Monterey-San Francisco-Santa Cruz County CA Archives Biographies.....Smith, Edward L. B. ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 15, 2007, 4:24 am Author: Luther A. Ingersoll, Editor (1893) EDWARD L. B. SMITH, deceased, one of the honored and esteemed pioneers of California, paid the debt of Nature in 1853, leaving to his descendants an inheritance beyond price, that of an untarnished name. Our subject came overland from Springfield, Illinois, to California, in 1848, leaving Springfield in April of that year. The journey was a perilous one and Mr. Smith was so unfortunate as to receive an accidental wound in the arm from one of the guards while placing them around, that proved very serious. This wound was received while guarding the camp at night, when he was serving as Captain of the guard. Mr. Smith made his advent into San Francisco on the 22d of October, the same year. He was a merchant by trade and pursued his calling until November of the year 1849, when he removed to Santa Cruz, where he remained until January, 1850, when he located at San Juan. As he was a man of broad intelligence and well versed in English and American law he began the practice of the same in San Juan. Mr. Smith was the first Postmaster of San Juan, and at the time of his death, in 1853, was Surveyor of Monterey county. Mr. Smith married Miss Jane Whittacer, a native of Kingston, New York, where the marriage ceremony occurred. Mrs. Smith was of Holland Dutch descent. Mr. Smith was also a native of New York, his birthplace being Ulster county, that State. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were all born in Kingston and were by name as follows: Annie, wife of Judge R. F. Feckham of San Jose, is now deceased; Caroline is the widow of John N. Bigley and resides at San Juan; Leath M. is the wife of John Breen, of San Juan; Mary S. is the wife of George Chalmers of San Juan; Josephine married W. Jeffries of Santa Clara county and is now deceased; and John, the only son, who is now a resident of Stockton. Mr. Smith was an honorable man, an energetic and esteemed citizen who is still remembered by the host of friends he left behind. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California. Illustrated. Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent Citizens of To-day. HENRY D. BARROWS, Editor of the Historical Department. LUTHER A. INGERSOLL, Editor of the Biographical Department. "A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants."-Macaulay. CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1893. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/monterey/bios/smith1037nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 3.4 Kb