GEORGE E. SMITH George Smith was born in the Emerald Isle, and crossing the ocean at an early date settled near Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn. When a young man he was married to Miss Todd, a native of Westmoreland county, who bore him eight children, namely: William, Mary, Thomas, David, Nancy, George, Edward and Martha, all now deceased. The father devoted his life to agricultural pursuits. Thomas Smith was born in 1780, in Westmoreland county, Penn., where his boyhood was passed. He was united in marriage with Nancy, daughter of David Stewart, a prominent farmer living near Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, and four children were born to their union, as follows: George E., Amelia and two unnamed. The father learned the saddler's trade when a young man, and followed some time in Youngstown, Penn. After the death of his wife he removed to Elizabethtown, Ky., where he passed his later years.
George E. Smith was born January 18, 1820, in Youngstown, Penn., and remained there until about ten years of age. He then accompanied his father to Kentucky, where he resided during his minority, and where he cast his first vote. He then returned to Allegheny county, Penn., and saw the first steamboat land at Pittsburgh. On October 30, 1845, he married Phoebe, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Kearns, who lived in Allegheny county, about two miles from Pittsburgh. After his marriage he taught school about ten years, then conducted a wholesale grocery business for about four years, and then in 1857 came to their present farm in Peters township, Washington county. Soon after locating in this county he was elected justice of the peace by the Democratic party, and has held this position for seven consecutive terms, enjoying the distinction of being the only justice in Washington county who has had but one decision reversed by the higher courts. During thirty-five years of official service he has won the esteem and confidence of all who know him, and has been intrusted with important business by many citizens of Peters township. He is a member and liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church at Fairview. Three children have been born to them, namely: Edward T., Rebecca K. (wife of George Hayes), and John S.
Edward T. Smith was born September 5, 1846, in Allegheny county, Penn., and lived there until he was eight years of age, when he came to his present home in Peters township, Washington county. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed twelve years, and then was employed as a sawyer in a sawmill for five years. On January 5, 1865, he was married to Jennie Hamilton, of Nottingham township, daughter of Henry Hamilton. The young couple first settled in Bower Hill, Washington county, and in the spring of 1892 came to the farm in Peters township which was given him by his aunt, Miss Fannie J. Stewart. Edward T. and Jennie Smith are the parents of the following children: Margaret A., Carrie (Mrs. Robert Hixon), George H. (deceased), William S., Ada Bell, Susan A. and Amelia T. Mr. Smith owns fifty-one acres of land, also a house and lot in Bower Hill. He is a Democrat in politics and is a member of Venetia Council, No. 589. In religious faith he is a member of Peters Creek United Presbyterian Church.
Text taken from page 516 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed June 1997 by Dorothy Elwood of Mulberry, FL as part of the Beers Project.
Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]