Fresno County Biographies

SAMUEL M. SMOOT

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, June, 2007

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


SAMUEL M. SMOOT: The brief biography which follows has for its subject one of 
the old pioneers of Fresno County, who crossed the plains to California from his 
home in Arkansas in the year 1859, landing on King's River after a journey of 
seven months. Mr. Smoot was born in 1836, was reared on a farm and remained in 
Arkansas until he reached his twenty-third year. Then it was that he sought a 
home in California, the State about which he had heard so much. Arrived on 
King's River, he entered upon a business career with five head of cattle and a 
piece of money worth 12 1/2 cents. His experience in the early history of the 
cattle business was not unlike that of many other pioneers of his time. He made 
much money and lost some, as the seasons were favorable or otherwise. In March, 
1886, Mr. Smoot moved to Kingsburg, where he now lives and where he is 
successfully engaged in the livery business. He has been twice married. In 1857 
he wedded Elizabeth Cartwright, of Alabama, who died in 1883, leaving a family 
of five children. His second union was in 1885, with Mrs. Mary Frances Phillip. 

Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the County of Fresno, Tulare 
and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, p. 474.