California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

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 the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 SAMUEL A. SMITH. Among the substantial and successful dairy farmers of Merced county is 
Samuel A. Smith, a well-known and highly respected resident of Los Banos, his ranch lying half a 
mile from the city limits. A pioneer settler, having the distinction of being the longest 
established resident of the west side, he has been very prominent in the upbuilding of this 
section of the county, having been especially active in advancing the educational and moral 
welfare of the community in which he resides. Laboring with zeal and earnest purpose in his 
efforts to improve his estate, he has acquired an excellent reputation as an intelligent and 
skillful agriculturist, and as a most capable and prosperous business man. A son of the late Lewis 
Smith, he was born, February 14, 1839, near Rock Island, Ill., where he lived until two years old. 
In 1841 he was taken by his parents to Winnebago county, Ill., where he obtained his early 
education, attending the district schools. In 1856 his parents became pioneers of Fayette 
county, Iowa, where he assisted his father in clearing a homestead. 

Leaving home in 1862, Samuel A. Smith crossed the plains to California, hoping in this genial 
climate to easier obtain a living from the soil. After living a year in Yolo county, he removed to 
Solano county, where he was engaged in general farming for several seasons. Locating in 
Merced county, on the west side, in October, 1868, Mr. Smith pre-empted one hundred and 
sixty acres of land on section twenty-three, township ten, range ten, and lias since resided 
there, the north line of his ranch being but one-half a mile from the present limits of Los Banos. 
He subsequently purchased an adjoining tract of one hundred and sixty acres, after which he 
added thirty-six acres of land lying near by, enlarging his estate to three hundred and fifty-six 
acres. A part of this land Mr. Smith has since disposed of, having divided one hundred and sixty 
acres of it among four of his sons, giving to each forty acres of land, on which the individual 
owners are raising alfalfa in large quantities. Mr. Smith has now one hundred and ninety-six 
acres of valuable land in his home ranch, the larger part of which he devotes to alfalfa, and is 
extensively engaged in dairying, keeping over two hundred head of stock, the business at the 
present time being under the management of his son, Charles P. Smith, of whom a sketch 
appears on another page of this work. He has made noteworthy improvements on his place, 
having the land all under irrigation, and furnished with a substantial set of farm buildings. 

In Iowa, in 1860, Mr. Smith married Nancy Dollarhide, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of 
John Dollarhide, who came to California in pioneer days, settling on the Sacramento river. Mrs. 
Smith passed to the life beyond in 1879. leaving seven children, namely: Oscar, Jasper. Grant, 
Frank, Charles P., Alice and Amanthus. The sons are all successfully engaged in farming on the 
west side. Politically Mr. Smith is an earnest advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, 
and for many years rendered good service as justice of the peace. He was a member of the 
school board of the first district, and helped build the first schoolhouse on the west side. 
Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a prominent and leading 
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now chairman of its board of trustees.