Alameda County Biographies

LEWIS CASS SMITH

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

Was born in Berrien County, Michigan, August 15, 1830, and is the son of Major 
Timothy S. Smith, United States Army, one of the revolutionary heroes of 1812, 
who emigrated to California in 1854, and died in Alvarado, his remains being 
buried at Centreville in 1863.  The subject of this sketch, after having passed 
his earlier years on a farm, on June 4, 1851, left for California with his 
brother, the late Hon. Henry C. Smith, and sailing from New York, made the 
voyage to Chagres on board the Prometheus, and thence crossing the Isthmus of 
Panama on mules, concluded the voyage in the Sea Bird.  On arrival at Monterey 
his sister was so ill with fever contracted at Panama that it was thought 
advisable to land at that place.  This was in the early part of August, 1851.  
After a sojourn of two weeks in the ancient capital, the journey was continued 
to his brothers� residence at Mission San Jose, where, residing but a short 
time, our subject proceeded to Stockton, and took charge of his brother�s 
vegetable store for three months.  Returning then to Alvarado, he engaged with 
Henry C. Smith in mercantile pursuits for a year, when he went to the mountains 
and embarked in stock-raising, an occupation he followed for ten years.  After 
this he purchased his present property, comprising about five hundred acres, 
where he combines general farming with beet and vegetable growing.  Here he has 
erected a handsome residence, and enjoys a state of single blessedness.
 
History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 976