W.M. Smith
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana ArchivesMay be copied for non-profit purposes.

W.M. Smith, a prominent stock farmer of the Beaver Head 
Valley, dates his arrival in Montana in 1866. He was born 
in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 24, 1832, a descendant of 
an old American family. His father, John Smith, was born 
in the State of Pennsylvania in 1797. He married Elizabeth 
Edwards, who was also a descendant of one of the old Colonial
families. They had a family of nine children, of whom three 
sons and two daughters are still living. Removing to Ohio,
they settled on a farm and there the parents spent the rest 
of their lives and died, the father in 1878 in the eighty-
first year of his age; the mother in her seventieth year. 
They had been consistent members of the Methodist Church 
for many years and their pure Christian lives won for them 
the respect and esteem of all who knew them.W.M. Smith was 
the sixth born in this family. He as reared on his father's 
farm in Ohio, early in life being inured to hard work as 
were most farmers boys, and each winter he had the 
privilege of attending school about six weeks in the 
little log schoolhouse hard by. When he reached his 
majority he began life on his own account. His first 
employment was in a steam sawmill. The enterprise, 
however proved a failure and he lost his money. Then 
he borrowed $200 with which to make the journey to 
California. He had been married on the 11th of 
September, 1857 to Hannah Rourk, a nativeof Ohio 
and a daughter of Edward Rourk of that state. They 
had two children, Mary Elizabeth and Delana. With 
his wifeand these children, he, in 1860 made the 
voyage to California, settled at Yreka and there 
for six years he was engagedin ranching, meeting 
with a fair degree of success.In 1866 he started 
overland with his family for Montana, coming in 
company with Messrs. Poindexter and Orr, and 
bringing a drove of cattle with him. They were 
three months on the way and upon their arrival 
here settled firstat Argenta, in Beaver Head 
County, where he engaged in teaming and also in 
dairying. Prosperity attended his efforts and he 
remained there until 1879 at which time he traded 
his property for the 160 acres of land where he 
now resides.He still continues the stock business, 
making a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and 
Clydesdale horses and is rated as one of the 
best farmers in the county. From time to time 
he has purchased other lands and is now the 
owner of 720 acres. He also owns a residence 
in Dillon. In 1801 he built the beautiful home 
on his farm, where he and his familyare now 
surrounded with all the comforts of life.During 
the sojourn in California, two children-Edward 
C. and John B--were born to them and after they 
came to Montana they had two more children, 
Emma and William Elsie. Their oldest daughter, 
Mary Elizabeth married Phillip Johnson. She 
died, leaving six children, three of whom are 
being reared by Grandpa and Grandma Smith, their 
names being: Burt, Grace E and Delana B. Their 
second daughter, Delana, married Thomas Porch and 
they have a family of six children. Mr. Porch 
occupies a farm near Mr. Smith. Edward is married 
and lives on a farm adjoining that of his father.

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