California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

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

 
FRANK HENRY SMITH.  Frequent references in these pages are made to the industries and activities of 
the attractive little city of Santa Ynez in Santa Barbara County, and it is pleasing to be able to give some 
brief record of the career of one of the pioneer citizens of that locality.  Frank Henry Smith has been a 
resident there for more than thirty years, and his was one of the first homes built on the townsite.
 
A resident of California forty years, Frank Henry Smith has progressed from comparative poverty to 
one of the substantial men of Santa Barbara County.  He was born in Perry County, Illinois, August 36, 
1854, a son of Horace Porter and Jane (Chandler) Smith, the former a native of Missouri and the latter 
of Ohio.  His father was a carpenter by trade.
 
After an education in the schools of Illinois, Frank H. Smith, at the age of nineteen, came to Salinas, 
Monterey County, California.  He worked for a time on a stock ranch, farmed in the Arroyo Grande one 
year, and for two years was employed in Santa Maria.
 
The year of his advent to the Santa Ynez community was 1882.  Mr. Smith is one of the exemplars of 
dry farming methods in this community, and on his fine ranch of 200 acres he has succeeded for many 
years in producing bounteous crops of barley, wheat and other grains, and besides his own farm he 
leases 300 additional acres.  His success in business has not interfered with a public spirited share in 
pubic affairs.  He is now serving his third term as a school trustee and is a member of the republican 
county central committee.  Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias.
 
In passing some tribute should be paid to the late Mrs. Smith, who was one of the pioneer women of 
Santa Ynez and a thoroughly beloved character, not only on account of her gracious personality but 
because of her constant spirit of helpfulness in the neighborhood.  She was almost constantly engaged 
in some practical charity which she performed in the most unostentatious manner, but those who 
were helped remember with gratitude the beneficence of her life as she went in and out in the 
community.  Mrs. Smiths maiden name was Rosie C. Preston.  She was born in Casterville, a daughter 
of E. J. and Nancy A. (Slack) Preston.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married in Santa Maria October 23, 
1882, and at the time of their marriage started housekeeping in the new Village of Santa Ynez.  Mrs. 
Smith passed away September 22, 1915.  She and Mr. Smith a few days before her death started on a 
camping trip to the mountains.  She was thrown from her horse and received injuries from which died 
in the camp a few days later.
 
Mr. Smith has the following children:  Nellie C., who married Samuel McMurray, and is the mother of 
two children, Mildred and Howard; Irene, who married William Quinn; and Glenna, wife of William 
Burhans.