El Dorado County Biographies


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


 
 
EDWARD HALL SMITH
 
            Was born on the 10th day of October, 1830, in the city of Boston, 
Massachusetts, is a son of Levi and Annie (Creighton) Smith, who were both 
natives of Massachusetts; when a boy he learned the confectionery trade and 
followed it as long as he remained in his native State.
            On the 5th day of October, 1853, he sailed from New York via 
Nicaragua route to San Francisco, and arrived on the first of November, 1853.  
He went at once to the Kanaka valley, in El Dorado county, and began clerking 
for his brother Levi, who was keeping a store.  In January, 1854, he began 
merchandising as the successor to his brother in the same building.  In June of 
the same year he went East to accompany his family out; they again sailed on the 
5th of October.  On his return this time he opened a store on Sweetwater, and in 
connection with it a boarding house and mine, in which he would work through the 
day to cut the wood and otherwise provide for the boarding house after coming 
home.  He sold his place and bought a store and ranch on Crocker�s ravine in 
Kanaka valley.  In 1859 made a visit to the East with his wife, and on their 
return continued to reside in the valley until 1863, when they removed to Mormon 
ravine.  In 1870 he sold out there and bought the Deer Valley ranch, on which he 
now lives, conducting a general merchandising business in connection with 
farming.  He was married September 15, 1853 to Martha Ann Grover, a daughter of 
James Grover, of Wiscasset, Maine.  They have six children living and one dead: 
Annie C., now Mrs. John S. Wulff, Martha E., now Mrs. Joseph Jarger, Louetta A., 
Edward H. Jr., Mary E., Lillie G., and Bertha Ada, deceased.  Mr. Smith was 
possessed of only a limited education and early thrown upon his own resources.  
He borrowed money on which to travel to California, and for a time it was a hard 
struggle for fortune; his perseverance has been rewarded and he is now ranked as 
one of the most prosperous men in the county.  For many years he has been active 
as a Justice of the Peace in his township.
 
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & 
Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo 
Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 264
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler