California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

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


W. A. C. SMITH.  Was born in Boston, England, August 26, 1834. In 1851 he came to America, and after 
spending two years on a farm he engaged in school teaching. March 21, 1857, he sailed from New York 
for San Francisco, where he arrived the latter part of April of the above-named year. The first two 
months of his California life were spent on a farm, after which he engaged in mining in Plumas County 
for about two months. We next find Mr. Smith in Butte County, where mining was prosecuted until 
December, 1857. He next went to Tuolumne County, where the shining metal was sought for until 
1859, when he went to Calaveras County and engaged with others in the enterprise of building a 
flume, three thousand feet long, for mining purposes. When this flume was nearly completed, they, 
by some hook or crook, lost, not only the flume, but all their time and money, which was no small 
amount. This was a heavy blow to a young man, but Mr. Smith was not one to give up. He fought 
manfully on and in a few months we find him engaged once more in "teaching the young idea how to 
shoot," at the Academy in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Here he remained until he came to Napa 
County, where he has since resided. Mr. Smith's first business in St. Helena was that of teaching, and 
what was then the school room is now used by Wells, Fargo & Co. as an express office. In February, 
1876, he began the banking business, which he has since followed. He is also engaged in the insurance 
business and is a notary public. Mr. Smith was married August 8, 1879, to Mrs. Minnie Warren, a native 
of Tennessee.