California Biographies

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


THOMAS J. SMITH. Six miles west of Bakersfield, in Kern county, is located the eighty-acre 
ranch belonging to Thomas J. Smith, who, with his wife � the helpmate of his early life � 
is passing the evening of his days in peace and plenty, and with the evidence of the country's 
growth and prosperity all about him. Born in Hempstead county, Ark., November 15, 1834, he 
was the son of James W. and the grandson of James Smith, the latter being a native of Eng- 
land who came to the United States when a young man and settled as a farmer on the Hud- 
son river, in New York state. James W. Smith was reared in Kentucky and in manhood was 
engaged as a farmer for some years, when he removed to Arkansas and was interested in the 
cultivation of cotton. He died in Arkansas in 1871, at the age of sixty-seven years. He had 
met with considerable success in all his dealings, and at his death was a well-to-do planter 
of the south. He married Alva Cinda, a native of Missouri, who died at the age of sixty-seven 
years, the mother of ten children, of whom Thomas J. was the third in order of birth. 

The youth of Thomas J. Smith was spent upon the parental farm in Arkansas, where he 
remained until reaching his eighteenth birthday. March 25th of that year he came over- 
land to California, being one of four to own ox teams, which was their mode of conveyance. 
Arriving at Merced on the 18th of October, 1852, Mr. Smith at once began mining in Mariposa 
county, continuing in this occupation for about fifteen years. With his earnings he purchased 
a ranch located ten miles from Mariposa, consisting of four hundred acres, which he improved 
and cultivated, devoting the land to hay and stock raising. In 1889 he sold this property, and 
coming to Kern county became the owner of the eighty-acre ranch which now claims his at- 
tention and efforts, raising alfalfa and also conducting a small dairy. When Mr. Smith and 
his wife first located in Kern county there were but two other houses in the colony, his land 
being a pre-emption claim, the right to which he purchased at $25 per acre. 

On the 25th of December, 1864, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary J. Burt, 
a native of Sevier county, Ark., in which state she was reared. In 1862 she came to California 
with her parents, Alexander and Mary (Lock) Humphreys, natives respectively of Mississippi 
and Alabama. The parents located in Los Angeles, but later removed to Mariposa county, 
where the mother died at the age of seventy and the father at seventy-seven years. To Mr. and 
Mrs. Smith have been born the following children: J. Albert, who is conducting an engine 
in the oil fields of Kern county ; Wiley C, who is manager of the Rosedale Creamery, at Rose- 
dale, Kern county ; Thomas M., who is at home ; and Charles G, a talented musician and artist, 
who is located on a mining claim in Inyo county. By her former marriage Mrs. Smith had one 
daughter, Isabella Burt, who became the wife of C. E. Coughran, and now lives at Long Beach, 
Cal. In his political affiliations Mr. Smith is a Democrat, but has never cared for official recog- 
nition. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, having been made a member of Mari- 
posa Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M. Mr. Smith is a member of the Congregational Church, while 
his wife belongs to the Presbyterian Church.