California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 JOHN P. SMITH.� The distinction of being the first settler on the present site of Ukiah belongs to John P. Smith, a well-known citizen of Ukiah, and a California pioneer of 1852. From earliest recollections he had been familiar with the then frontier. Born in Hickman county, Tenn., June 20, 1827, he had accompanied his parents to Illinois in 1836 and had settled in Morgan county, at that time sparsely inhabited and with its great task of agricultural development scarcely begun. Schools were few and widely scat- tered. The boys of the period had few advantages. It was theirs to assist in the maintenance of the family and in the cultivation of the great prairie farms. With little thought of seeking a home elsewhere he plodded along in the dull routine of drudgery incident to the making of an undeveloped farm remunerative, but when news came of the discovery of gold in California the routine of existence was broken. His thoughts turned toward the then un- known west. It was not, however, possible for him to leave Illinois for a few years, but finally, February 12, 1852, he and his young wife and children started for San Francisco via the Horn, landing in the harbor of the Golden Gate on the 14th of July following after a tedious and unexciting voyage. Accompanied by his family he proceeded to Sutter county and engaged in teaming and farming. Two years later he removed to Yuba county, but after a year tried his luck in Solano county as a dairyman, farmer and stock buyer. September of 1857 found the Smith family in Mendocino county, where the father bought a claim of two hundred acres including the present site of Ukiah. Here he engaged in general farming for a few years, but in February of 1861 he sold the claim and removed to Point Arena, where he engaged in teaming until the fall of 1866. At that time he took up farm pursuits ten miles below Ukiah. Later he moved into town and carried on a livery busi- ness. Honored as a citizen and prominent in local affairs, he was chosen to serve as county supervisor for two terms. His marriage was solemnized March 4, 1849, and united him with Miss Mary A. Henderson, a native of Ohio, who accompanied him on the voyage around the Horn in a sailing vessel. They became the parents of the following named children : George R. and Sarah E., both deceased; Charles P.: John Henry, who was killed while performing his duties as sheriff; Mary J. ; Emma E. ; Martha C. ; Howard B. and Helen (twins) ; Olive L. ; Nellie M., and Minnie G. Mendocino County Biographies John P. Smith Transcribed by: Pat Howard Was born in Hickman county, Tennessee, June 20, 1827. In 1836 he, with his parents, moved into Morgan county, Illinois, where John P. received his education and resided on a farm until February 12, 1852, when he took passage for California, via Panama, arriving at San Francisco July 14, 1852. He went at once to Sutter county where he followed farming and teaming for two years, after which he continued the same business in Yuba county one year. He then moved to Solano county and engaged in dairying, farming, and speculating in stock, until September, 1857, when he came to Mendocino county and bought a claim of two hundred acres, which took in a part of the present site of Ukiah. In February, 1861, he, having disposed of this claim, moved to Point Arena, where he engaged in teaming until the fall of 1866, when he commenced farming about ten miles below Ukiah, where he remained about one and one-half years. He then moved to Ukiah, where he engaged in stable-keeping and speculating. In October, 1879, he settled where he now lives about one mile below Ukiah. Mr. Smith has served two terms as Supervisor of the county. He married, March 4, 1849, Miss Mary A. Henderson, a native of Ohio, born March 27, 1830, and by this union they have had the following children: George R., born November 29, 1849, and died January 22, 1850; Sarah E., born July 17, 1851, and died February 19, 1861; Charles P., born December 28, 1853; John H., born February 14, 1856; Mary J., born January 13, 1858; Emma E., born March 13, 1860; Martha C., born January 14, 1863; Howard and Helen, born March 8, 1865;Olive L., born August 1, 1867; Nellie M., born November 8, 1870; Minnie G., born August 23, 1874. SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp. 669