who died Octolier is, 1877. Afterward he married Miss Sarah E. Galloway, widow of William C. Gallowa_\- and a daughter of Joseph Bennett, wb.o was born in Derbyshire. England, in 181 1, and came to America in 1840. For many years before crossing the Atlantic he was a teacher and after taking up his above in the Buckeye state he also followed that profession. His death occurred in Tippecanoe City, December 21. 1891, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were five children, of whom four died in infancy, while Mildred is still living, at the age of fourteen years. In addition to their present home in Tippecanoe City, I\Mr. Smith was the owner of three hundred acres of valuable farming land, two hundred acres being located in hami county, the remainder in Montgomerv county. Ohio. He was a charter member of Tippecanoe City Lodge. F. & A. M.. and was a devoted member of the Lutheran church. He took an active interest in everything i)pertaining to the welfare of his community, and has tended to advance its progress along social, moral, material and intellectual lines. His record is one of which his family may justly be proud. WHien he arrived in Dayton, Ohio, in 1838, he had only a.single sixpence in his pocket, but energy and business sagacity enabled him to win a place among the leading business men of Miami county. At all times he was reliable and trustworthy in trade transactions and his steady advancement was an indication not only of his power to handle intricate business matters but also of the confidence repo.sed in him by his fellow-townsmen. In his death, which occurred April 29. 1894, the community lost one of its best citizens, but his memory will long be enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him.
As printed in A genealogical and biographical record of Miami county, Ohio (1900). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name George Smith: Lucien L. Youart (b. 1876) Frederick Poock (b. 1833)
The printed record stops around 1880. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.