BIOGRAPHY: George W. SMITH, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 365 ____________________________________________________________ GEORGE W. SMITH, one of the substantial and useful business men of Johnstown, is a son of Ebenezer and Malinda (Davis) Smith, and was born in Johnstown, Cambria county, Pennsylvania, New Year's day, 1850. The successive homes of the Smith family have been located in Staten Island, and Columbia and Cambria counties, this State. Charles Jefferson Smith was a native of Staten Island, but in early life removed to Columbia county, where he died. His son, Ebenezer Smith, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, in 1819; learned the trade of a shoemaker, and in 1844 came to Johnstown, where he died in 1886. He was a Methodist, and married Malinda Davis, who, like himself, was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She was born in Bedford county in 1829, and still resides in Johnstown. George W. Smith passed his boyhood days and grew to manhood in Johnstown, where he has resided ever since. He received his education in the common schools, learned the trade of plasterer, and was engaged in plastering and contracting up to 1894. As a contractor on plastering he sometimes gave employment to as many as fifty men, and when he quit that line of work, in the spring of 1894, he embarked in the business of dealing in plasterers' and builders' supplies, which he has handled actively, continuously, and successfully ever since. He soon added hard and soft coal to his stock, and afterwards took up crushed coke, all of which he still handles, besides opening lately a flour and feed department. He is located at No. 117 Haynes street; has convenient buildings, and well-arranged coal and coke yards, and enjoys a large and profitable trade. He makes an object of providing and keeping in stock good grades of every article in his different lines, thereby gaining and holding patronage, both at home and from a considerable distance. George W. Smith, in 1874, wedded Mary J. Berkey, a daughter of Peter J. Berkey, of Somerset county. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have five children, three sons and two daughters: Charles 13, Malinda, Jessie, George, and Elmer. In religious faith, and church membership, he has always been a Methodist, like his worthy father and respected grandfather before him. He has always been an active worker in secret and beneficial societies, being a member of Johnstown Lodge, No. 538, Free and Accepted Masons; Portage Chapter, No. 195, Royal Arch Masons, and Johnstown Commandery Knights Templar. He is also a member of Conemaugh Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Johnstown Lodge, Knights of Pythias; Bremier Council, Ancient Order of United American Mechanics, and Johnstown Council, junior Order of United American Mechanics. Mr. Smith is unvarying in the attention he gives to his business, or to any trust committed to his hands, but never seeks for publicity, although ever accepting any duty placed upon him by his fellow-citizens.