George V. Smith

As printed in 1887

EORGE V. SMITH. The name of this gentleman is favorably known in railroad circles. He is general foreman of the B., C. R. & N. I\. R. shops at Cedar Rapids, which position he tills with great credit and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He was born in Scotland. Nov. 1 1. 1832. His parents were Charles and Margaret (Young) smith, natives of the same country, and possessing all those qualities for which the Scotch people are so eminently noted. Charles Smith, the father, was a roof-slater, of which business Ikmad.- a specialty and which he followed-fully through life. The subject of this-ketch only remained at home until he was nine and a half years old. He then went to England and shipped aboard a vessel as cabin-boy, and since that time he has seen mole of the world than many a man whose opportunities were perhaps greater, but who failed to improve them. At the age of thirteen years he had visited Bombay in the East Indies, and followed trading on the coast along the Mediterranean and Black Seas. He seemed to be a natural born sailor, ami the sea possessed an attraction for him which was irresistible. He became proficient in those aits which the successful seaman must acquire, and at an early age was given the position of second mate on his vessel. He followed the sea for a number of Aear-. was shipwrecked three times, and on one occasion, when returning from Russia, his vessel was caught among the Icebergs and sprang a leak. It was heavily loaded, became water-logged, and those on board were three months reaching port. During this time the crew were put on-hurt rations, and they suffered greatly from hunger and exposure. He was also shipwrecked at Yarmouth Roads, on the coast of England, during a heavy gale, the vessel running on the sand and breaking in two. They were obliged to take to the boats, and after superhuman exertionall hands fortunately reached the shore in safety. The third shipwreck was on the Jersey coast of France. Their vessel was loaded with a general cargo for Havre de Grace. They were on a dangerous coast, and came into collision with a smuggler, a French ligger. The vessel sprang a leak, they ran her ashore and the crew were picked up by lifeboats.

During the experiences above related Mr. Smith came in contact with many nationalities, particularly his near neighbors, the English, and he states thai this people were peculiarly kind in their treatment of the unfortunate. He sailed on an English vessel, and became greatly attached to the English people, their manner of living and their general characteristics. He finally became dissatisfied with his experience upon the ocean, and resolved to settle down upon terra firma and to emigrate to America, and accordingly, in 1849, embarked once more on the sea and crossed over to the New World. After a time he found himself in Paterson, N..1., among the Rodgers Locomotive Works, and became employed there for three years: thence he went to Susquehanna Village, on the York & Erie Railroad, where he was employed as a journeyman at first, and afterward as gang boss, lie resolved to see all of the United states that he could, and after this engagement had terminated he proceeded to Chicago, and there went into the machine shops of P. W. Gates, finally becoming assistant fk fireman. He remained there two and a half years, then went to Galena and became gang boss in the machine shops of the Calena & Chicago Union Railroad, now consolidated with the Northwestern. This was in 1856. He remained there two years, and was then stationed as foreman of the round-house, which position he occupied until 1872. He had now accumulated some means, and this year established a machine-shop and facing-mill in the city of Chicagk

The opportunity of combining business with pleasure now presented itself, and he crossed the ocean into England and Scotland, in the interest of a Philadelphia firm who were operating as manufacturers of Max batting. He returned from this mission, which he had negotiated successfully, and then went upon a similar errand for a Chicago firm. Upon his return from this trip he brought back with him $65,000 worth of linen machinery, which he put into a mill at Rochelle, Ill., and entering upon the manufacture of this commodity, brought it to successful operation, and then proceeded to Cedar Rapids, where he became occupied at his old employment as gang bos; and was stationed in the round-house of the P., C. R. & N. Co. Their present shops were erected in that year (1876), and since their completion he has had charge of them. He has ninety-eight men under his immediate supervision, and 400 men around the shops.

During these wanderings he had selected one little spot which he called home, and a partner to share in his joys and sorrows. In 185G he was married to Miss Mary.Melville, like himself a native of Scotland, and a daughter of John and Mary (Thompson) Melville, natives of the same country, the father manager of a linen manufactory there for twenty-one years. Of this union two children were born: Melville J., who married Miss Sonora Kisler, and is the father of a son bearing his own name, and Wilhelmina, now Mrs. E. A. Charles. Her husband is a machinist, and is employed by the P., C. R. <fc N. R. li. They have two sons. Edgar and Fred.

Unlike many who have seen so much of the world and wandered over so much of land and sea, Mr. Smith has been industrious and frugal, and has accumulated considerable property. He is the possessor of an orange grove in Florida, and other land on the Peninsula. He also has a good residence in Cedar Rapids, which is located on P avenue at No. 171. In. this city he has two houses and three lots, and may properly be considered one of the solid and substantial men of the community. lie is Republican in political belief and principles, is a member of the Masonic fraternity in good standing, arid a regular attendant of the Episcopal Church, to the support of which he contributes liberally and cheerfully.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Linn County, Iowa (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.