Tehama-Sonoma-Alameda County CA Archives Biographies.....Smith, William H. 1828 - ************************************************ 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 31, 2007, 3:49 am Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891) WILLIAM H. SMITH, one of the prominent viticulturists of Tehama County, was born January 16, 1828, in Rensselaer County, New York, where he was reared and completed his education at the Kinderhook College. His father, John M., and mother, Ann Maria (Hendricks) Smith, were both natives of New York State. The original immigration on the maternal side to America came from Holland. Mr. Smith while in his native State held many important offices of trust, among them that of Commissioner of Highways. He was elected to this office in 1865, and retained it until 1874, when he resigned this position and declined the office of Supervisor. He left his native State in 1876, and came by rail to California, locating in the vicinity of Healdsburg, where he engaged in viticultural pursuits until 1879. He moved thence to Oakland, where he now owns residence property and lived retired from business life until August, 1881, when he accepted the superintendency of the entire system known as the Stanford vineyard and ranch property, located at Vina, which he conducted in all branches until 1887. Then the wine industry and other branches of business connected with the ranch reached a point where it became necessary for Mr. Smith to be relieved of a portion of the responsibility. He now has charge of and superintends all the outlying business in connection with the famous ranch. In 1889 Mr. Smith took a vacation of a few weeks and paid his native State and relatives a visit. Mr. Smith was joined in marriage in Columbia County, New York, in 1840, with an estimable lady of his name, Miss Jane H. Smith, who was also a native of New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had two children, Georgiana, now deceased, and Charles H., who has a position in the treasurer's department of the Central Pacific Railroad since 1874. Mr. Smith is the eldest of six children in his father's family, four of whom reside in the State of New York, and one brother, Captain N. T. Smith, a resident of California, who has long been connected with the Central Pacific Railroad as assistant treasurer. In politics Mr. Smith affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not active in political matters. He is a member of the Board of School Trustees of the Lassen School district. Additional Comments: Extracted from Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California. Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of Prominent Citizens of To-day. "A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendents." – Macauley. CHICAGO THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY 1891. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/tehama/bios/smith1177nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb