Merced County Biographies

CHARLES W. SMITH

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 
        Now living retired after a life of usefulness, during which time he has 
seen the wonderful development of the Badger Flat section of Merced County, 
Charles W. Smith first saw the light in Marion County, Ill., on August 7, 1846. 
He is a son of Martin M. and Martha E. ( James) Smith, both of whom were born in 
Tennessee. The elder Smith was a farmer and spent most of his active years in 
Illinois, but came to California and died here at the age of seventy-nine years. 
This worthy couple had eleven children, several of whom died in infancy.
        Charles W. Smith attended the public schools of Illinois and in 1866 
came to California via Panama and settled in Napa County, where he worked for 
wages until 1870. He then came to Stanislaus County and farmed at Hills Ferry 
for eight years. In 1878 he bought a ranch near Los Banos on Badger Flat, 
consisting of seventy-eight acres and here he carried on general farming and 
dairying with success. He still retains forty-one acres of his original purchase 
and this is under the Kings River ditch.
        Mr. Smith was united in marriage on September 30, 1874, at Napa, Cal., 
with Miss Dorinda G. Robison, born in Napa, a daughter of M. F. and Margaret 
(Kirk) Robison, who came to California from Iowa, although they were both born 
in Ohio. They were of that great number that crossed the plains in 1853. Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith have three daughters: Flora May is Mrs. McBride of Gustine; Mrs. 
Martha Mabel Baker lives in Los Angeles; and Lela G. is Mrs. James Negra. Mr. 
Smith served as justice of the peace of Third Township for six years and was 
honored by being elected a member of the board of supervisors representing the 
Fifth District in Merced County and served one term. Politically he is a 
Democrat and fraternally is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Merced.
 
History of Merced County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 513-514