Alameda-Santa Clara County CA Archives Biographies.....Smith, Henry Clay October 25, 1824 - November 24, 1875
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Steve Harrison raleighwood@juno.com January 7, 2010, 5:23 am

Source: History of Alameda County, California, 1883
Author: Unknown

"Honorable Henry C. Smith (deceased).  This well-known and much respected 
pioneer, a son of the late Major Timothy S. Smith, United States Army, was born 
in Fort Defiance, Ohio, October 25, 1824, but when two years old was taken by 
his father to South Bend, Indiana and in 1827 to St. Joseph, Michigan.  In 
July, 1845, he emigrated to California.  He left Fort Independence, Missouri, 
August 12, 1845, and after passing through many perils and hardships, arrived 
at Sutter's Fort on Christmas Day of that year.  In 1846 he entered upon 
military service under the celebrated Bear Flag, and served under General 
Fremont in his battalion, and remained in the service of the United States 
until peace was declared between Mexico and the United States.  He was one of 
the first Alcaldes appointed by General Riley, Military Governor of 
California.  In 1852, he was elected to the Legislature from Santa Clara 
County, and acquitted himself with much credit, and materially aided in the 
organization of Alameda County out of those of Contra Costa and Santa Clara 
Counties.  In March, 1855, he was elected a Supervisor from Washington 
Township: on September 3, 1855, he was re-elected to the Board, and on its 
organization, September 12, 1855, was chosen chairman, which position, he held 
while he continued a member, to December 1, 1856, when he was succeeded by 
Joseph R. Mason.  In 1859 he was the candidate of the Democratic Party for 
County Clerk, but was unsuccessful, his opponent, Joseph R. Mason, being 
elected by a majority of thirteen votes.  In 1861 he removed to the State of   
Nevada with his family and remained there till the summer of 1864, when he 
returned to Alameda County.  While in Nevada, he ran for the Assembly, but was 
defeated.  In 1867 he removed to Livermore Valley, where he settled on a 
quarter-section of Government land, and continued to reside there until within 
a few weeks of his death.  He was elected a Justice of the Peace for Murray 
Township in October 1871, and assumed the duties of his office on January 1, 
1872.   He resigned in December, 1872, and died in Livermore November 24, 
1875.  Mr. Smith was a very genial and warm-hearted man, who never tired of 
serving his friends and making himself useful in the community.  Married in 
California in the year 1846, Miss Mary Harlan Van Gordon, a native of Niles, 
Michigan, and left a family of four children, viz: Julia A., Emma L., Franklin 
Pierce, Charles Henry.  The eldest is now Mrs. J. F. Hargraves [John Frederick 
Hargrave.]" END

Additional Comments:
"History of Alameda County, California", Oakland: M.W. Wood, 1883.
Biographical sketch of Henry Clay Smith, pages 975-976.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/alameda/bios/smith913bs.txt

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