Merced County Biographies

CHARLES PHILIP SMITH

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


        A worthy representative of the second generation of citizens of Merced 
County is found in Charles P. Smith, dairyman, and road overseer of the Fifth 
district on the West Side. A native of the county, he was born at Central Point, 
September 6, 1874, the fifth child of Samuel A. and Nancy (Dollarhide) Smith, 
one of the oldest families on the West Side in Merced County.
        Samuel A. Smith was born near Rock Island, Ill., February 14, 1839. At 
the age of two he was taken by his parents to Winnebago County, Ill., where he 
attended public school. In 1856 his parents became pioneers of Fayette County, 
Iowa, and here he helped his father improve a homestead, remaining with him 
until 1862. That memorable year the young man took the long journey across the 
plains to California, hoping in this congenial climate to obtain a living from 
the soil. He looked over various parts of the State looking for a suitable 
location and spent his first year here in Yolo County, then he spent several 
seasons in Solano County and finally reached Merced County, locating on the West 
Side in October, 1868. He preempted 160 acres of land on section 23, the north 
line of his ranch being only one-half a mile from the present limits of Los 
Banos. To this he added 160 acres, and later thirty-six acres more, all of which 
he operated with good results. He gave each of his sons forty acres of the 
property, retaining 196 acres for his own use. He kept over 200 head of stock 
and raised alfalfa, made many permanent improvements on the ranch until it was 
all under irrigation and supplied with a substantial set of farm buildings. Here 
he continued successfully as a dairyman for many years, taking an active 
interest in all projects for the upbuilding of this part of the county, serving 
as a justice of the peace and taking an active interest in Democratic politics. 
He was a member of the first school board of the first district and helped to 
build the first school house on the West Side. He was a member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church and a chairman of the board of trustees. He had married in 
Iowa, in 1860, Nancy Dollarhide, who was born in Indiana, the daughter of John 
Dollarhide, who had come to California in the pioneer days, settling on the 
Sacramento River. Mrs. Smith passed away in 1879, leaving seven children: Oscar 
E.; Jasper, of Soquel; Grant, now deceased; Frank, of Los Banos; Charles P. of 
Los Banos; Alice and Amanthus. Three children died prior to Mrs. Smith's 
decease. The sons became successful ranchers of Merced County.
        Charles P. Smith attended the Los Banos school and remained at home with 
his father on the ranch, learning what he could of the methods of agriculture as 
carried on at that period. He embarked in the dairy business on part of the home 
acres and had 190 acres in alfalfa and 100 head of cattle. In 1908 he sold the 
dairy business and engaged in teaming at Richmond, Cal., and then purchased a 
dray business in Los Banos and carried on the business for three years, since 
which time he has operated fifty acres of the old home place. He is serving as 
the road overseer of the Fifth district of Merced County, besides doing a 
general farming.
        Charles P. Smith and Fannie B. Brown were united in marriage in San 
Francisco, on October 24, 1915. She was born in Illinois, a daughter of William 
and Anna Christina (Hauk) Brown, and was in the railway postal service. In 1908 
she came to California. They have one son, Charles P. Jr. Mr. Smith is a 
Democrat. He belongs to the Odd Fellows of Los Banos.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 780-781