Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Smith, George Y 1813 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 9, 2007, 12:39 am

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

GEORGE Y. SMITH has pursued the occupation of farmer and stock-raiser very 
successfully, and is now living in retirement in his pleasant home on section 
1, Plainfield Township. He was born in Miles, Centre County, Pa., August 8, 
1813. His father, John Smith, was a native of the same State, born in Berks 
County, a son of Peter Smith, who was a native of Germany. From the best of 
information at hand it is gathered that the latter came to America with his 
parents in Colonial times. He married in Pennsylvania, taking as his wife Anna 
Mary Harter, a native of that State. He was a mechanic, and followed the trade 
of a shoemaker and cooper, and spent the remaining years of his life after 
coming to this country in Centre County. The father of our subject was reared 
and married in his native State. He was bred to the life of a farmer, and 
carried on that occupation in Centre County until 1824, when he removed to 
that part of Stark County now included in Summit County, Ohio, his wife and 
four children accompanying him, the removal being made with a team, and taking 
their household goods along with them. Mr. Smith located on a tract of timber 
land belonging to his father-in law, and became identified with the pioneers 
of the State. The log house into which he and his family moved had but one 
door and one window, and there was no chimney. At that time deer and bears 
were plenty and were occasionally seen quite near the settlements. There were 
no railroads for years, and the nearest market was at a lake port. Mr. Smith 
cleared quite a tract of land and resided there until 1848, and then removed 
to Greensburg, where his death occurred the following year. The maiden name of 
his wife was Mary Yerrick, and she is supposed to have been born in 
Pennsylvania. Her father, Anton Yerrick, is thought to have been born in that 
State, and was of German antecedents. He was a farmer in Centre County and 
there died at a ripe old age. The mother of our subject died in 1850. She had 
nine other children besides himself, namely: Peter, Polly, Susan, Elizabeth, 
Sallie, John, William, Simon and Lydia. The son of whom we write was in his 
eleventh year when his parents removed to Ohio, and he remembers well the 
incidents of pioneer life there. He received his education in the pioneer 
school taught in a log cabin on the subscription plan. He lived with his 
parents until his twentieth year, and then commenced to learn the trade of a 
wagon-maker at Union town, serving nearly two years, and then went to 
Greensburg and established himself in the business, continuing there until 
1851. In that year he came to Will County accompanied by his wife and six 
children, making the entire journey with a team. They settled on land on 
section 1, Plainfield Township, which he had purchased here in the spring of 
that year. There was a house on the place at that time, and he lived in that 
two years and then removed to his present commodious residence. Mr. Smith was 
married, in October, 1836, to Magdalina Ream, a native of Summit County, Ohio, 
and a daughter of George and Catherine Ream. They have had eight children: 
Sarah, wife of Isaac Henry; John, William, Conrad, George, Adam and Amos. Mary 
married George Ferner and is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Smith joined the 
Evangelical Association many years ago, being among its most active members 
and are classed among our most desirable citizens.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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