WILLIAM A. SMILEY. There are men in all communities whose influence is felt rather than seen; whose lives and characters, like the deep undercurrent of a mighty stream, have deeper, greater and weightier effects in moulding their surroundings and shaping the course of events, than others who in outward appearances may have an important showing in the affairs of the community. Among those quiet, earnest men, whose depth of character and firm uprightness of principles excite the admiration of those who know them, is William A. Smiley, who comes of a long line of honored ancestors. William A. Smiley was born April 22, 1848, in Hopewell township, this county. His father, Caldwell Smiley, was a son of William Smiley, who was of Scotch ancestry, and came to America at a very early day. He was one of the first elders of Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church, and with Robert Caldwell, in 1779 selected the site for the church. Prior to coming to Washington county, he had lived in York county, Penn. The personal appearance of Mr. William Smiley is thus described in "Old Redstone:" "He was a Scotchman of strong mind, very shrewd, and extremely pious. His manners were somewhat blunt, and he had an integrity and honesty about him which would not allow him to connive at anything he thought to be wrong. He disliked everything which in any way set aside the claims of religion, and did not give it its proper place in the business of life or the enjoyment of the social circle." It is related of Mr. Smiley that where at one time the church of Upper Buffalo had been unable for some years to pay the salary of Rev. James Smith, he volunteered to make the trip to New Orleans with a boat-load of flour. Although sixty-four years of age, he made the trip successfully, and from the proceeds of the sale of the flour paid the church debt. He died November 21, 1813, aged eighty-two years. William Smiley was the father of seven children, their names and dates of births being as follows: Margaret, in January, 1796; William, October 30, 1797; John, November 22, 1799; Robert, October 10, 1801; James, November 11, 1803; Samuel, November 28, 1805, and Caldwell, August 5, 1807. After a long career of usefulness, Mr. Smiley passed away at the age of eighty-two years.
Caldwell Smiley, youngest son of William, was reared in Hopewell township, this county, and, after receiving a fair English education in the common schools, engaged in farming. He was first married to a Miss Tweed, and after her death was united in marriage with Martha Smiley, daughter of Samuel Smiley, who bore him one son, William A. Caldwell Smiley wielded a strong influence in the community in which he lived. In politics he was a Whig prior to the formation of the Republicans, after which he became a strict adherent of the principles of that party. He possessed great determination and industry, and accumulated a handsome competence, the result of his own efforts.
After the death of his mother, which occurred May 6, 1848, William A. Smiley was taken into the family of his uncle, where he remained, attending school, until eighteen years of age, when the failing health of his father obliged him to return and take charge of the home farm. On October 1, 1875, he was married to Miss Linnie A. Work, daughter of James and Margaret (Caldwell) Work, of Hopewell township, residing near Buffalo village. After his father's death, Mr. Smiley purchased the farm upon which he is now residing, containing 108 acres. He gives special attention to the raising of sheep, hogs, horses and cattle, and the usual farm products. The children born to William A. and Linnie A. (Work) Smiley are: James C., Austin Vincent, William A., Viola M., Harold H., Elsie Belle, and one child deceased in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley are members and regular attendants of church and Sabbath-school of the Upper Buffalo Presbyterian Church.
Text taken from page 859 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published April 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]